Page 40 of A Spinster to Reform the Duke
Chapter Thirteen
Where is she?
Timothy hadn’t yet managed to accomplish disentangling himself from Lady Esther and her sisters. The three of them seemed eager indeed for conversation, constantly moving on from one topic to another and asking his opinion on everything.
“Your Grace? You seem distracted,” Lady Esther said from where she was hanging onto his arm. Timothy looked down, startled by that touch.
When did that happen?
“Forgive me, I am looking for Lady Rebecca. I cannot see her.” He lifted his gaze another time and searched the room. She had been gone for a while now and though he had seen her speaking at one point to her sister, that had to have been some time ago, for Lady Eliza was back by Alexander’s side, the two of them deep in conversation at a far corner of the room with a maid nearby. Lady Rebecca was gone.
“I am sure she is well,” Lady Esther said easily with a brush of her hand. “She went to see her sister.”
“Yet she is not with her now,” Timothy took his arm away from Lady Esther. “If you would excuse me, I will go looking for her.” He bowed to the three ladies hurriedly, not missing the way Lady Esther looked ready to follow him, yet one of her sisters held her back with a hand to her shoulder.
That simple action made Timothy frown as he stepped away. Lady Esther was certainly eager in her attentions to him. Did she like him? Or had perhaps his mother mentioned something of a connection between them to Lady Esther? It would certainly account for the increase in her attentions toward him. Though he had been kind to her, he had not shown her any more interest than that, so he could not be blamed for misleading her.
Timothy pushed the thought out of his mind as he searched up and down the room for Lady Rebecca. He checked in with mutual friends, but no one had seen her, and she was not hiding by the drinks table either. In the end, he went to Alexander and Lady Eliza.
“Lady Eliza?” he called as he reached her side.
“Your Grace,” she turned him.
“Timothy,” Alexander said with a warning look, earning a smile from Timothy.
“I know, you wish to enjoy as much time alone together, I will not interrupt you for long. All I want to ask if you two have seen Lady Rebecca recently?” he asked, looking between the two of them.
“A while ago,” Lady Eliza nodded. “We talked for a while. She seemed rather overawed by something.”
Overawed? Why?
“Where did she go?” Timothy asked, finding his impatience was growing by the minute.
“I do not know,” Eliza’s face grew more serious. “I thought she must have returned to you.”
“To me?”
“Well, Timothy, you two are beside each other most of the time, at the moment,” Alexander pointed out with a smirk, earning Lady Eliza’s focus.
“You look as if you are holding onto a secret, my Lord,” she said with intrigue.
“Perhaps I am,” he pretended to whisper to her. Timothy could have happily shared a few choice words with his friend to be quiet, but he could not do so in front of Lady Eliza. He settled for a warning glare instead.
“What secret is this?” Lady Eliza asked.
“Nothing,” Timothy spoke quickly. “Forgive me, but I will go in search for her. We escorted you and your sister here tonight, and I hardly want to lose Lady Rebecca. Excuse me,” he said politely, bowing to Lady Eliza and shooting his friend one last harsh glare. Alexander seemed impervious to the look and merely laughed into his glass.
“What was all that about?” Lady Eliza’s words could be heard by Timothy even as he turned away, searching heads once more for Lady Rebecca. What was abundantly clear to him now was that she was not in this room. She had to be somewhere else.
He made a beeline for the door and stepped through, moving into the lobby of the theatre where a few guests were milling back and forth. He searched their faces, about to give up hope of finding Lady Rebecca there, when he caught sight of the pastel blue gown that he remembered she was wearing. It drew him forward, until he was inching his way past a few guests that were wandering up and down.
Lady Rebecca appeared at the far end of the lobby. She was standing by an ornate window, flanked by great paintings and gilt work that had been plastered into the moldings of the room. Yet her eyes were not turned on this great artwork, nor was she looking out of the window. She had her eyes firmly set on a glass of champagne in her hands, staring down into it.
Timothy felt something in his chest crack as he looked at her.
She is not happy. Something is wrong.
He hurried to her side, determined to change this.
