Page 48 of Conveniently Trapped with the Marquess
“But why would she do such a thing?” Lady Emma asked desperately. The tears were running down her face now and she wiped furiously at them.
His guilt twisted like a knife in his chest. All of a sudden, William wanted nothing more than to be someone else—someone less handsome, less troublesome. Someone who was good enough to be in Alice’s life rather than bringing all this chaos to it. “She fancies me a great deal,” he explained, very aware of the Duke’s eyes boring into him. “However, I have never courted her. The Marquess of Blackmore is a friend of my Father’s and so I shared a dance with her once, some time ago. Ever since then, she’s believed that we shall be married.”
“So, she is jealous,” the Duke concluded, his voice rather impassive.
William swallowed, nodding. “Yes, I believe that might very well be the case.”
Lady Emma hung her head, sniffling. The Duke let out a long breath, striding away as if he was trying to collect his anger. At that moment, there was a knock on the door. “What?” the Duke bit out.
The butler entered, bowing. “The men have concluded the search, Your Grace. Lady Alice is not on the premises.”
Even though William had already suspected that might be the case, confirming it only fueled the desperation and the rage slowly igniting within him. He willed himself to be calm, but with each second, that fear began to grow as well.
“One of the maids,” the butler went on, holding up a piece of paper, “found this on Lady Alice’s bed.”
The Duke held out an impatient hand and the butler carried it over. He read it hastily, his brows furrowing. As if he sensed the question on everyone’s minds, he read aloud, “Meet me on the west side of the garden.” He looked up at William. “She must have thought this was from you.”
His blood ran cold, conflicting emotions raging within him. William struggled to keep his face still. “It was obviously a ploy to lure her out of the Manor, Your Grace.”
The Duke looked back at the paper, then crushed it within his fist. “Then I suppose that leaves us no choice.”
William was already making his way to the door, Christopher on his heels. The Duke said no other words because there was clearly no reason to. Alice had been taken. And so they had to go to the only person who might know where to find her—Lady Susan.
Chapter 19
The pounding in Alice’s head was enough to bring tears to her eyes. A groan slipped passed her lips and she pried her eyes open, her lashes wet with tears. She immediately reached a hand to her temples where the pain was originating from, expecting to find blood, but all she felt was a horrible lump that was pulsating.
Horror slipped in as Alice opened her eyes further, sliding across the high ornate ceiling above her. A ceiling she didn’t recognize. She almost frowned, but every move of her face increased the pain tenfold and brought more tears to her eyes.
Where…am I?
Slowly, she tried shifting her head to the left, expecting to find a door. If she was simply in one of the unoccupied bedchambers in the manor, then the door would most definitely be to the left of the bed while the large windows would be to the right. But she saw nothing but a blank wall, a singular table sitting by it. There was even a lovely vase on top of the table, one that Alice didn’t recognize.
Fear began to mix with that horror when it finally dawned that she wasn’t in Warington Manor.
She gripped the covers she could feel beneath her, then pressed her hand firmly against the bed and pushed. The pain was tormenting, so sharp and all-consuming that she could feel waves of dizziness come over her again. But she fought it as best as she could until she was finally in a sitting position and could really see the room in full.
It was a lovely bedchamber with windows lining the end of the right wall, a wonderful vanity table sitting opposite the bed and even a chair and desk with a pot of ink sitting on top. The room was filled with candles, the golden glow accentuating the light covers and drapes that brought color to the room.
Alice felt as if she would be sick. She thinned her lips, trying not to panic.What happened?
Suddenly, the door opened and a maid walked in. She seemed startled to see Alice sitting up and she stayed by the door, even though she bore a cloth and a bowl of what Alice assumed was cold water.
“Where am I?” Alice whispered, unable to find the strength to speak properly.
The maid’s eyes darted all around the room, as if she couldn’t bear to take in the sight before her. That only made Alice feel worse.
“Where am I?” Alice repeated, a tiny bit louder this time. She lifted a trembling hand to her lump. “Who did this to me?”
The maid briefly closed her eyes, then she rested the bowl and the cloth on a nearby table. She clasped her hands before her and faced Alice with renewed—and false, Alice imagined—confidence. “Please wait while I inform someone that you are awake.”
“Wait—!” But the maid was already slipping out of the room as if she couldn’t get out fast enough.
Alice sagged, disappointed. She knew she wouldn’t be able to move, not with this raging pain pounding in her head. But she knew she couldn’t stay here. Not when she hadn’t a clue where here was.
She closed her eyes, trying to remember. She remembered leaving her bedchamber, to look for something. Or…rather someone. Yes, she’d left her bedchamber to look for someone, even though it was at a time when she should have been retiring for bed. Who could that have been?
A cocky grin flashed in her mind. Teasing eyes. She heard a deep voice, taunting her as if she was but another victim to his beauty. Alice’s heart thudded at the memory. Yes, she’d left to see William…in the gardens. But why would she dare to go there again after what happened?
