Page 81 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
“I’ve got nothing to do with Stannard’s sister.”Hugo tried to contain his irritation.“I didn’t even know the sod had a sister.”He’d met Miles Colton-Heath several times since the man inherited the distinguished title five years ago.
Wesley looked as frustrated as Hugo felt.“But Fred saw her brought in.A black-haired lady in a lavender pelisse with black frogging.”
Another punch to the gut.Athene was wearing that when she disappeared.He didn’t understand what the devil she was doing with Stannard, but this sounded like Wesley might be right.
He pushed aside his surging lightheadedness to winnow everything Wesley said.If this mystery woman was Athene, she was injured and in pain.Perhaps even close to death.“How badly was she hurt, Wesley?Does Fred know?”
Wesley shook his head.“No.She wasn’t conscious and the earl was very keen to avoid notice, I gather.Fred hasn’t heard any more.But she must be alive because the doctors are still there.”
“Thank God for Fred.”Hugo extended an unsteady hand to shake Wesley’s.“Thank God for you.Well done, lad.”
Fogg already poised at his shoulder.“I’ll go with Wesley and see what I can find out.”
Wait here for news, now that they had a lead?Not bloody likely!“No, I’ll go.Stay here.I’ll send word once I know more.”Hugo was already halfway up the stairs.“Wesley, come with me.”
“Yes, Sir Hugo.”
As they dashed out of the house, Hugo struggled with the turbulent emotions raging inside him.Relief that perhaps they’d located Athene at last.Agitation over her well-being.Confusion about who the Earl of Stannard was to her.Perhaps the man was just a Good Samaritan who aided a lady in trouble.Hugo struggled not to see anything more sinister in events.
***
“How may I be of assistance, Sir Hugo?”Miles Colton-Heath entered the downstairs parlor at the King’s Arms.“I’m otherwise occupied this evening, so if you state your business briefly, I’ll appreciate it.”
Hugo was too frantic to discover if Athene was in this man’s custody to bristle at the haughty tone.The Colton-Heaths had always been high in the instep.They were a distinguished military family, but had never been active in society.The previous Earl of Stannard hadn’t been far off a recluse.The Colton-Heaths were so antisocial, Hugo had almost forgotten they existed.
He lurched to his feet.He was on such tenterhooks, he couldn’t bear to sit.While he prayed that he’d found Athene, a tiny portion of his heart hoped she was safe elsewhere.Fred had provided a heartrending description of the crumpled, unmoving figure carried into the innyard.
“I believe you may be sheltering my fiancée,” he said baldly.“She’s been missing since this afternoon, and she fits the description of a woman brought here several hours ago.”
“Your fiancée?”The earl looked annoyed.And no wonder.Fred had confirmed that the fellow wanted to conceal the lady’s presence.
“Yes, we’re to be married this week.”It was a lie, but only because Athene was so blasted pigheaded.After today’s ructions, Hugo intended to have a serious discussion with her about their future and the need for a legal bond between them.He wanted a husband’s claim over the woman he loved.He wanted her at his side.He wanted to show the world how proud he was of her.“That’s why we’re in York.”
Now Hugo looked closer, he saw signs of worry and tiredness on Stannard’s aristocratic features.“She wasn’t wearing a betrothal ring.”
“I was out buying one when she went missing.”Hugo’s gesture was a plea.Raw emotion crashed through the strained formality, and his voice cracked with distress.While they wrangled, his beloved might breathe her last.“Please, for God’s sake, man, tell me if Athene is still alive.Tell me what the doctors said.”
Stannard looked taken aback.“You know her name?”
“Damn it, of course I do.”Hugo had no doubt now that Athene was upstairs.“Let me see her.”
The earl wasted another second studying Hugo, before he made up his mind.“Follow me.”
“Thank you.”Hugo’s words rasped with surging gratitude.They crossed a crowded hall then climbed a flight of stairs.“How is she?”
When the earl shook his head, Hugo’s heart turned to stone.“She hasn’t woken up.York’s best doctor is with her, but he seems at a loss.”
Fuck.Fuck.Fuck.
“Tell me what happened.”
Stannard paused as they rushed along a corridor and sent Hugo a searching look.“Do you know her history?”
“Some of it.”He should have pushed for the rest, but he’d thought that they had time.Today’s events proved how uncertain their future was, unless he made her his.
“I saw her on the street and called out to her.I should have been more discreet, but she caught me by surprise.I must have startled her, too, because she fell into the path of a carriage.”
“Hell,” Hugo said aghast.“She could have died.”
