Page 114 of Enslaved
“I did, yer lordship. It was after they rented the ’ouse in Queen Square, and from the way they talked, they intended to take Lady Diana from yer place back to Queen Square. Mad as fire they were when they left without ’er.”
“When Lady Diana came to Queen Square two days later, did you drive them anywhere?”
“If she showed up, I never saw ’er.”
Mark was clearly disappointed. “She didn’t return to London with you?”
James shook his head.
“What about Lady Diana’s maid? Do you think she will be able to throw a light on her whereabouts?”
James bent toward Mark Hardwick confidentially. “Lady Muck give Biddy her walking papers when Lady Diana run away the first time. Biddy was thinking of coming to Bath to see if she could get ’er old job back.”
The earl clearly saw that it was fruitless to pursue the servants further. He slipped James a ten-pound note and headed off toward Allegra’s studio, which was close by.
After the earl departed, James wondered if he should have told him about taking Richard Davenport back to Chippenham in Wiltshire. He shrugged. The gov’nor had been alone, he certainly hadn’t taken his niece with him, so James decided the information would be no use to his nibs.
As the Earl of Bath walked along the iron railings in front of the tall house, Dame Lightfoot approached from the opposite direction. When they arrived at the front door together, the earl tipped his hat. “I’m here to see Allegra. Does she still reside here, ma’am?”
“I’m Dame Lightfoot. Pray come in, sir, and be seated. The lady you seek will be with you in a trice.”
Mark assumed the gray-haired dragon with the tall walking stick was a relative of Allegra’s, but thought what an odd pair they made. After ten minutes he became impatient that he had been left alone to cool his heels. Didn’t these damn women realize he had no time to waste?
Finally, Allegra sailed in, all jet curls, rouge, and décolletage. “Mark, darling,” she said huskily, “you haven’t been to London in eons.”
“Allegra, I’m at my wit’s end. I’m searching for Lady Diana Davenport. She’s disappeared.”
“At least ten months ago,” Allegra said dryly.
“No, no. I found her, but she’s gone again. Have you any idea where she might be?”
Allegra smiled at him. “What an utterly delightful creature I found her to be. Obviously I’m not the only one. Unpredictable, unconventional, and wholly spontaneous … I can see you are smitten and I’m happy to hear she is giving you a run for your money!”
“Damn it, Allegra, I’m frantic. I fear something’s happened to her.”
Allegra’s eyebrows elevated. “I believe she is perfectly capable of looking after herself. She was a dancing pupil of Dame Lightfoot’s, you know. Even she couldn’t intimidate her.”
“Then perhaps I should talk with the old dame?”
Allegra began to laugh. The sound was throaty and not without an earthy allure. “Mark, don’t you know?”
“Know what?” he demanded impatiently.
“Dame Lightfoot and I are the same person.”
For a moment he stared at her blankly.
“As Dame Lightfoot, I have the entree to the homes of the ladies of the ton, and their innocent daughters. As Allegra, I have the gentlemen in my pocket.”
Mark Hardwick was not amused. His black eyes swept her from head to foot.Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about women, one of them makes a bloody laughingstock of you. Perhaps more than one of them.
Allegra took pity on him. “I’ll keep my ears and eyes open, darling. In fact, both of us will.”
The Earl of Bath had nowhere to go but Jermyn Street. He hadn’t slept in thirty-six hours and his frustration was taking its toll on his temper.
He used his own key to open the door of his town house and came face to face with the butler-cum-valet that he kept on staff, whether he was in residence or not.
“Good evening, your lordship.” The look he gave the earl was one of dismay mixed with relief.
