Page 71 of A Night of Forever
Maitland didn’t seem to notice the strained atmosphere.
Once at the bank, Arend retired into the background as Maitland commandeered the bank manager’s attention and Isobel explained her fears for her stepmother.
The manager could not do enough to help Lady Isobel and the Duke of Lyttleton when he heard that Lady Victoria Northumberland might have been kidnapped. He assured Maitland that His Grace could leave everything in his personal charge. He was the soul of discretion. He would send word immediately to His Grace should he hear from Lady Northumberland or should any request for payment arrive at the bank. In fact, a letter had just arrived—
Arend stopped wishing the man would shut up and studied the letter over Maitland’s shoulder.
It was a request from Lady Victoria for the bank to send funds to Deal, in Kent. Deal was a well-known smugglers’ stronghold from which to take unseen passage to France.
At last they had a strong clue to her whereabouts.
In the end, Arend left Maitland at the bank to have a thorough look at Victoria’s bank correspondence, and drove Isobel back to Marisa.
It was a silent drive. She had hardly looked his way since he had been so brusque at their first meeting that morning. But what was there to say? He knew he’d hurt her. He had no excuse. When she had touched Juliette’s brand and asked how he had gotten the mark, he’d lashed out in anger, fear, and disgust. He could not risk such a thing happening again.
When they arrived at the house, Arend handed Isobel down from the carriage. To his surprise, she turned to him, bright-eyed. “I’m so excited. We know where she is hiding.”
“Perhaps. I suspect, like the wild-goose chase she led Hadley on, our information might not be as straightforward as we think.”
He looked at her flushed cheeks and cautious smile, and his heart did that somersault thing he hated. Even with the scar marring her face she was beautiful. He would miss her smile when this was all over. His heart almost stopped on that thought. He would missher.
His body clenched so hard with desire that it took his breath. The violence of his need to sink into her sweet, tight heat scared him.
Isobel didn’t seem to know what fear was. She slipped her tiny hand into his and began to pull him up the steps and toward the door.
“At least we have somewhere to look,” she said. “We can start in Deal. Come in, Arend. There is much to organize.”
Her excitement was contagious. He didn’t want to burst her bubble of joy, but there was no way he would allow her to accompany them to Deal.
It wasn’t only the danger that concerned him. It was his self-preservation. If he was to have a hope of walking away from this engagement, he could not sleep with her again. The risk of getting her with child increased, but even that was not his main concern. Arend knew that if he made love to Isobel again, he might not have the strength to leave.
Brunton greeted them in the hall. Arend was about to remove his hat and gloves when Isobel said, “Brunton, where is Her Grace?”
“She was called to Lord Blackwood’s,” Brunton said gravely.
Isobel’s smile faded. “I hope nothing is wrong.”
“I couldn’t say, my lady, but I believe it did have something to do with Lady Blackwood. When Her Grace received the note, she seemed very upset. She sent a missive to His Grace.”
Isobel looked at Arend. “We must have crossed paths.”
“She left only a few minutes ago,” Brunton said.
“It can’t be the baby, can it? She’s only six months gone.”
Isobel’s eyes started to shimmer, and she snatched up her cloak before a servant could take it away. “Arend, may I use your carriage?”
“Of course.” Relief that he wouldn’t have to refuse to take her to Deal was tempered by his concern for Portia. But he was of more use elsewhere. Even if he accompanied Isobel to Grayson’s home, he could do nothing to help Portia.
Grayson and Maitland would be tied up with this emergency. He needed to get to Hadley, Sebastian, and Christian, and then to Deal, posthaste.
“Just let me send a note to the others,” he told her. “Then I’ll take you on my way to Hadley’s.”
She stared at him. “You’re not coming in with me to see Portia?”
“I would feel useless.”
“I see.” Then she stiffened. “You’re going to Deal…without me.” When he remained silent, her eyes narrowed. “You never had any intention of taking me.” Her voice cracked, but dashes of angry red slashed across her cheekbones. “Why?”
