Page 103 of A Murder in Trinity Lane
“Do you know who sent it?”
He shook his head. “No, Your Grace. It came in a plain envelope. Hand-delivered by a boy I’ve seen around the square. But something wasn’t right. I’ve known Lady Rosalynd since she was in leading strings. Sheliedto me.”
He certainly would know.
Finch stepped beside me. “When did she leave?”
“Twenty minutes ago. Maybe a little more.”
“Damn it, man, you should’ve come to me sooner.”
Honeycutt straightened to his full height. “She told me to remain inside. I waited, in case someone was watching. I didn’t dare risk drawing attention.”
He was right. I knew he was right.
“I apologize,” I said quickly. “I shouldn’t have shouted. You did the right thing.”
Honeycutt’s voice cracked. “Bring her back safe, Your Grace.”
I pressed a hand on his shoulder. “I will.” That was a promise I intended to keep or die trying.
Finchand I rode to St. Agnes in silence, the wheels of the hackney churning through rain-slick streets. My mind spun through possibilities, each darker than the last.
When we arrived, Sister Margaret herself opened the door, her face pale and tight with worry.
“You’ve heard,” she said.
I stepped forward. “Heard what?”
“Marie,” she said, voice shaking. “She’s missing.”
I turned to Finch. “One of the residents at St. Agnes.”
“She’s due any day now, Your Grace. And she’s out there somewhere.”
“How did you find out she was gone?” Finch asked. His voice urgent.
“She and Teresa, another of our residents, went for a walk. Teresa returned, but Marie decided to stay out a bit longer. She never returned. Constable Collins was making his rounds, stopped to check in on us. He was a godsend.”
As if on cue, Collins emerged from the hallway, his coat damp, his expression grim. He gave me a nod. “No sign of her yet. We’ve searched the immediate area and alerted the watch.”
I glanced past her into the dim corridor. No sign of Rosalynd.
“Has Lady Rosalynd been here?”
“No,” Sister Margaret said. “Why?”
“She received a note this morning,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “Claimed it came from you. Urging her to come here.”
“I sent no such message.”
I didn’t curse aloud, but my jaw clenched hard enough to crack.
Finch’s eyes met mine. “You think it was Vale.”
“I’m certain of it.” My hand curled into a fist. “He’s taken Rosalynd, and more than likely Marie too. He must have used her to draw Rosalynd out.”
Finch swore under his breath before turning back to Sister Margaret. “What time did you realize she was missing?”
