Page 57 of The Highland Heist
Miss Cox? The poor woman had enough difficulty managing an infant, what would she do with a—He stopped. Hadn’t she experience with the wounded and dying? “Excellent notion. Can we trust Zahra with Thomas?”
“I’m certain we can, especially with Lillias in the house.” Grace moved toward him. “One of us should stay with Mrs. Lindsay, and the other can fetch Miss Cox, and then could we go to the Clarion?”
“Or first find Detective Johnson?”
His instinct screamed at him to prioritize warning Mr. Barclay. They could apologize to Johnson later.
“Perhaps we’ll see Detective Johnson on the way to the hotel.” Grace offered, searching his face. “But I think our first stop should be the Clarion.”
“I hate leaving you here alone.” He skimmed over her body. How would she defend herself? “Do you have your parasol?”
Realization dawned in those eyes. “Oh no, it’s in our room.” She nodded, her smile reassuring. “But I do have a knife hidden in my—”
“Very well.” He cut off her sentence just in case someone neared, his grin tempting release. He didn’t need anyone envisioning where his darling wife hid her assortment of various weaponry except himself. “Stay with Mrs. Lindsay. I’ll bring Miss Cox back and discover Mrs. James’ whereabouts.”
“All right.”
He dipped his head to give her a quick kiss. “Stay alert.”
She nodded, and with one last lingering glance, he made his way through the kitchen and into the narrow passage leading to the mail rooms. He met no one until he reached the main stairs, where Lillias was descending.
Had she been so finely dressed when he’d seen her earlier? And why was she wearing a hat?
He didn’t have time to contemplate his sister-in-law’s fashion choices.
Her eyes widened the instant she saw him. A flicker of concern passed through her features, as though she was bracing herself for some new revelation. Considering the circumstances, it was no wonder.
“Have you seen Mrs. James?” He tried to keep his voice neutral, but patience was running thin.
Lillias sighed, her entire body sagging under an invisible weight. “Mrs. James? Oh, yes. She came by just a moment ago, asking if I needed anything.”
“And where did she go?”
Lillias studied his face. “I sent her to the grocery because she desperately needed some fresh air. She was positively quaking from what had happened to Mrs. Lindsay, so I told her to go.”
Before he could speak again, the front door opened, and in walked the doctor.
“Perfect,” Frederick muttered under his breath, almost surprised at the relief that washed over him. It was fleeting, though. Lillias looked at him, brow furrowed, clearly confused by his reaction.
“Could you see the doctor to Mrs. Lindsay’s room?” he asked, already turning away. “And send Grace upstairs? We need to leave for an important appointment without hesitation.”
He didn’t wait for Lillias’ response, taking the stairs two at a time. Reaching Miss Cox and Zahra’s room, he found Thomas sleeping soundly in his crib. Frederick quickly explained the situation, omitting the worst details about Mr. Barclay’s safety but stressing the need for the women to remain in the room until they returned. “It’s an unfortunate accident involving Mrs. Lindsay,” he said, though the words tasted strange on his tongue.
Zahra watched him with the same intensity as always.
Miss Cox kept her usual scared expression.
He’d just left the bedroom when he met Grace in the hall.
“I retrieved my parasol, just in case.” She smiled in her reassuring way, but the knowledge of her particular need for a parasol as her weapon of choice always came with a mixed feeling of reassurance and concern. “Do we search for Detective Johnson?”
Frederick took her by the arm and moved toward the stairs. “I’m afraid we don’t have the luxury of time. We need to get to Mr. Barclay as soon as possible.”
She nodded, increasing her pace down the stairs just as the front door opened again to reveal the detective and Officer Todd.
Frederick leveled the detective a look, his body tensing in preparation at Frederick’s approach. “We need to get to Barclay. There’s not time to spare.”
Johnson’s brow quirked slightly, but he didn’t say anything. He merely held the door open for them to pass.
