Page 57 of Cinderella's Charade With the Duke
His heart tightened in his chest. Now he was worried, but he would not give in to the fear churning his stomach or the dread creeping along the edges of his skin. The last time Millie had taken to hiding was right after Cecily died.
‘I should have realised Miss Potts’s departure would unsettle her and been more alert,’ he said aloud, mostly to himself. ‘Have them do a wider and more expansive search around the lake,’ he told her. ‘I suspect she is there.’ He almost believed his own lie.
His daughter could be anywhere…or far from here. His mind took a wild turn to her running off like a vagabond or beingsnatched by some reporter bent on a keen story. He was being ridiculous. He reined back in his imagination.
‘Yes, Your Grace,’ she replied as she headed off in the opposite direction. He jogged off towards the main house, carrying his cravat and jacket in his hand.
When he reached the Manor, burst through the door, and saw the household in a flurry searching for Millie, his concern became alarm. Everyone had ceased their duties to search for her.
Mr Simmons spied him first and came to him. ‘The groundsmen have expanded their search and we are turning the house upside down for her, Your Grace.’
‘Thank you, Simmons. She could be anywhere. Who was the last to see her?’
‘That was me, Your Grace,’ Mrs Chisholm added, emerging from the parlour, moving with purpose. ‘She was in quite a state. Full of tears and pointing to the drive. I believe she may have seen Miss Potts depart or realised what had happened. Miss Bellows and I soothed her until she fell asleep. When I went to gather some milk and biscuits for her for when she woke, she was gone from her rooms.’
‘And no one saw her leave the house?’
She cast her gaze to the floor. ‘No, Your Grace. We have been in a bit of upheaval with all that has happened this morning.’
A loud knock at the front door sent a jolt through him, and he suppressed a curse. The last thing he needed was a visitor, unless it was someone who had found Millie.
They all went to the door. When Simmons opened it and it was only Lady Buchanan, he sighed in disappointment.
‘While I am thrilled you have regained your memory, I have a bone to pick with you, Cousin. Hattie came to see me on her way to the stagecoach…’ she started, full of bluster, and then herwords fell away as she stared at him. ‘What has happened?’ she asked. ‘You look dreadful.’
‘Come in,’ he urged, waving her inside. ‘Millie has disappeared. You can help us look. Perhaps she will emerge to see her favourite aunt.’
He doubted it, but he was game to try. All he wanted was his daughter back.
‘Disappeared?’ she asked, shrugging off her coat and handing it to Simmons. ‘Thank you,’ she added as she hurried to meet William’s strides as he rushed towards his study.
He paused. ‘Has Eddie returned?’ he called to Simmons as Daphne fell in step with him, peppering him with questions he could not process. His mind was singularly focused on finding Millie. Nothing else mattered.
Nothing.
‘He has not, Your Grace.’
‘The moment he returns, I want to see him, Simmons. I need to know where he dropped Miss Potts.’
Daphne stopped cold and clutched his arm, yanking him back from his whirling thoughts. ‘That is what I came to speak to you about. Why have you sent her away?’
‘Not here,’ he said, gesturing to his study. Once within it, he closed the door and let his full frustration loose on Daphne.
‘Perhaps the better question is why did you all lie to me? What of that, Cousin? I know you knew. You all knew. Yet I am the bastard for sending her away when I realised I have been duped in such a manner?’
She baulked at him and bristled. ‘Yes, you are to blame. She was wonderful. She loved you and Millie. She was your match, William. The one you longed for. Do you not see it?’ She approached him and clutched his hand. ‘It does not matter if her name was Penelope or Hattie.’
‘No union can be made of lies. You should understand that. You were married to a liar.’
She dropped his hold and immediately William regretted his words. They were harsh, cold, and the hurt registered in his cousin’s glassy eyes. She blinked back the tears. ‘Idoknow,’ she replied, unwilling to give in to her emotion. ‘I also know how rare true love and companionship is in our world. You are a fool to let standing get in your way, but perhaps you prefer being a fool rather than facing your own mistakes.’
‘Daphne…’ he pounded his fist on the mantel ‘…can we not table this for another time well after I have found Millie?’
She sighed and nodded. ‘Yes. She is of the greatest importance for now. I am happy to continue railing you about your poor decision regarding Hattie later.’
A man cleared his throat at the doorway and William turned to see Eddie standing with his hands behind his back, a small flush to his cheeks from the outdoors still fresh. He gave a small nod. ‘I was told you wished to see me, Your Grace?’
‘Yes, yes,’ he replied. ‘Where did you drop Miss Potts?’
