Page 76 of A Virgin for the Beastly Duke

“How long ago did she leave?” Harry did not recognize his voice, for it sounded distant and dissonant.

“Twenty…I think thirty minutes ago.”

His heart stopped beating and time appeared to slow while his body quickened. Harry dashed out of the dining room, bellowing Lander’s name as he made for the stairs.

“Your Grace?” the butler answered.

“Have you seen my wife in the last half hour?”

“No, Your Grace,” he replied gravely.

“Search the castle,” Harry commanded as he ran up the stairs, Belinda close behind.

He first checked their bedchamber, then her former room before proceeding to look through every room on that floor. He was sure his heart was still not beating and could not tell how he was still moving. Belinda left him at some point so they could search quicker.

They met again on the second floor. “Did you find her?” Harry asked even though he knew the answer. She shook her head, her face pale.

He returned to the front hall to find most of the servants gathered there. “We could not find her, Your Grace,” Lander said.

“Send out a search party, and have my horse brought around,” he ordered, turning to head to his study.

“I will personally lead the party, Your Grace,” Lander replied.

In his study, Harry walked behind his desk and opened a drawer, picked up a box that contained two flintlocks, and quickly loaded them. He tucked one into the waistband at the back of his breeches and the other in his coat pocket.

Belinda was still in the hallway when he returned. “Hold the castle for me, Aunty,” he said, his voice still sounding distant.

She touched his arm. “Godspeed, Harry.”

He was not sure whether he properly acknowledged that, for he was out of the castle in an instant and sitting atop Homer, riding at a breakneck pace toward Daventon. Magnus was already a suspect and Harry wanted to find him but he had to fetch Drew first.

When he arrived at the Blue Horn inn, he swiftly dismounted and paced in. “Lord Drew Mercer,” he said to the innkeeper and was directed to the dining room.

Drew’s disheveled hair was unmistakable in the room, and Harry made his way to placing a hand on his shoulder. Drew looked up but did not speak.

“Bridget is missing,” Harry said, and Drew’s eyes immediately narrowed and slid off Harry’s face to a table where several gentlemen dined.

The viscount of Lore was amongst them. Harry did not wait another second before going to confront him. All the gentlemen stood, including Magnus, and bowed, which did not have any effect on Harry.

“Magnus, a word.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the dining room. Drew was already outside and atop his mount.

“Your Grace, what—"

Harry moved behind Magnus and pressed a pistol into his back, situating himself so no one around could see the weapon. “I cannot find my wife and I think you know where she is.”

“I-I do not…I s-swear it,” Magnus stammered.

“I have no time for your lies.” Harry pushed him forward.

“Mount, and you can convince us of your innocence on the way.” Drew gestured for him to mount his horse. Of course, they would not allow him to ride by himself.

When Magnus hesitated, Harry growled, “Do you want to lose your spine?”

“N-no.” He complied, and they were on their way back to Grayfield. The speed with which they rode did not allow them to question the man, but there would be time for that later.

As they approached, Cato came running and barking. Harry watched him sniff the ground and run toward the woods, then back to him. “Do you know where she is?” Harry asked, steering his horse to follow Cato.

Lander stood at the edge of the woods, a musket in his hands as he directed the search party on where to go. “I have some footmen searching the woods to the east, Your Grace,” he informed him.

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