Madison sucked in a quick breath. Gaynor? What were the odds this was the Gaynor Rosie had mentioned in her vision? She waited for some kind of sign from Cameron that he recognized the name, but none came. His expression stayed the same—pleasant, yet sympathetic.
The middle-aged man stepped closer to Cameron. “It does our heart good to know that Jacob has friends who would come. I pray the police will find something very soon.”
“As do I.” Cameron nodded.
“I’m Jacob Bailey’s uncle, Lord Hanover.” He motioned to the man standing closer. “This is another nephew, Heath Langston, and Gaynor Brailsford is the one by the fireplace, and he is my nephew as well.”
He bowed to the other men. “It’s nice to meet you. May I introduce Miss Haywood? She was also an acquaintance of Mr. Bailey.”
She waited for them to make the first move to shake her hand, and it irritated her when none of them did. They just gave her a polite nod. Inwardly, she boiled. How could she get any kind of vision if she couldn’t touch them? Especially, Gaynor Brailsford.
“I’m deeply sorry for your loss,” she said. Hesitating, she waited for someone to say something. Anything. But nobody did. Lord Hanover didn’t even introduce them to the other ladies in the room. Cameron had told her to let him do the talking, but this time, she just couldn’t. “If there is anything I can do for you,” she paused, sweeping her gaze around the room, “please let me know.”
Everyone nodded, but still nothing was said. Her irritation grew another notch. What could she do to get them to speak? She studied each one closely, especially Gaynor Brailsford. He must be in his early twenties. He was slender, and his head was larger than normal. Short, chestnut hair stood in disarray on his head as if he’d just finished scrubbing his fingers through the matted mop. He also sported a disheveled goatee.
He wasn’t handsome, at least not to her, but some young women might find him attractive. If by chance, this was the Gaynor they were looking for, and he had something to do with Rosie’s disappearance, wouldn’t he act guilty in some way? And yet the man stood by the fireplace, and eyed them briefly.
“I thank you, Miss Haywood,” Lord Hanover finally said, “but you don’t need to worry. We are handling things on our own.”
One of the ladies in the room rose from her cushioned chair and moved to the tray holding a teapot and two cups. The middle-aged woman’s eyes were also a red and her insincere smile shook as she took hold of the tray. “Forgive me for not being an attentive hostess, but can I offer you some tea?”
Immediately, Gaynor dashed toward the woman and pushed the tray away from Madison. His fiery glare pierced right through them both.
“Mother, they won’t be staying long,” he snapped. A dribble of spit flew from his mouth and rested on his hairy chin. “There’s no need for tea.”
Shock rattled Madison as she stared agape at the rude man. Cameron exchanged a surprised gaze with Madison. The older woman’s face paled, making her blonde hair appear whiter. She dropped her attention to the floor. Madison was quite embarrassed for the woman because her son acted in such a horrid way.
“I’m s-s-so sorry.” The woman’s hands shook and the tray teetered toward the floor.
Madison reached for the dishes to keep them from hitting the ground. She caught the tray, but the cups rolled to the edge. Cameron’s quick response caught the porcelain cups before they tossed to the floor. Once Madison had a firm hold on the tray, she concentrated on trying to get a vision, but nothing came.
“Pardon me, Miss.” The elderly servant joined those who juggled the dishes. “Let me take that.”
Although Madison wanted to argue, there was no reason for her to keep hold of the object without looking suspicious. She had no choice but to release it as the servant took the tray and dishes. She looked into Cameron’s eyes as hopelessness swept over her. Would she be able to help him at all?
“Please forgive my family,” Lord Hanover said, breaking the awkward silence stretching through the room. “We are all grieving, and I fear we aren’t quite ourselves today.”
Cameron gave him a curt nod. “That’s quite understandable. We’ll leave now.”
“That’s probably best.” Lord Hanover threw a scowl at Gaynor before he returned his attention to Cameron.
Lord Hanover briefly looked her way before Cameron gently tugged on her arm, leading them out of the room. Trying not to look suspicious, Madison ran her fingers over as much as she could on the way out. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to touch, and those things she did come in contact with didn’t bring her any visions.
This time when they passed the music room, they were closer and she detected a hint of a woman’s flowery cologne. Just as when they’d entered, the room stood empty.
Madison slowed her steps and glanced behind them. Thankfully, nobody followed, but she was certain the old servant would appear soon to escort them out.
“Cameron,” she whispered, pulling on his sleeve.
He stopped and narrowed his gaze on her.
“Do you smell that?”
He inhaled, but after a few moments, shook his head. “What am I supposed to smell?”
“A woman’s flowery cologne.”
He arched an eyebrow. “What’s so odd about that?”
“When we were in the sitting room with the others,” she kept her voice low, “this particular scent wasn’t in the air. Don’t you think that’s strange, especially because there were women in the room?”
He inhaled again, closing his eyes. Within seconds, his eye flew open and his gaze locked with hers. “Rosie wears this cologne. I’m sure of it.” He switched his attention to inside the room. “Do you think she was here? She loves to play the pianoforte, so perhaps—” He sucked in a quick breath and pointed to the floor just inside the entryway. “Look! There’s a woman’s handkerchief. Rosie has one just like that.”
Madison moved her focus to the rose-colored fabric surrounded by white lace with a flower hand stitched on the corner. “Are you quite sure? Because it looks rather ordinary.”
“Pick it up and see if you receive a vision.” He motioned his hand.
Why hadn’t I thought of that? Madison stepped closer and bent, but before she could touch it, footsteps slapping against the hard-wooden floor in a quick rhythm brought her upright again. The old servant approached them with distrust laced in his beady eyes.
“Pardon me, but did you forget something?” he asked in a harsh tone.
“Uh, well...” she began, but Cameron cleared his throat and stood in front of her.
“Forgive us,” he said loudly for the man who was hard of hearing, “but Miss Haywood believes she has dropped her handkerchief.” He pointed to the floor inside the room.
The servant’s eyes widened. He shook his head and pushed past Cameron to pick it up. “Oh, no. This isn’t Miss Haywood’s. This is Mrs. Brailsford’s handkerchief.” He pointed to the pianoforte. “She was playing earlier this afternoon and probably dropped this on her way out.”
Boiling inwardly, Madison endeavored to remain an outward appearance of calm. There was no way she could get it from him now. “Then forgive us for stalling our departure. We’ll leave now.” She hooked her hand around Cameron’s arm and they proceeded out of the door.
Once they were on the porch with the door closed, a strange feeling washed over her, as though they were being watched. Frowning, she peered back at the closed door before moving her gaze around the yard, and then up to the windows. Why would she feel like this?
Cameron sighed heavily as his shoulders sagged. “I could have ripped that cloth right out of his hands, but I didn’t want to make us look any more suspicious.”
“I felt the same.” She frowned.
“What did you think of Gaynor Brailsford?” he whispered.
She kept her hand tucked around his elbow as he walked them toward their buggy. “I couldn’t believe our luck. Could he possibly be the man we are searching for?”
“I certa
inly hope so.”
“The man did appear rather upset, but was it because we were there? If he had taken Rosie, wouldn’t he look guilty, knowing her brother was that close to him?”
“I’d thought of that.” Cameron arched an eyebrow. “He must suspect we are curious, which is why he didn’t act suspicious. I could tell he was concerned about his cousin’s death, but he was acting a little odd.”
“Do you really believe he is the same man that Rosie had mentioned in my vision?”
“I do.” Cameron shook his head. “However, this is all so coincidental how it fits together.”
She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“Mr. Bailey dies, and Gaynor is a relative...and he knows about Rosie.”
“Yes. I fear this isn’t looking very promising.” She sighed heavily. “And I pray Rosie isn’t involved with whatever is going on with this family.” She glanced back at the house. “I certainly didn’t feel very welcomed, and I didn’t like the atmosphere in that place, either.”
“You felt it, too?” He stroked his fingers over her arm. “I felt as though we had caught them doing something wrong.”
“As did I, but I don’t know why I felt that way.”
Once again, the strange feelings washed over her and she stopped. There was something about this house... And yet, she’d never been here before. So was it really the house or the confusion she’d felt inside? After all, that family was quite odd.
A movement from the front of the house caught her attention. Lord Hanover walked out of the front door and down the few steps, striding toward them as his walking stick assisted his steps. Cameron must have noticed the other man, because he sucked in a breath. Neither of them said a word until Lord Hanover stood in front of them.
“I’m glad you haven’t left yet.” He held out his hand, and clutched in his fingers was Madison’s shawl. “You seemed to have dropped this, Miss Haywood.”
“Oh, good heavens.” Madison chuckled as she did a quick glance at her arms. “I hadn’t even realized I’d left it.” She grasped it from him, and her fingers brushed against his briefly. Immediately, her mind was swept into a vision, and all she could see was the scene playing out in her head. Lord Hanover held a weeping woman in his arms. Tears streaked down his face—a face that appeared much younger in years.
I want my baby, the woman cried over and over while Lord Hanover stroked his palm down the woman’s back in a soothing motion. Why can’t they find her, the woman asked as she lifted her head and looked into Lord Hanover’s eyes. I cannot go on like this.
Madison couldn’t see the lost child, but in the back of her mind, the child’s cries returned from the other visions, wrenching Madison’s heart. Seeing the despondency creasing on both Lord Hanover and the woman’s expression nearly tore Madison apart. She needed to help them find their child.
Cameron’s voice brought her out of the vision. He was speaking with Lord Hanover and giving him a polite smile.
“I must apologize again for arriving unannounced. If we had known Mr. Brailsford would have resented our presence—”
“Please, don’t say another word about my careless nephew.” Lord Hanover folded his arms. “He and Jacob were very close, and so, this is a hard time for Gaynor. We’ve had quite a few deaths in our family during these last several years. None of us accepts it very well. I hope you understand. My nephew isn’t usually this rude, I assure you.”
Weakness took over Madison’s limbs again, but she tried to stay strong. She didn’t want to explain to the other man why she swooned. Tightening her grip on Cameron’s arm, she used his strength to hold herself up.
“We understand, my lord,” she said in a tight voice.
What bothered her about this particular vision, was wondering how it related to Cameron and Rosie? The frightened child’s sobs were the same in the visions she’d had before. So why would she get this particular vision when she touched Lord Hanover? And what did their missing child have to do with Cameron? Or did it have anything to do with the Westland family at all?
Without thinking, she reached out and grasped Lord Hanover’s arm. When the man looked at her, his watery grayish-blue eyes tugged on her heart. Once more, she felt the impact of what she needed to do...and she couldn’t wait a moment longer to help him.
“Lord Hanover, I was told your child went missing several years ago. Is that correct?”
“Yes. It was a very tragic time for our family.”
“Please forgive me for bringing this up,” she continued, “but I’ve been known to help the Metropolitan Police on a few assignments. I would love to relook at your case.”
Mist grew in his eyes and he blinked. He gripped her hands and squeezed them. “You are too kind, Miss Haywood, but it has been too many years. I fear my little girl is lost forever.”
“But I think—”
“No, Miss Haywood. I cannot go through that again. Dredging up the past will only cause my wife and I more heartache. Please, let it rest.”
“I...understand,” she murmured, although she really didn’t understand at all.
“Then I bid you a good day.” Lord Hanover nodded before turning and leaning heavily on his walking stick as he headed back toward the house.
Cameron stared deeply into Madison’s eyes as he carefully helped her into the carriage. “You had another vision, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” She fell limp against the seat.
He jumped in beside her and slipped his arms around her to hold her up. She struggled to sit by herself, but it was still too soon.
“What did you see?”
“It was about Lord Hanover.”
“About his missing child?”
“Yes.” She breathed in slowly, and then exhaled, trying to regulate her breath. “Cameron, I need to know something. Do you recall the case your father couldn’t solve—the people who had lost their child?”
Cameron’s gaze narrowed and a deep frown claimed his handsome face. “What does this have to do with—”
“Just answer my question. Who were the missing child’s parents?”
He scratched his head as he looked back toward the house. His forehead creased as lines pulled at the corners of his mouth.
“They were titled, I remember that, but that name—”
“Please, Cameron, try to think of their name.”
“You can’t possibly think Lord Hanover is the father of that child.”
“Yes, I do.” She linked her hands with his. “And I believe that is the reason I had received those visions at your house. Your father had cared deeply about this case, and when I touched those items he’d made, that’s why I could see and hear the child.” She took a deep breath and released it. “Cameron, I think I was led to you and your house so I could solve the case your father couldn’t.”
TWELVE
A small wind picked up, and the warmer air caressed their faces as Cameron drove them toward the police station. He hadn’t spoken since they left Mr. Bailey’s house. Remarkably enough, neither had Madison.
So much had happened since he crawled out of bed this morning. He’d gone from feeling lighthearted, and then excited as ideas flowed between him and Madison. Then a different exhilaration rushed through him when he shared a passionate kiss with that amazing woman. But since they’d arrived at Mr. Bailey’s house, things had grown more confusing as the minutes passed.
Cameron had actually anticipated sharing more kisses with Madison, unfortunately, things had taken a sudden turn when she talked about trying to find Lord Hanover’s missing child. It unnerved Cameron that she wasn’t concentrating fully on finding Rosie. Madison hadn’t told him outright that she was putting Rosie’s case on hold. However, what else could he think when Madison’s eyes danced with newfound delight when she described her vision with Lord Hanover, and believing she was brought to him for this purpose.
Inwardly, he growled. No!
She was brought to him to help locate Rosie, and he wouldn’
t have it any other way.
Desperation mixed with surrender washed throughout him. Part of him wanted to throw his hands in the air and give up on this search. All the clues pointed toward Rosie leaving them...instead of being taken. He wouldn’t be able to stop the rumors once they got started, and for certain, they would spread like wildfire now that Garrick and Flannery knew. Cameron was certain Miss Trent would add her gossip to the circles, as well.
Anger grew by leaps inside of him as a vein in his forehead throbbed. Rosie had created a scandal that would affect their family for years to come. Why had she been so selfish? Had this search for his sister been futile from day one? If Rosie was obstinate enough to run to Gaynor Brailsford for a new life, then she could bloody well marry the bloke.
Unfortunately, every time he thought about giving up the search, something inside of him encouraged him to continue looking. Whether or not it was his father whispering from the grave, but he must solve this case. For his father’s memory. Cameron’s sire wouldn’t want him to overlook anyone in their family just because they made some mistakes along the pathway of life.
“You have been awfully quiet since we left Mr. Bailey’s house.”
Madison’s soft voice brought him out of his jumbled thoughts. “My apologies. I’ve just had a lot to think about.”
“Do you care to share with me what’s on your mind?”
He glanced at her. Wide, wondrous cobalt eyes stared at him. Why did she have to be so pretty? It was hard to be upset at her when she looked like someone who just wanted to be cuddled and loved.
“I’ve been thinking about Rosie.” Shrugging, he aimed his focus back on the road. “The more information we find, the more I’m inclined to believe she wanted to leave with Gaynor. Even if I found her and forced her to return home, I’m quite certain she would run away again.”
After a few moments of silence, he peeked at Madison to see why she hadn’t said anything. Her expression was drawn into a frown as she stared ahead of them. Perhaps she agreed with him and was too afraid to let him know she wanted to stop looking for Rosie.
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