But she’s missing now. Kidnapped. She’s probably terrified this very moment. How can I lay here when she’s scared, somewhere out there?
Lord Pemperton was saying something to James. David didn’t hear any of it. He wanted to drift asleep but his mind was much too loud to allow it, his body seeming to sway under the effects of the alcohol. The movement around him blurred to nothing because all his attention was on the beautiful lady under his care that he had let down.
Chapter Thirty
“Here,” Lord Pemperton said, standing above him. “Drink some of this.”
David didn’t move. There was a growing pain behind his eyes and the longer he sat there staring up at the ceiling seeing nothing, the worse it seemed to grow.
Lord Pemperton took the seat next to him. “It’s coffee,” he explained. “It should help sober you up some. You’re of no use to Miss Isabel in this state and you should know that.”
He did and it bothered him to realize just how easily he had fallen into such a dark hole of despair. He prided himself on being able to do what he needed to fix a situation. He was level-headed and competent, yet here he was swimming under his regret and his fears.
Slowly, he lifted his head, hoping the room wouldn’t sway too much when he did. Lord Pemperton watched him unwaveringly, and David waited until he was no longer seeing two of him before he reached for the coffee sitting on the end table next to him. He didn’t fancy coffee at all, but he took a brave sip, praying its effects would be instantaneous.
It wasn’t, so he took another and then another, Lord Pemperton watching him all the while.
“I will apologize to Lord d’Ylles,” he murmured, setting his half-drunken cup of coffee down.
“As is expected, Your Grace. I’m sure the Count will understand.”
David doubted it. He had punched him quite hard, which was sure to bruise badly tomorrow. Seeing that was bound to make Lord d’Ylles angry all over again but David couldn’t find it within himself to care.
In fact, any thought of Lord d’Ylles made him angry all over again and it was a struggle to contain it.
Does he know how lucky he is to have a lady like Miss Isabel? He should be tearing London upside down trying to find her right now!
But then again, so should David. He was the one who was desperately in love with her, anyhow.
Bolstered by that thought, he reached for the coffee again, inwardly begging for the effects to take hold until he was mentally straight again, to focus on finding Miss Isabel. He was very much aware of Lord Pemperton by his side watching his every move, but he couldn’t blame him. He’d never been someone who couldn’t control his anger, yet he had not only punched another person but had damaged furniture pieces as well. He needed to be watched.
“I won’t be able to sleep,” he admitted into the silence. “Not when I know that she’s out there and she needs our help.”
“That’s understandable,” Lord Pemperton said. “Lady Pemperton and I will stay with you.”
“There’s no need—”
“We were there, Your Grace. She was in our care when it happened and we love her as much as you do. We won’t be able to sleep well in our beds tonight, either.”
You don’t. You don’t love her like I do.
“Understood,” David said, because there was no need to argue about it. It would do him good to have company. It might keep him out of his drowning thoughts.
“James,” Lord Pemperton said, turning his head toward the door where James supposedly stood all this time. “Bring in Lady Pemperton and Lord d’Ylles.”
David tensed at the mention of the Count. He didn’t want to see the other gentleman but he knew he had a right to be here like everyone else. He kept his eyes on the ceiling, however, as still as a rock even when he heard them enter. He didn’t turn his head to the side when a shadow passed by him and sat in a nearby loveseat.
“Lord d’Ylles has left, My Lord,” James said from behind. David tried not to let loose a breath of relief.
Lady Pemperton, however, sighed heavily. “As is expected. He was furious when he took his leave.”
“I will apologize another time,” David mumbled.
“I’m sure you will, Your Grace.” Her voice trailed off and David had the uneasy feeling that she had something important that she wanted to say. “We contacted the authorities before coming here and have informed them of the situation. I’m sure they will have news for us soon.”
That sparked some hope in him and he clung to it as if it was his lifeline. “How long do you think it’ll be until we have word?” he asked slowly, trying not slur his speech too much.
“There is no telling, Your Grace,” Lord Pemperton said. “I reckon we won’t be hearing back from them until the morning.”
So many things can happen by then.
The negative thoughts came bleeding back in to drown out the hope.
“There is something I’d like to ask you, Your Grace,” Lady Pemperton said.
“What is that, My Lady?”
“Your reaction once we informed you of what happened,” she started off and David tensed. “It was quite unexpected. I understand that you were drunk, but I’ve never seen you react in such an explosive manner before.”
Slowly, David lifted his head and looked at her. Lady Pemperton’s face gave nothing away. “She is my ward, My Lady,” he said. “It is my duty to take care of her and she has been taken while under my care.”
“I suppose that is true,” Lady Pemperton agreed with a nod. “Though I can’t understand how that would justify such violence just now.”
“Such can be the influence of alcohol,” David said, trying not to grumble in annoyance. Truthfully, he was just on edge because he could sense that whatever it was Lady Pemperton was about to say, it was something he didn’t want to hear.
“That is also true,” she said, her tone much too amicable to be trusted at a time like this. “But I have a feeling there is more to it than you are letting on.”
David narrowed his eyes at her. He prided himself on not reacting strongly outright, though his heart jumped painfully at her words. “Pardon me, My Lady?”
“I think you heard me,” Lady Pemperton said simply. “Are you saying that I’m incorrect?”
He looked at Lord Pemperton. The Marquess looked just as taken aback at the words of his wife but he couldn’t be certain if it was because he hadn’t thought anything like that, or he hadn’t expected her to confront him like this.
He sat up gently. “I do not understand where this is all coming from.”
“I’ve been watching you two whenever I have the chance to,” she explained. “And, honestly, I’m surprised my dear own husband hasn’t noticed it as well. It’s as clear as day. You two can hardly keep your eyes off each other and your clear dislike of Lord d’Ylles is another indication.”
“He was simply the closest person to me when I acted out of anger. I have nothing against him.”
“I’m sure that’s what you would like for us to believe, since you are so hell-bent on denying it.” She shrugged. “Very well, Your Grace. I was supportive of Miss Isabel’s decision to marry Lord d’Ylles despite what I thought she may feel for you, because I thought that was what she truly wanted to do.”
“She cares for the Count.”
“But not as much as she cares for you.”
Frustration mounted in him. “Why are you so convinced that what you are saying is right, My Lady?”
“Because I know that I am,” she said with no anger in her voice. It sounded as if she was simply stating what she believed to be a fact and that nothing David said would change her mind. “You do care for her, Your Grace.”
He opened his mouth to protest. At this point, saying the words out loud was the only thing he could think might dissuade her from her persisting beliefs. But the words wouldn’t past his lips. No matter how many times he repeated it in his head, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Da
vid sagged. “You are right, My Lady.”
Her only reaction was a nod and a slight, albeit pitying, smirk. “I’m happy you are able to admit it, Your Grace.”
“But,” he said, and watched the way her smile fell. “I cannot think about anything else other than finding her. Not her betrothal, not my feelings, nothing.”
“I understand completely, Your Grace. For now we should just wait to hear news of her disappearance.”
He nodded and laid his head back down, letting out a quiet breath. He could nearly hear the Marquess’ questions on the left of him and was grateful that the other gentleman let the silence invade the room instead. There was little else he wanted to say right now in any case.
It should come as no surprise to him that Lady Pemperton had been aware of his feelings for Isabel. He had caught the Marchioness watching him a few times, in a way that made him feel like she could read his thoughts. He didn’t even feel peculiar about being questioned so suddenly about it. He didn’t feel anything other than his worry.
It was so strong that it overwhelmed everything else. It annoyed David that he could only sit there and wait for new for now. He hoped the case was in good hands, and that when the authorities arrived, they would be bringing good news along with them.
Yet he couldn’t get rid of the painful thought that wouldn’t happen. He couldn’t let go of all the worrisome and gloomy thoughts that paraded his mind.
He couldn’t’ stop thinking about her smiling face and the acute happiness she would exude whenever she was around him. His heart pained him when he suddenly noticed how that delight had faded over time, until the lady he last saw was one who no longer wanted to be in his presence.
How could I have allowed it to get so bad?
It didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was finding her and doing better in the future.
What mattered was seeing her face again and that wonderful smile he had fallen in love with.
Chapter Thirty-One
It felt like hours before he truly sobered up and by that time, David was desperate to go to sleep. But every time his eye lids drifted, he got up and downed another cup of coffee, letting the strong effects keep him going for a short while longer as they waited to hear news about Miss Isabel.
He was grateful for the fact that Lord and Lady Pemperton stayed with him throughout the night like they said they would. And he was even more grateful that they hadn’t said much. A few times, Lady Pemperton would attempt to lessen his worry, but it was to no avail, especially since it was obvious that she was riddled with it as well.
When word finally came, David was wired with energy. He perked up the moment he was told about the news of Miss Isabel’s disappearance, then sagged once again when he realized that they had found nothing and would continue looking. It all felt very hopeless.
Now that he was sober and the effects of the coffee was setting in as the new day came, he was feeling a lot more like himself. The version of himself he knew could handle this situation well.
“Here, Your Grace,” James said, handing over a tray with a cup of steaming tea. “This should help settle your stomach.”
“Thank you,” David murmured. He had sent James off to rest once the night had grown too old and the other man had come back much earlier than he needed to. David could see lines of stress on his face and wondered if he was as worried for Miss Isabel as everyone else was. He didn’t think James slept four hours before he came back ready to serve his master.
Lord and Lady Pemperton were on the other side of the room, still quite awake though dark circles had appeared beneath their eyes. The Marquess was saying something to his wife, running a hand over her shoulder. David figured he was trying to console her after hearing the discouraging news about Miss Isabel.
Who knows? By now, she might be in even more danger.
But he wouldn’t focus on those thoughts right now. He had to do something.
“Have someone fetch Lord d’Ylles,” he told James after taking a sip of his tea. There was more for the others, as well as a few pieces of buttered toast that David had no interest in eating. It was smart of James to know that he would not sit down for breakfast at a time like this.
“Yes, Your Grace.” James hurried off to do as told, leaving David with his thoughts.
James returned when David was done with his tea. He had called over the Marquess and his wife to have some tea as well, and to nibble on something to ease their no doubt empty stomachs but they refused. He didn’t think they would have the appetite to stomach anything right now.
While he waited for the Count to arrive, David went over all the things he knew, which wasn’t much. He had been relying so heavily on the authorities that he hadn’t stopped to get the full details about what happened himself. They had explained how they searched for her when they realized that she was gone, but he would need every bit of additional detail in order to act. Now that he was determined to take matters into his own hands, that would have to change.
“My Lord, My Lady,” he said politely, when he thought he was strong enough. Now that the night was over, David was feeling a little shame of his previous drunken behavior come over him. “Come join me in the parlor.”
He caught the way they looked at each other before following him into the parlor. The space had been cleaned up since last night. The end table was nowhere to be found and David wondered if he might have broken a leg off when he knocked it over. He put it to the back of his mind, not wanting to think of his terrible behavior last night.
“I see you’re in a better mood than I, Your Grace,” Lady Pemperton said as she breezed past him to take a seat. Lord Pemperton, whether he noticed it or not, came to stand by her side.
David maintained the distance between them. After how he acted last night, and the things he had admitted before they had all fallen into silence, he had expected to feel more at ease than he did right now. Instead, he was much too tightly-wounded, though he was doing well at hiding it.
“I must first apologize for my behavior last night, My Lady, My Lord,” he said and watched as they both blinked in confusion. He felt more like himself than he’d felt in days. “I was down in spirits last night and I took to drinking as a way of coping. It was an error on my part, since I don’t drink enough to know how to have a decent handle on my liquor. I took that out on you two when you gave me your news and for that, I am sorry.”
“You know you needn’t apologize to us, Your Grace,” Lady Pemperton said, waving her hand dismissively. The movement was tired.
“Will Lord d’Ylles be coming as well?” Lord Pemperton asked.
“Yes,” David said with a nod. He had already expected that question, which was why he hadn’t bothered to deal with Lord d’Ylles separately. “I understand I insulted him the most and it would only be right if I offered my apologies in front of those who had been there.”
“Smart thinking, Your Grace,” Lady Pemperton said. Her tone was distant, a little sharp, her gaze unwavering. She was looking at him as if she was seeing straight through to his soul and it made him a little uncomfortable.
“Indeed,” he said. He stayed by the hearth, pacing back and forth as he began to think. “While we wait for him to arrive, we should begin trying to figure out who might have taken Miss Isabel. Do either of you have an idea who might have wanted to do such a thing?”
Lady Pemperton sighed softly, her shoulders falling slightly. “I can hardly think straight,” she admitted. “I wonder if perhaps it might be someone who was jealous of her.”
“Would someone dare to take their jealousy so far?” Lord Pemperton wondered aloud.
“If that is the case, it makes things much more difficult for us. That could be anyone.” He kept walking back and forth, falling into the comfortable rhythm. It helped keep his mind focused on what he needed to figure out and not on his fears on what might be happening to Miss Isabel right now.
“Take me through what happened,” he said, facing them. “From the
moment you arrived at the Opera House to when you left to inform me of her being missing.”
Lord Pemperton was the one who spoke next. But before he could, there was a knock on the door and the butler poked his head inside saying, “Lord d’Ylles has arrived, Your Grace.”
The anger came fast and David tried his best to tamper it down. He hadn’t expected it to go away now that he was sober but since he was, he had a much better handle on it. In fact, he doubted anyone in the room knew what was going through his mind.
Daring Deeds 0f A Forbidden Duchess (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 20
