Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(57)

When he walked into the house, his father, red in the face, said, “What have you done?”

“In my study, now,” Avery said to Henry.

Henry followed him in and shut the door. Avery turned to him. “Penelope’s missing. What have you done?”

Henry shrugged. “Why do you think I did something? Maybe she wandered off by herself and is hiding for some stupid reason only a fourteen-year-old girl knows.”

Avery ran his fingers through his hair. “We both know Penelope didn’t just wander off. Since the day I brought that girl home, you’ve made it clear you don’t want her around. You have said you were going to kill her on several occasions.

“Tell me, Henry. You can’t protect yourself. Only I can protect you. Tell me what you did.”

Henry started pacing and raised his voice. “That’s the problem, Father. You brought her into this house, and she ignores me when I try to talk with her. Then she gets me into trouble with you. It’s true; I wanted her dead.”

Avery closed his eyes. He hadn’t cried since he was a young boy, but he wanted to cry now. He was sure Henry had killed Penelope. He just had to figure out how to handle it.





Chapter 24


Edward’s head snapped up. He didn’t hear a scream, but he could feel it. Something was terribly wrong.

He had lost track of time while reading. How much time? He and Penelope checked on each other every half hour to make sure everything was fine. That Henry hadn’t done something to one or the other of them. It was more than a half hour since he checked in with Penelope.

There were enough people inside the house that Edward usually didn’t bother looking anywhere there. He rose and ran to his bedchamber door, down the stairs, and out the front door.

“Penelope,” he called as he ran. “Penelope.” Circle the house, he thought. He did. Nothing. “Penelope.”

He closed his eyes but didn’t hear anything. Think. Which direction. The stables.

“Old Robbie,” he yelled, searching for the stable master. Old Robbie was not old. He was tall, large, red-headed with grey streaks running through his hair. His face was lined with age, but his eyes were vibrant and exhibited a youthful glow. No, there was nothing old about Old Robbie but his greying hair and a face lined with experience, “Has anyone gone for a ride?”

“No, Edward. Are you worried?”

Edward nodded. “About Penelope. I haven’t seen her lately.”

“I’ll send someone into the village to see if she is there. I’ll cover this side of the house. You go around to the other side.” Edward turned his back and ran, hearing Old Robbie’s shrill whistle to call his stable boys to him. There was an understanding amongst those who worked for the Stantons that no one spoke of. All had either seen or heard what Henry was about.

The day was windless and warm, and the sun shone brightly. Maybe she went to the meadow.

Edward ran.

On his way to the meadow, Edward encountered Henry coming toward him, headed for the house.

Edward, frantic, was running as fast as possible while Henry was walking toward him at a leisurely pace.

Edward reached him and stopped, but Henry continued to walk. Edward panted from his run and fell into step with his cousin.

“Where is she?” Edward gritted out.

Henry shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said, his eyes shining with playfulness.

“Have you seen her?”

“No, now leave me, Edward. I didn’t come out here to be bothered by you.”

Edward looked around. “What are you doing out here? There’s nothing here worth seeing or doing.”

Henry whipped around to Edward and looked him in the eye, “What I do and where I go is none of your business. A sixteen-year-old boy will not badger me.

Edward watched Henry walk away. He stood where they were just moments ago and slowly turned in a full circle. Penelope, where might you be? The meadow is the only place you would go. God help me, I hope you didn’t go alone.

Edward ran. When he reached the meadow, the flowers and grasses were so high Edward wouldn’t see her if she was laying in the sun on the ground on her back.

He began to walk the edge of the meadow looking for a narrow opening where footsteps would have displaced the growth.

“Penelope,” he called repeatedly. She and Edward were always alert to Henry’s misdeeds. Penelope would call back to him if she could hear him.

Old Robbie and three of the men working on the estate rode up. “I’ve put some men in a line and told them to check every inch of the land on the east side. We’ll do the same here.

“Any idea where we should look?”

Edward shook his head no. “Henry was walking toward me as I was running here. I think we will find her somewhere in this area.”

Old Robbie spoke louder. “Men, form a line for a search party. We’ll walk the horses in a straight line until we find something.” He turned to Edward, “If I may, My Lord, go back to the house and get the staff searching everywhere inside. She could be unconscious.”

Edward nodded and ran.

The butler, Waters, looked concerned when Edward ran through the door.

“My Lord?”

“Gather the staff. We must search every inch of this house for Penelope. She has been missing for over two hours. Old Robbie’s men are searching the property. Assign rooms to every servant and have them searched. All regular duties are to be abandoned. If there is no dinner tonight, so be it. Do you know where my mother might be?”