The Highlander Is All That (Untamed Highlanders #4)(64)

Hamish’s gut clenched. Bile surged into his mouth. No one knew where she was? How was that a good thing?

He glanced helplessly at Ranald, who shook his head. “Blast. As soon as we find one, we lose another.”

“We’ve got to leave immediately. We’ve got to find her!” Hopefully no one noticed the trill of panic in his tone.

Mary blew out a puff of air. “Elizabeth will be fine.”

“She’s alone.” Who knew what kind of trouble she could be in?

“She can take care of herself.”

Hamish stared at Anne. What was wrong with these girls? “She’s just a wee lass.”

To his annoyance, the sisters exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

“This is Elizabeth,” Anne assured him, although it assured him not at all.

So he ignored her. “We can take the packet back,” he said. “It’s faster.”

Anne’s eyes bulged and she slapped her hand over her mouth.

Mary shook her head. “Clearly that won’t work. I doubt Anne would survive.”

Ranald frowned. “She already has a tender stomach from the journey north.”

“Has she?” Mary frowned and squeezed her sister’s hand. “I am sorry.”

Anne gasped a breath and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“The carriage movement, I suppose,” Ranald said.

Mary frowned. “You’ve never been ill in a carriage, have you?”

“No,” Anne said.

“Maybe it’s the plague.”

Everyone gaped at Mary. The plague?

“Or the ague.”

A much better suggestion.

“Or the constant swaying.” Anne put her hand to her head. “I feel as though I am still moving.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t travel yet.” Was Ranald’s expression . . . tender?

Mary caught Hamish’s eye with a curious look. He shrugged. He had no idea what was going on between her sister and his friend, and if he did, he certainly wouldn’t tell her.

“We have to find Elizabeth,” Hamish reminded everyone. Were they not paying attention?

“You can travel by packet,” Ranald said. “I’ll take the carriage with the girls.”

Mary shook her head. “Oh no. Jamison needs to get back to work.”

Ranald gaped at her. “Do you seriously think Lady Esmeralda will allow that?”

“She has to,” Mary sniffed. “I need to eat.”

Hamish huffed impatiently. Shall we stick to the matter at hand? “Mary, when does the next packet leave for London?” he asked.

“Tonight, from Solway.” She smiled. “Jamison and I were planning to be on it.”

Finally! Some progress. “That sounds perfect.”

“It has stops though.”

Hamish glowered. “How many?”

She tipped back her head and counted off on her fingers, “Liverpool, Bristol, Falmouth—that’s in Cornwall, don’t you know?” And when Hamish frowned at her, she finished quickly with, “Portsmouth and Dover.”

“Bluidy hell.

“It is a packet.”

“Still faster than the coach,” Ranald said. “Besides, I think Anne may need to rest for a few days before we start back. Do you mind if we stay?”

No. He bluidy hell did not mind. He didn’t give a rat’s ass what Ranald did. Or Anne for that matter. He wanted to get back to Elizabeth. His expression must have spoken for him because Ranald nodded. “That is the plan then. When I return, I will join the search for Elizabeth.” He tapped his lip with a finger. “You might want to ask McCloud and Moncrieff to help in the meanwhile. From all I’ve heard, they are exceptionally accomplished with such things.”

“Finding women?”

“Well, yes, that, but dealing with thorny issues as well.”

Hah. Thorny this was.

“Don’t worry, Hamish,” Mary said when she caught his doleful expression. “I promise you. Elizabeth is fine.”

She seemed so certain, Hamish nearly envied her her na?vety. But no matter what her sisters said, he knew Elizabeth was in trouble. He knew it to his bones. She needed him, and she needed him now.

*

Wallace Twiggenberry glared into his glass, and then he glared at Blackworth. “What the hell is taking so long?”

Blackworth tossed back his drink and then lifted a finger for another. They sat in the Reading Room of White’s, an elite and far too costly club, but one a man made sacrifices to attend. “These things take time,” Blackworth murmured.

“I don’t have a surfeit of time.”

“He will come through. I assure you.”

“You said your man was the best.”

“The best I know.”

Wallace shook his head and resumed glowering. “I’ve never trusted these Runners. All low-class brigands.”

Blackworth smirked. “Sometimes one has a need for low-class brigands.”

Well, there was that. And Wallace was definitely in need. He had to find Elizabeth before the truth came out. He was desperate to do so. He would do anything, even hire a Bow Street Runner.

But damn. Why was it taking so long?

Time was running out.