Wild Lily (Those Notorious Americans Book 1)(89)

He grimaced. He must face the possibility that his marriage was so torn that he might never mend it. Unless he could persuade her to return to him.

A new satchel of medical equipment might cause her to smile, but presents alone would not lure her back to him. He had to give her himself and if he waited much longer, not even that could induce her to come home.

He spun for the hallway, found a housemaid and told her to fetch his valet and Perkins to him immediately.

“Send round my carriage,” he told the butler when the man stood before him. “I’m off to Willowreach and don’t know when I’ll return.”





Five days later, Julian climbed down from his cab to take the steps to Killian Hanniford’s house in the Rue Haussmann. He’d taken the train from London in a hurry, and he was miserable in body and mind. On the hunt for her for days now, he’d been to Willowreach where she’d said she would go. Then, hearing from staff that she’d left to Ashford, he’d searched there, to no avail. Paris was his last hope of finding her.

In the past few weeks, Julian had noticed only one letter from Killian had arrived at Broadmore for his wife. Marianne and Ada had written often to Lily that the family would take a four-week holiday at a seaside hotel in Cherbourg. Although Lily had told Julian she didn’t expect letters from her family while they were on vacation, he surmised they must know where she was.

Yesterday, when Julian had sent a telegram to their Cherbourg hotel to his father-in-law, he’d been shocked to receive a reply from the concierge that Monsieur Hanniford had returned to Paris. Alarmed at Killian’s sudden departure, fearing some accident had befallen Lily, Julian made haste to go to Paris, too. If Lily had rejoined her family, Julian had to go, hat in hand, to apologize and get back his wife.

The Hanniford butler opened the door to him. Julian recognized him as the same man who’d served in that capacity almost a year ago when first he’d met Lily and become enchanted with her.

“Wonderful to see you, Your Grace.” Foster took his hat and gloves. “Mister Hanniford is with a visitor. A business associate. We did not expect you, Your Grace.”

“Please tell Mister Hanniford I’m here. It’s urgent.”

“At once, of course.” Foster grew wide-eyed in alarm. “Perhaps you wish to wait with Mrs. Roland and Miss Hanniford, Your Grace?”

“Yes. That’s good. Anyone. Quickly.” The butler stepped with speed down the hall.

Julian followed him into a large salon overlooking the boulevard.

“Julian!” Marianne shot to her feet to greet him, her smile dying when she saw his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Is Lily here?”

“She’s not with you?” Marianne put a hand to her throat.

“How can that be?” Ada was aghast.

“Is she here?” he persisted.

“No,” Marianne blurted. “No!”

“We’ve had so few letters from you,” Julian said, weary, angry they did not answer him. “When Lily didn’t return to me, I thought perhaps she’d come here and told all of you not to write.”

“Where has she gone?” Marianne was horrified. She seized his arm and led him into the room. “The family has been in Cherbourg. On vacation—”

“Julian?” Killian charged through the doorway. “Foster told me to come at once. What’s wrong? What are you doing here and where’s—?”

“Lily. I came to find her.”

Killian tipped his head. His black eyes went to slits. “What do you mean?”

“She’s left me.”

“What?” Killian’s fear rang through the room. “How? Why?”

“We’ve had our challenges,” Julian said, meeting his father-in-law’s stare with determination.

Killian snorted. “I’ll bet. Your mother would be my first guess.”

“I’ve taken care of her.”

“By what? Sending her to deepest Africa?” Killian fumed.

“I might try that,” Julian conceded.

“What happened to Lily?” Killian demanded.

“Without a word, she has left. No note. No indication of where. I’ve tracked her from the countryside by coach. I’ve been to Willowreach and Ashford. I’ve checked in London. There is nothing. Nothing. So, if she’s not here, would she have returned to America?”

Killian, Ada and Marianne checked each other’s expressions.

“No,” said Ada.

“I doubt it,” said Marianne.

Julian winced.

“Our Lily is no weakling,” Killian declared. “But to be alone? Alone? What happened? You can’t come here, drop this on us and not give me some explanation.”

“I didn’t cure our mutual problems early enough. She grew…away from me. More than that, I’m not certain. I’ve had so much to do to take on the duchy that I ignored her and I…I lost her.”

“Christ.” Killian went for the bell pull.

“I’m right here, sir,” Foster said, stepping forward. He’d never left the drawing room.

“Brandy. Get us a bottle. Tea, too. Food, please. Here.” His gaze ran over Julian. “You look like hell.”