Mastering The Marquess (Bound and Determined #1)(95)

Enough with these feelings. He had a harvest to think about. It might be months away, but planning was required if he wished to be sure he had enough men available at the correct times. He did not wish other facets of the estates to suffer because of the great number of resources the harvest would require. His managers would work out the details, but he wished to be sure of the overview well ahead of time. He would have to inquire which crops were flourishing and which were not so that he could be sure the men were allocated properly.

The door swung open and he raised his head, expecting the footman with news that Louisa had taken the carriage after all.

“Do you know where your sister is?” Duldon asked, his face more marked with emotion than Swanston could recall at any time since the war.

“I was just asking the same about my wife. She seems to be out as well. Perhaps they are together.” He leaned back from his correspondence, carefully keeping his tone light.

“I dearly hope not. Your sister left your father’s house this morning at an early hour. One of the grooms said he believed the carriage she entered was marked with the Ormande crest. Your father did not even know she had gone. She carried a bag with her and did not bring a maid. She did make mention of Richmond, but her maid was not sure that was the destination.”

“How could the duke …?” Swanston let his words trail off. The question was pointless. The duke was unaware of much of what went on about him, and his children topped the list.

“I don’t know. And I don’t care,” Duldon answered. “What matters now is finding Bliss. I’ve already sent a man to inquire at Ormande’s town house. Bliss has not been seen and the Countess has not been home since yesterday.”

“Is the count in Town?”

“He is expected this evening. He has been visiting with friends in Surrey, but is due to return for a musicale tomorrow.”

“We cannot expect help from that front, then. Why can the blasted man not control his own wife? I should have followed through with my demands that he send her north and keep her there.”

Duldon’s expression clearly said that he agreed, but he did not add the words, for which Swanston was grateful. He had enough worries without adding the guilt of what he should have done. It was better to focus on what could be done. “Does Ormande keep a house in Richmond? No, I know he does not. What of the Countess? It does not seem a likely location for her. Friends? Family?”

“Her family, what little she has, is spread across the continent, but none here as far as can be determined. And her friends, like her, do not seem the type for summerhouses along the river. I am not sure they ever leave the city.”

Swanston did not ask how Duldon knew these things, figuring the man must have some secret network that kept him informed. How else did he know everyone’s financial secrets before they did? “Then where?”

“A hotel? No, I cannot see the Countess being so public. There must be somebody.”

Swanston waited, watching the thoughts swirl behind his friend’s eyes. “Mayberry. The Countess has been in his company much in these past weeks, and I do believe he has a home he wishes to be rid of. I remember that it was not far from the city. Was it Richmond? It must have been. Blast, I should have paid more attention, but it seemed merely trivia. I do remember that it was left empty, with only the skeleton of a staff.”

“Do you know who to ask? It would be easy to lure Bliss to Richmond: It does sound the most harmless of locations.” Swanston pushed back from his desk, standing. He needed to move.

“Yes, I will make inquiry. And also pay a visit to Mayberry himself. He might know if the Countess is making use of his property—although perhaps not. Still, the direct approach is often best.” Duldon headed for the door.

“Send word as soon as you know. I will have horses waiting. At least Richmond is not far. Perhaps I should just—”

“No.” Duldon spoke with renewed calmness. “If they are not in Richmond you will not be here if needed. It is better to know for certain before rushing off.”

Damn it. Duldon was correct. He caught hold of his own worries and reined them in. It was too early to worry. And if—he buried the darkest possibilities away—Bliss was at risk, he did not want to have rushed off on a fool’s errand. The Countess was not a stupid woman. She was more than capable of creating a diversion.

“I will be here waiting. I will send someone to my father’s house to ask further questions. Somebody must know something—Bliss has never been known for keeping secrets. Perhaps her maid will know which of her friends she currently holds in confidence. Somebody must know something,” he repeated, hoping it was true.



With a sudden lurch, the giant of a man lifted his weight from her, almost impaling her on the bench’s springs in the process, and joined his friend on the seat across. “We’re far enough now—go ahead and scream if you like. Nobody in this neighborhood will care. Don’t move for the doors, though—the lady did say she wished you undamaged. But she is well aware that accidents can happen.”

The lady? What lady? Louisa worked her way up to sitting, keeping a careful eye on the men across from her. The carriage jostled hard, the roads growing worse by the second. Curtains hung closed about the windows and she did not dare move them to see where they were. It must still be London; they had not traveled that far.