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But she didn’t need to explain herself to him or anyone else. “Yes, please,” she said, and started for thestaircase.
Caroline breezed past Emma’s room, but stopped in the corridor when she spotted Nelson, her son’s beagle, sitting at attention in front of Rachel’s door. That was odd. The dog had been moping in Adam’s room ever since they’d arrived in Londonwithouthim.
“Nelson,” she whispered to the dog. “Gosomewhereelse.”
He barked indefiance.
Oh! For heaven’s sake! He was going to wake Rachel. The rotten dog! What in the world was wrong with him? “Nelson!” shehissed.
Nelson began whimpering and pawing at Rachel’s door. It would have to be Rachel’s door. Emma slept like the dead, but Racheldidnot.
Fine. He wanted to sleep with Rachel tonight. He might wake her up if Caroline let him into her room, but he was sure to wake her, whining, barking, and pawing at her door if she didn’t let him in. So Caroline turned the handle and let the incessant beast into her daughter’s room, praying he’d stop making noise once he got what hewanted.
But, of course, he did the complete opposite of that. Nelson burst into Rachel’s chambers and barked up a veritable storm. Damn that dog! Caroline followed him into the room, trying to wrangle him before he could wake her daughter, but he was a slippery littlebastard.
Nelson jumped onto Rachel’s bed, barking even louder, hopping around in a circle. And Caroline was certain her heart was going to stop when she realized her daughter wasnotabed.
“Rachel!” she called, but nothing met her ears except for Nelson’swhining.
Was that what the dog had been trying to tell her? That Rachelwasgone?
Oh good God! Where in the world was her daughter? With the moonlight streaming in through the window, it was quite clear she was nowhere inherroom.
Caroline’s heart pounded like a hammer as she raced from her daughter’s chambers, back down the steps. “Simmons!” she called. “Simmons!”
The butler appeared in the corridor, looking quite shaken. “Yes, LadyStaveley?”
“Rachel is not in her chambers,” Caroline began, barely understanding herself, she sounded sopanicked.
“She’s gone?” Simmons’ frowndeepened.
“She’s not in her chambers,” Carolinerepeated.
Simmons nodded. “All right. I’ll gather Nelly, milady. Not to worry, I’m sure we’ll find her.” And then he raced down the corridor to wakeRachel’smaid.
Perhaps Nelly would know something.Perhaps…
Caroline’s knees nearly buckled beneath her and she couldn’t keep from shaking. Oh, dear God! What could have possible happened to her daughter? That open window. The stolen journal. What if someone returned and Rachel stumbleduponthem?
Caroline grasped the railing to keep from falling to the floor. Where could her poor little girl be? Who was she with? What were they doing to her? A million horrible images flashed in her mind, and she didn’t even realize she was sobbing until Simmons reappeared before her and offered herhishand.
“Come, milady,” he said kindly. “Come sit in the parlor. I’ll bring in some tea to help steady yournerves.”
She took a staggering breath as she accepted the butler’s assistance. “Luke,” she breathed out. “Lucas Beckford, my brother. He’s at the Clayworths. Please send forhim,and…”
“If I may, madam,” Simmons began calmly, directing her into her white parlor. “I do believe sending for Lord Haversham might be a better choice in thisregard.”
Marc!Oh, heavens! Marc was on his way here right now. “He sh-sh-should be here any moment, actually.” She was so upset she didn’t even sound likeherself.
Simmons nodded as he helped her to a spot on the settee. “The servants’ entrance is unlocked,” he said as he led her to the settee. “Will you be all right while I fetchthetea?”
Caroline wasn’t certain if she was ever going to be all right. She thought she might die herself after David, but Rachel…If something happened to Rachel, she would neversurviveit.
“Or I can stay right here with you, milady,” the butler said, looking more thanconcerned.
Caroline shook her head. “No. I’ll be fine,Simmons.”
“Very well,” he said as he turned to quittheroom.
