Every Time We Kiss

Dread slowed his pace. Selby knocked on the door and an ancient butler showed them both into the small antechamber. Selby talked to the man but Matthew didn’t even listen. His mind continued its crazed debate about why she left and where she could be right now.

“Lord Selby and Lord Blackburn, welcome.”

Matthew looked to see an exotic woman with dark hair and almond eyes the color of slate looking at them. He’d heard of Miss Reynard and how she had become the toast of the ton with her ability to make matches and tell fortunes.

“I need your help, Miss Reynard,” Selby said.

“Of course you do. But I think Lord Blackburn requires my assistance even more than you, Lord Selby.” Miss Reynard smiled softly at Matthew and then clasped her bare hands with his. “She is safe.”

“Where is she?” he asked insistently.

“She feels she must leave.”

“Then she was here!” Matthew said.

“No, my lord. She has not been here in days.” She squeezed his hands in comfort. “But I do know my dear friend. She must have decided she had no choice but to leave.”

“Where?”

Miss Reynard shook her head and frowned. “I do not know for certain. In fact, I don’t think she knows where she is going. I sense she is safe but in terrible pain.”

Pain. “Physical pain? Did someone hurt her?” he whispered.

“You will have to discover that for yourself.”

“Come along, Blackburn. Miss Reynard cannot help us,” Selby said, dragging him away from the medium.

Anger surged within him like a raging flood. When the door shut behind them, he said, “She knows more than she is telling.”

To Matthew’s amazement, Selby laughed.

“Miss Reynard is never forthcoming with her information. But if Jennette were in any real danger, she would have let me know.”

“How can you be so confident?” Matthew asked.

“Without Miss Reynard’s assistance, my lovely wife would have made a huge mistake. When Miss Reynard discovered what Avis planned, she came to me. I trust her.” Selby clambered into the carriage.

“Now what?”

“The wharf. We shall check the inns and all ships sailing either today or in the next few days.”

“That could take days!”

Selby closed his eyes. “We will find her.”

If only Matthew had such confidence. The long trip to the wharf only reminded him that every second exhausted could mean losing her forever. As much as he wanted to, he didn’t have the funds to chase her all over the globe.

They had to find her before it was too late.

Before he lost the only woman he ever loved.

Jennette picked up her new ticket and then returned to the inn she’d retired to last night. Thankfully, the inn appeared to be decent enough. Still, she had shoved a nightstand in front of the locked door last evening in case any drunken sailors had taken notice of her.

As she entered the gathering hall, several men turned and stared at her. She released a breath blowing the lacy veil out in front of her. Even though she was wearing her widow’s dress, one man slowly approached her.

“Afternoon, ma’am,” he said with a small grin. “Do you need any assistance?”

“No, thank you. I know exactly what I am doing.”