“You have to find her, my lord,” Mrs. Featherstone said to Hart.
“No,” Hart said, staring at Colin. “I have to find Mr. Wells.”
Colin nodded. “Exactly.”
Selina finally reached her cottage and wiped away the vestiges of her tears. Her feet ached from walking in her dancing slippers. She wanted nothing more than to soak in a tub of hot water for an hour. But she couldn’t.
She could not remain here. As much as her heart ached, she had to leave him . . . and the tenants and the servants. The long walk had cleared her mind. He would never understand what happened that night. Nor would he ever forgive her either.
There was only one option left to her.
Unable to reach the buttons on her silk gown, she grabbed a knife and sliced it down the front. She would not cry over a ruined gown. Even if it was the most beautiful thing she had ever worn.
She divested herself of her stays in the same manner. Who creates clothing that requires another person to help its wearer in and out? It was insane.
Once she returned to her worn cotton dress, she pulled out her valise and packed only a few dresses and the things most important to her. She would ask Mia to bring her other items once she was settled.
She closed the door behind her and as much as she didn’t want to, she headed on the long walk to Tia’s house. Her friend wanted to chase Middleton’s younger brother to London. Now was her chance. Selina doubted Middleton would concern himself with the wise women on his estate. He usually spent more time in London than out in the country, anyway.
As she walked away, she refused to turn back and look at the estate she loved so much.
“Where else could she be?” Kate asked as they slowly returned to the Littletons’ home.
Mia was never one to cry but she blinked back the tears as she jumped off the horse. They had searched everywhere. “I honestly don’t know. I can only hope Lord Hartsfield found her.”
“Or at least found Mr. Wells,” Kate added.
“That is still no guarantee that she is safe.” Fear gripped her. Mia had to be missing something.
“We have to tell Colin,” Kate said.
“I know.”
Mia followed Kate up the steps of the grand house. Where could Selina have gone? While she’d never been to London, Selina had told her she had no desire to go there.
Kate opened the door to the duke’s bedchamber only to find him pacing the room. “Why are you out of bed?”
“Did you find her?” he demanded as he halted his stride.
Kate shook her head. “We searched everywhere we could think of, Colin.”
Mia cleared her throat. “If I may, Your Grace?”
“There is no need for formalities. Say what is on your mind.”
“We searched her cottage and interviewed the tenants and servants. No one has seen her, but I did notice the remains of the gown she had been wearing and some of her things were gone. We then rode to my mother’s home and checked there. It didn’t appear that she had been there.”
“Then where the bloody hell is she?”
Mia excused the coarse language when she noticed the pained look in his eyes. This was not just about one of his tenants missing. He loved her. She pressed her lips together to keep from crying. “I don’t know, Your Grace. We then went to my sister’s house and she hadn’t seen her either.”
“Would she lie to protect her?”
Mia bit down on her lip. “I don’t believe she would, Your Grace. I told her that you were terribly worried about Selina’s safety.”
“Thank you both.”
“Colin,” Kate implored, “you really shouldn’t be out of bed.”