He swore again, savagely. Perhaps he should walk away, before he made a worse fool of himself. He shouldn't have stayed so long in England as it was.
He was obviously bent on torturing himself. It was looking more and more likely that she would never accept him as her husband or set free the passionate woman she had encased in ice.
Just then he heard a soft rap on the door. Puzzled, Nicholas sat up, wondering who could be calling at this time of the evening. The hour was not yet ten o'clock, and he had turned down dune's offer for a night of carousing on the town.
The rap came again, more insistently this time. Easing himself from the bed, he went to open the door.
His heart gave a jolt of surprise when he saw the woman who stood there. She was veiled and wore a concealing cloak, but he would have recognized Aurora in any disguise.
He felt himself scowl. She had come to his hotel at night alone, risking scandal, after vowing she never wanted to see him again. But then he realized she would never take such a bold step without good reason…
"What is wrong?" he demanded, his expression softening.
"Harry…" Aurora answered in a trembling voice. "He's gone."
"What do you mean, gone?"
"He ran away. Please, Nicholas, you must help me find him."
His jaw flexed grimly. He didn't point out the obvious incongruity of her plea coming so soon after ordering him to keep away from her. Instead, he drew her from the very public hallway into the privacy of his room.
"How long has he been gone?" he asked, shutting the door.
"I don't know. Hours." She raised her veil, her blue eyes imploring. "I found this note when he was late for supper. He left it on his pillow." She handed him a scrap of paper that had obviously been well perused.
Rory, I have gone to seek my fortune. Please do not worry.
Nicholas frowned thoughtfully. "Do you have any idea where he might be?"
"No. My servants have looked everywhere. Please," Aurora repeated urgently. "Will you help me?"
He gave her a look of reproach. "Can you possibly doubt it?" Turning away, he began stripping off his fine cambric shirt.
"What are you doing?" she asked, momentarily startled out of her dismay.
"Changing clothes. I don't want to call undue attention to myself. A fine gentleman would be out of place searching the places Harry is likely to be. Sit down. I will be only a moment."
As he rummaged through the clothespress, she glanced at the comfortable settee to one side of the room. But apparently she was too distraught to obey, for she turned to pace the floor.
"This is my fault," she said in an anguished voice. "I drove Harry away. If I hadn't lost my temper, he would never have behaved so foolishly."
Nicholas shook his head as he shrugged on an old brown coat. "Your temper had little to do with it. Harry has been chomping at the bit to begin his adventures. The only surprise was that you persuaded him to wait this long." When she remained painfully silent, an aching wave of protectiveness hit him. "Don't despair, Aurora. I will find him."
She took a deep, shuddering breath, making a visible effort to control herself. "Where will you even begin searching?"
"The docks. That is the most likely place he would go to look for a berth on a sailing ship. He never gave up his aspirations to sail to France."
Nick traded his shiny Hessian boots for a rougher pair and fished out a slouch hat. When he tucked a pair of pistols in his belt and a knife in his boot, Aurora's blue eyes filled with distress. He resembled the violent pirate she deplored, he knew. Yet she didn't protest. She simply watched him, her dread for Harry evident.
Nicholas could not blame her. In the past he had accused her of being overly fearful, but this time her fear was warranted. A youth of Harry's tender age and sheltered upbringing would be prey for all the miscreants and misfits in London. Nick didn't like to think of the danger the boy faced.
Grimly he slipped a heavy set of brass knuckles in his coat pocket and hefted a walking stick that doubled as a sword. He intended to be prepared for any kind of trouble. When he was ready, he took Aurora by the elbow and steered her toward the door.
"How did you come here?" he asked as he ushered her from the room.
"My carriage. Danby is waiting below for me."
"Have him take you home."