“And where will you start looking, brother?” Christopher called to him.
“I do not know, but I cannot continue to stand here and do nothing!” Lord Robert was wild, even manic as he marched to the door.
“Brother, please.” Christopher walked around his cousin, moving swiftly to his brother, but as he laid a hand to Lord Robert's shoulder, it was shrugged off.
“Don’t, Chris.” Lord Robert warned. “I will search every street in London if I have to, but don’t seek to stop me.”
Christopher stood back and let him go, but he didn’t get far. Lord Robert opened the door just as another stepped in his way. It was Benjamin.
“Your Grace, please.” Lord Robert tried to control his tone this time. “I wish to search for her.”
“We must talk first.” Benjamin closed the door that had just been opened and took Lord Robert's shoulder, steering him back into the hallway. “There have been many angry stares between you and I, and that stops now. As we search for Julia, I must say something to you first.”
The calm voice clearly startled Lord Robert, who shifted his weight between his feet. Helena’s fidgeting with the note stilled as she stared at her father, wondering what he had to say to Lord Robert.
“I owe you an apology.” Benjamin’s words quieted the room and all the mutterings that passed between the music room and the parlor. Both families moved to the doorways and peered out at what was happening.
“An apology? What for?” The wind had been taken out of Lord Robert now, who stood very still.
“There is something I have observed today that, as my eldest daughter tells me,” Benjamin cast a quick glance at Helena, “I was too much of a fool not to believe before. Your panic at this moment, your fear, and of course, your statement earlier today that you would have been content to elope with Julia says it all. You care for her much deeper than I realized,” Benjamin sighed.
“I do,” Lord Robert whispered.
“Pardon?” Benjamin cupped his ear. Rather than getting irritated at the deafness, Lord Robert spoke up.
“I do care for her, Your Grace,” he said in full this time. “That is why I cannot stand the thought that she is gone.”
“Then we will find her, and once she has been found, we will arrange the wedding for another day. Yes?” Benjamin asked. Slowly, Lord Robert nodded his head. “I do not want you to lose your head over this. My daughter needs you as she needs us. We shall find her, but she will not be found by wild statements of intent and randomly wandering streets, will she?”
“No, Your Grace. I suppose she will not.” Lord Robert was much calmer now.
“Good, then here is what we shall do.” Benjamin looked around the room, taking command once again. “I have already sent out enquiries as to her whereabouts, and I will now do more. Your Grace,” he looked to Christopher, “I suggest you take your family home for the time being.” He nodded at the music room. “This afternoon, I shall search London, Julia’s known haunts, and any leads that my enquiries may provide.”
Lord Robert looked at Christopher expectantly.
“And we shall offer our services to help with the search.”
“Very well, you shall help,” Benjamin said quietly.
“What are you thinking?” Kitty asked, leaving the doorway where she stood with Anna and moving toward Benjamin’s side. “If a Moore did this, then they would not tell you if they found Julia. They would merely try to steer you away from her.”
“Her betrothed would not,” Benjamin shook his head. “Lord Robert, you and your brother go everywhere together. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Lord Robert bowed to him with respect.
Helena caught sight of Christopher’s expression. His jaw had grown taut, and he looked away. For a second, she persuaded herself it was a look of sadness of not being believed that he had nothing to do with this.
He is a good actor. Equally, that could have been a look of guilt.
“Let us part now,” Benjamin called and waved a hand at the Moores. “I shall send word to you later of what my enquires find.”
He entered the parlor, pulling Kitty with him and Anna, who reached out toward him, longing for his support. Helena didn’t follow right away. She fidgeted with the note and stared at Christopher as he gathered his family, and they retreated.
In the doorway, he put on his top hat and looked back at her. No words passed between them across the entrance hall, no flicker of a smile. They both merely glared then he turned, and he was gone.
After he left, Helena felt sadder than before.
She couldn’t follow her family into the parlor. Her mother’s wails filled the air, and Kitty’s pleas for her to calm herself followed. Helena turned her back on the room and searched for another, someone else who had gone missing during this whole affair.
