“Matthew?” she called around the house as she searched. It was not difficult to find him. She saw his shoes poking out from under a table in the main ballroom where their guests had been waiting. “Matthew?”
Helena bent down in front of the table, finding Matthew’s face. He’d been crying. His eyes were red, and he hadn’t even bothered to dry away his tears.
“Have they found her yet?” Matthew asked between gasping cries.
“No.” Helena shook her head, seeing Matthew had heard the news after all. “But fear not. We will find her. I promise you that.” She smiled softly at him, knowing she had to be strong for his sake. “Would you come out, Matthew? Come, please.” She offered her hand to Matthew. He hesitated but then scrambled out from under the table and gave his hand to Helena.
She held on tight and slowly walked with him through the ballroom.
“Have you been hiding all of this time?” she whispered. Her brother nodded. He was very quiet compared to his usual self, and his shoulders were slumped. “Is something else amiss, Matthew? Something you wish to tell me, perhaps.” They entered the hallway, and they hovered outside of the parlor together, not quite going in.
Matthew dug his heels into the hall floor, clearly having no wish to enter the parlor.
“It was what happened, earlier,” he hissed in a low tone.
“What was that?” Helena asked, holding on tighter to her brother as he wiped away the last of his tears.
“What Lord Moore said was right,” Matthew spoke hurriedly, each word running into the next. “He was funny. We were laughing when he told me about how he used to put frogs in the housekeeper’s bed when he was my age —”
“Don’t you get any ideas now,” Helena warned him with a smile.
“Gibbs came up to us and argued with Lord Moore. They went into the garden room, but Lord Moore wasn’t the one to push the potted plant over. It was Gibbs.”
Helena stalled, stunned at the revelation. She hadn’t thought her uncle would be so petty.
“Perhaps he was just out for an argument, especially when he saw you two having fun together. Fear not, all will make sense soon.” Helena drew her brother into the parlor. As they entered, Benjamin’s words met her ears, making her stop once again. His voice was both tremulous and tight, betraying his fury.
“Kitty… what on earth do you mean when you say you know who truly did this?”
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
“Icannot do this. Not anymore.” Kitty sniffed and sat slumped in her seat.
“What’s happening?” Matthew asked, pulling on Helena’s hand.
“I do not know.” She drew him forward, so they were in the middle of the room. On the other side, sitting by the windows, Kitty and Anna leaned together. Anna ceased her tears and looked up from her handkerchief as Kitty shifted in her seat.
Benjamin sat in the armchair opposite them, his body as still as that of a statue.
“Kitty!” he barked, the sudden sharp tone from such a still body making them all jump.
Kitty nearly fell out of her chair at that tone.
“I know, I know,” she pleaded. “Please, do not be angry at me. It was not my doing.”
“Pray, desist speaking in riddles,” Benjamin ordered. “My daughter is missing, and my wife is distraught.” He waved a hand at Anna, whose cheeks were streaked with fresh tears. “Tell me at once anything that you know about this matter.”
Kitty looked like a child, despite her advanced years, fidgeting and repeatedly adjusting the skirt of her gown. She looked toward Helena and Matthew, apparently seeking some sort of solace and comfort in the room.
“What do you know, Aunt?” Helena asked, her voice quieter but no less more resolute. “Do not keep secrets from us in a matter as grave as this.”
“She is in no danger. Please, believe me in that,” Kitty added quickly, looking between them all.
“I’ve had enough of this.” Benjamin stood abruptly. Kitty cowered back in her chair. “Kitty, tell me so at once what you know of my daughter’s whereabouts.”
“It… it was Gibbs.” Kitty held onto her hand where her wedding ring sat and twisted the ring around her finger, repeatedly. “He did it out of no malice.”
“Did what?” Helena stepped forward, forgetting she was holding onto Matthew’s hand and dragged him with her. “He took her? Persuaded her to leave? I cannot believe the latter. There are petals strewn across her room.”
