Solomon studied him for a long moment. Then, with a sigh, he shook his head. "So, this is about vengeance, then?"
Andrew's jaw tightened. "Call it what you will."
"Andrew." Solomon's voice was quiet. "You are punishing a dead man, and in doing so, you are punishing yourself. And Lavinia."
"I know this. Lavinia deserves someone who can give her everything she wants. I cannot. So, I am willing to put my feelings aside, and let her make the decision that is best for her."
The door to Andrew's study burst open with such force that it slammed against the wall, causing both Andrew and Solomon to jerk in response. David stood there, breathless, his cravat slightly askew, and his face red with exertion.
Andrew barely had time to react before David pointed a finger at him, his voice like a blade slicing through the tense air. "You and I have unfinished business, Hargrave," he growled, his fury barely contained. "And I swear, you will face me for it."
Andrew rose to his feet. "David, I understand why you might be upset."
"We will deal with that later. That is not why I came all this way," David said, stepping into the room. "My sister is missing.
Andrew's entire body went still. A slow, creeping dread curled in his stomach. "Your sister? My wife?"
David exhaled sharply, shaking his head as if trying to steady himself. "She was taken, Andrew. Someone grabbed her. I saw it."
The words sent ice through Andrew's veins.
David continued, his voice urgent. "Somebody took her near the park. One moment she was there, and the next she was gone. I tried to reach her but there were too many people. I saw a hand clamp over her mouth, and then—" He swallowed hard. "Then she was gone."
For a moment, Andrew couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. His mind refused to process the words, as if denying them would make them untrue. But then his pulse roared in his ears, and something inside him snapped.
The glass in his hand shattered, his grip too tight, but he didn't even flinch at the sharp sting of pain. He moved forward, eyes blazing. "Where?" he demanded.
David took a step back. "Near Hyde Park."
"Did you see who took her?" he questioned.
"I did not," David answered. "I came here to ask you if you made any enemies recently. Lavinia has none, so this might have something to do with you."
Andrew began to pace. "No one comes to mind."
David exhaled sharply. "Think harder, Andrew. Someone must have had a reason to take her."
Andrew's jaw tightened as he continued pacing. His mind raced through every encounter, every grudge, every potential threat that lurked in the shadows of his past. But nothing...until suddenly, the answer struck him like a blow to the chest.
He stopped abruptly. His eyes darkened with realization.
"At the Grandbury ball...someone was watching us dance," Andrew noted. "It was a man..."
"A man was watching you?" Solomon asked, stepping forward.
Andrew clicked his fingers. "Robert. It's Robert."
David straightened. "You think it was Robert?"
Andrew nodded. "It makes sense. He wouldn't have shown himself outright, not after all this time. But he would have watched. Waited." His jaw clenched. "And now he's taken her."
He should have known. After exposing him for the wretched, cruel man he was, Andrew should have guessed that Robert would not slink away into the shadows without seeking revenge. A man like that did not forget. A man like that did not forgive.
His fists curled so tightly his knuckles cracked. He was so angry that he ignored the throbbing pain in his hand from the cut inflicted by the glass he had shattered. His blood pounded with unrelenting rage, but beneath it, threading through every violent thought, was an even sharper emotion.
Fear.
Had Robert hurt her? Was she crying out for help, waiting for someone to come for her? Was she afraid, alone, wondering if he would even bother to find her?
