She nodded slowly, not looking forward to making the long journey to Camden again, but for Leo, she’d do just about anything. She nodded in agreement, bade the man farewell, and stepped back out into the street.
Markham’s office was located in a run-down gothic-style villa and was shared with several other offices. A matchmaker was located down the hall, and a barrister kept an office upstairs. Camden was not the kind of neighborhood a young lady such as herself was able to visit without a chaperone. Even coming here to see Mr. Markham without anyone to accompany her was risky. Yet, she did not wish to involve anyone in this venture. She wasn’t sure whom she could trust, and she’d rather not put her trusted maid, Mary, into an awkward position. She marched down the street toward where her carriage sat and pondered her predicament.
Victoria was at sixes and sevens at the disappearance of their brother, and Winnie did not wish to involve her aunt or uncle. Her uncle had a habit of taking over any venture he was involved in, and she didn’t think he was quick-witted or clever enough to be of much use when it came to finding Leo. She’d only called on him to see if Leo actually visited them that day, and upon hearing the answer, left it at that. There was no need to tell them more. She’d turn to Uncle Ezekiel only if she had no—
“Seth?” She stopped in her tracks and squinted into the sunlight.
She could hardly believe it. The man rushing across the street and toward the villa containing Mr. Markham’s office was none other than Seth, Duke of Cambarton, Leo’s friend and business partner.
Under normal circumstances, Winnie would shrink back at the sight of him, such was her crush on him she could not stand to be near him without blushing. However, today her curiosity and desperation outweighed any feeling of mortification at being in his presence.
She darted back toward the office.
What is he doing here? Perhaps his destination is the barrister’s office? Surely it cannot be Mr. Markham… Unless…
She opened the door to the office and let herself inside. The large waiting room, used for all of the different proprietors, was empty, but the door to Mr. Markham’s office stood ajar, and from within drifted Seth’s familiar, deep baritone voice.
“Two weeks, Mr. Markham, as I said in my letter. At least two weeks. I was in Devon to attend to business, and when I returned, I found Rose gone.”
Rose? His sister Rose was missing? Winnie’s heart beat loudly in her chest. How could this be? Both of their siblings were missing? Did he know Leo was also gone? Before she knew what she was doing, she pushed open the door to Markham’s office.
“Rose is missing?”
Mr. Markham looked up, startled. “Miss Keating, this is most unusual.”
“Winnifred?” Seth’s tone was at once surprised and irritable.
“Did you say Rose is missing?”
Seth licked his lips; his almond-shaped brown eyes flickered as if he wasn’t quite sure what to say.
“She is. The servants reported not seeing her in more than a week. They assumed she’d gone to Devon to join me, but of course, she didn’t. I’ve looked for her, questioned her friends—to no avail. She appears to be missing. Thus my visit to Mr. Markham. But why, pray, are you—”
“Leo is also missing. It has been almost two weeks. He disappeared after a visit to my aunt and uncle. Or so I thought. When he didn’t return, I assumed they convinced him to stay for dinner, alas, I received word the following day that he never arrived at their home.” She bit her lips and examined his face. His hair and strong jawline always struck her as incredibly attractive, but she was drawn to his eyes today.
She saw his pupils dilate as she gave him the news, and yet, he didn’t show any other outward reaction but crossed his legs and gave a nod.
“I see, and you have engaged Mr. Markham’s services?”
Why is he not more alarmed? He seems entirely calm. How can he take the news with such ease? Leo is his friend, more than a friend. They are incredibly close and he hardly even flinched when I gave him the information. I do not understand.
She pushed her confusion aside and took a step toward the two men.
“Do you not find it odd? Both your sister and my brother, missing around the same time? Do you not think we ought to join forces?”
Yes! She knew this was the best thing for them. Suddenly, the sense of helplessness she’d experienced over having to handle this issue alone eased at the prospect of having an ally. Alas, Seth shook his head and crushed her hopes at once.
“I think not, Winnifred. Rose and Leo hardly know one another.”
“But…”
He shook his head and looked back at Mr. Markham. “I am pleased with the terms we’ve agreed upon, Mr. Markham. And I have delivered in this parcel all the information you required.”
Markham swallowed and pulled on the sides of his mustache with one hand as he looked from Seth to Winnie and back again.
“Very well, Your Grace. Although I must agree with Miss Keating here, your cases are similar, and there is a connection as it pertains to the business.”
Seth shook his head. “My sister is not connected to the business, neither is Miss Keating here. I suspect my sister’s absence has more to do with her very active social life, I am afraid.”
