But his awkwardness had always been a hindrance. When it came to her, it was downright painful. But to flee from him? Was that not a bit extreme? While he admired her gumption, his patience was wearing thin.
Andthathad never happened before.
For all his flaws, Will had always prided himself on his patience. But Lady Harriet had exceeded all his expectations, and it seemed, much to his dismay, that she did so to the detriment of his virtues. He’d always known her to be more than the mousy creature most of thetonbelieved her to be. To him, she was a little swanling yet to spread her wings and claim the center of everyone’s attention. Now, he discovered, this swan had already developed a bite.
“Would she leave London?” Will asked the marchioness. He wouldn’t bother with her friends or family. If Hatton was out searching for his daughter, they would be the first doors he’d knock on.
“Leave London? Oh, dear! Would she do that? She is all alone!”
Bloody hell.“Madam, I know you are distraught, but please think. Would Harriet leave London? Would she go to the country? Anywhere else?”
She sniffed. “I do not think so.”
Will wasn’t so sure. Although to be fair, he wouldn’t discount that she would hide in plain sight either.
“The Duke of Calstone has arrived,” the butler announced.
Calstone appeared in the doorway with a bright smile. “Am I late for the wedding?”
Will had never been so relieved to see his friend. “Yes. However, you are lucky in your lack of punctuality as my bride has run off.”
Calstone’s jaw went slack. “You were left at the altar?”
“Not exactly an altar, but yes.”
“The lady has some big b—” he cut off when he spotted the priest and the distraught marchioness, “...grievances.”
“She has every right to be upset,” Will said, dragging a hand through his hair. “She only found out we are to be married a few hours ago.”
Calstone’s eyes widened. “Give a bride some warning, man.”
“She was supposed to have ample time.” He shot a look at his future mother-in-law. “No one saw fit to inform her.”
“Even so,” Calstone said, “you must have done something for her to run off.”
“She believes I’m robbing her of her dreams and snuffing out her happiness.”
“Aren’t you being a touch overdramatic?”
“Her words, not mine.”
Calstone whistled. “Brutal.”
Yes, brutal. “She said her parents pawned her off on me.”
“She actually used the word pawned?”
Will nodded.
“Savage.” Calstone whistled, then clapped his hands together. “We’re going bride hunting?”
“Yes.”
They strode from the room without a word of comfort to the priest and weeping marchioness. All of Will’s focus had shiftedto a little beauty who, it was becoming apparent, was as slippery as an eel.
“So, where will we look first?”
Will racked his brain but could come to no good conclusion. The post? The underbelly of London? Bow Street? Bow Street would be best. He also had some acquaintances who owed him a favor. The more people he had searching in all directions, the faster they would find her.
