“My dear, congrat—” Aunt Eunice cut herself off as she searched Ashley’s face, her smile fading to an expression of worry. “What is wrong?”
Lady Templeton’s joyful expression swiftly changed to concern. “Miss Hamlin?”
“Where is that boy?” Lady Bedford demanded, setting down her cup of tea.
Too choked up to speak, Ashley could only give a bewildered shrug and shake of her head.
In short order the women began a methodical search of the ground floor, enlisting Clarissa and Georgia. Lady Mansfield even went upstairs to look in the nursery. In a particularly deep knot of men conversing near the pianoforte they found Lords Mansfield and Templeton.
“He’s right—” Lord Mansfield cut himself off, looking around him. “He was here…” he consulted his pocket watch… “a few minutes ago.”
“Where’s Westbrook?” said Lord Templeton. “He’ll know.”
Come to think on it, Ashley hadn’t seen Westbrook, either.
The search was easier and faster this time, as guests had begun to drift away to other entertainments. Even the officers in their bright red coats were gone.
No Ravencroft. No Westbrook.
Deirdre, bless her, persuaded Parker to leave his friends and congratulatory conversations, analyzing every group’s performance at the Club tonight and why theirs was so much better, and go home. Perhaps David had some reason to return to the Ravencroft townhouse without speaking to Ashley.
Feeling as deflated as a hot air balloon upon landing in Hyde Park, Ashley gratefully leaned on Aunt Eunice’s arm as they walked to Uncle Edward’s carriage and went home.
She was half tempted to have Sally take the pink gown and dispose of it, but decided to wait. Surely there was a good explanation for what had happened tonight. Or rather, what hadnothappened. She wrapped the paisley shawl in tissue paper and tucked it back in its drawer.
While she was trying to choke down breakfast after a sleepless night, Farnham entered the dining room with a silver salver holding a note from Georgia.
Deirdre said Uncle David’s valet is gone. The other servants said no one has seen either of them since David left for the Catch Club. Father says no one is home at Uncle Liam’s rooms at the Albany. Wherever could they have gone? And why?
Where, indeed.
Not trusting her voice, she let Aunt Eunice read the note, then passed it to Uncle Edward.
They kept her busy, with a shopping trip to Bond Street and working on plans for the school, and attending the ball hosted by Lord and Lady Bigglesworth that evening just as they had planned to do for weeks.
Georgia greeted her with a fierce hug. “I can’t imagine how you’re feeling,” she said, tears shining in her eyes. “But I’m here with you. Ask of me whatever you need.”
Ashley sniffed back tears. “Thank you,” she whispered. She plucked a tiny feather from Georgia’s shoulder. “Is Robin all right?”
“Oh, he’s fine, though he had a bit of a scare.” Georgia brushed her other shoulder, dislodging another tiny feather. “I dropped the worm for his dinner and it wiggled away. By the time I retrieved it from under my bed, Smokey had jumped up onto the stool and was hanging from the open cage door. He was quite miffed when I dropped him to the floor. Robin scolded Smokey the entire time I was getting ready.”
“Naughty kitty.” Ashley cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. “You look stunning in this gown. Let’s go find an eligiblepartifor you to stun.”
Georgia giggled, as Ashley intended. They linked arms and set off.
A little while later, they heard music coming from a side room—a pianoforte and a male soloist. They exchanged glances, then headed directly for the music.
The singer was a gentleman they’d never heard before, someone who was at least forty and had curly black hair with a hint of grey at his temples.
“That reminds me. I haven’t seen Lord Leighton tonight,” Georgia said slowly, repeatedly opening then folding her fan.
“I was hoping to speak with Lord Fairfax, but I haven’t seen him either.” Or heard him, as she often heard his deep voice cutting beneath the chatter long before she saw him, just as Ravencroft’s voice did. She frowned. “Have you seen Lord Sutcliff?”
Georgia’s eyes widened. “Let’s see if we can find any of them.”
Within the hour they shared their concerns with Lady Mansfield and Aunt Eunice. “Are you saying all five gentlemen who sang The Switch Song are missing?” Aunt Eunice began plying her fan.
“I haven’t seen Mr. Barrett,” Lady Mansfield said slowly. “But that’s not entirely surprising. He is getting on in years. After the excitement of the last few days he’s probably at home tonight with his wife, resting.”
