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He sighed There were a lot of things he should do But he was a bastard and a coward, and he was terrified that if he tried to take her into his arlass down With a fatalistic sigh, he stood He'd go to her And if she pushed him away… He shook his head It was too painful to contemplate

John n that Belle had been in the roou paths with the butler on the landing

"Pardon me," John said "But have you seen Lady Blackwood?"

"No, I'ht she ith you"

"No," John murmured "Is Lady Worth about?" Surely Caroline would know Belle's whereabouts

"Lady and Lord Worth are dining this evening with their graces, the Duke and Duchess of Ashbourne They left over an hour ago"

John blinked "Very well Thank you I'm sure I'll find my wife somewhere"

He descended the last few steps and was about to search Lady Worth's favorite salon when the front door burst open

Mary was gasping for breath, her brown hair plastered to her face, her entire body heaving with exertion Her eyes widened when she saw him "Oh, my lord!"

Icy fear squeezed around John's heart "Mary?" he whispered "Where is Belle?"

"She fell," Mary gasped "Fell She hit her head I tried to drag her I did I swear it"

John already had his coat on "Where is she?"

"Hyde Park She- I-"

He grabbed her shoulders and shook "Where, Mary?"

"In the wood She-" Mary clutched her stoo with you"

John nodded curtly, grabbed her hand, and pulled her out into the night

Minutes later he was atop his stallion Mary and a grooh the streets, the wind tearing ferociously at his clothes The rain was coht of Belle out alone in such a vicious store of Hyde Park HeAmber close "Which way?" he yelled