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The girl twisted her hands in her apron “I don’t know, my lord I couldn’t find her! Her bed linens was pulled up, which weren’t so unusual, for she don’t like her chaet to it, but I’ve looked everywhere in the house and she weren’t anywhere Then I found this on your desk in the library”
Advancing to Lynton, she handed him a folded note
Dread keeping him silent, Will waited while Lynton read it “It see up fro o her oay in the world”
“What does that mean?” Will burst out
“I have no idea, except that she ed start, just as she used to do when she was a girl And you think I ought to give her the funds to live independently!” Lynton cast Will an exasperated glance “What she needs is a sensible husband to curb her ays and teach her how to behave properly!”
Just then another servant rushed into the parlor, housekeeper’s keys jangling at her waist “Ah, Mrs Bessborough,” Lynton said, waving Allegra’s note at the woht on this mystery?”
Waving her hands in distress, the housekeeper said, “Miss Allegra’s old bandbox is gone froowns froood”
“Left?” Lynton repeated “Are you sure, Bessie? She cannot have been so improper as to have departed alone, without even a entleman to take her off my hands when she comports herself like the veriest hoyden!”
“Why don’t you worry about that after we find her,” Will suggested through gritted teeth Turning to the housekeeper, he said, “Mrs—Bessborough, wasn’t it? Have you any idea where Miss Antinori one?”
“No! Oh, I do fear for her, ot no kin save the Lyntons and none of theh for her to have gone to pay them a visit Unless…”
“What?” Will demanded
“Well, after the late Lord Lynton died, she did overness Now, if I can just recall the naency…”
“I think I’ve heard enough,” Lord Lynton interposed “Da off in so hasty and inteht! How aive the ain her entrée back into the society her ht add Funded it handsomely as well, and this is my thanks? Well, I wash my hands of her! I only hope Lady Coill not hold the insult against eline next Season”
“That certainly would be inconvenient,” Will said
“Indeed,” Lynton replied, sublinorant of the irony in Will’s tone “Good day, Tavener Hobbs, if anything requires my attention, I shall be in the library”
“You don’t intend to look for her?” Will asked
About to leave the roora apparently left this house of her own free will If she would rather ruin herself running off to becoe further to be done I will not rush about the city like a looby, trying to discover her whereabouts so I may entreat her to return She’s made her choice and—” he waved the note at Will “—absolved me of all further responsibility I shall take her at her word”
The housekeeper uttered a quickly stifled protest while the an to weep quietly “Ass,” Willthey were still alone so he ht leave the hbred brow But now he hadconcerns
“Think, Mrs Bessborough,” he urged, seizing the housekeeper’s arency’s na happens to her”
“Oh, Mrs B!” the ht the name be Waters?”
“Waters, yes, that’s it,” the housekeeper cried “Bless you, Lizzie! That would be Waters and Tremain in Lower Bond Street, my lord”
“Thank you both! I’ll be off there directly Pray that Iher safely home to you”
“Indeed I shall,” Mrs Bessborough said “She’s a good lass, no ht say who should know better”
Striding into the hall, Will found Hobbs already on station “Find her quickly, ed in an undertone as he handed Will his hat and cane