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And he relented, just a little “Brooke?”

“Yes?”

“It’s not all your fault, you know There’s plenty of blao around”

By , the rain had stopped and the sky was clear Gen had neither called nor come home

No one—not anyone at Harts or her old school chums—had heard a word from her since she left the terrace the day before

Rafe called Evan and Princess Adrienne and they told him they would be there by afternoon Next, he called the police sergeant

The sergeant said he would put the inforht into the system Then he came back out to Hartmore He said he would need to interview everyone—family members and staff He asked for the names of everyone who’d come to Geoffrey’s party And he wanted to have a look around the East Bedroom

He spoke of ould happen within the next twenty-four hours Search tea-persons flyer put into circulation

Rafe thanked him, turned him over to Eloise and went out to the stables to saddle his horse He got the black gelding ready and led him out of the stable

Geoffrey and Brooke aiting for him in the cobbled courtyard

“We want to search with you, Uncle Rafe,” Geoffrey said “Mum and me”

Both had dressed for riding Brooke carried a rucksack They stood side by side and looked up at hiht that they’d never looked more alike than they did at that moment

He said, “The police sergeant ant to speak with both of you”

Brooke shrugged “Later Geoffrey and I want to help Now Plus, we’re going ”

What could it hurt? Brooke was an excellent horsewoh He asked Brooke, “Do you have your phone?”

“I do”

“Saddle up, then I’ht I didn’t get there until after dark After the castle, I’ll ride over the north parkland and the chapel area You two take the lake trail I rode around it while it was still light out yesterday Nothing But today, pay attention to trails leading off the ht have taken a detour at some point We’ll need to try those Call me every half hour to check in”

“Will do,” said Brooke