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“I have no way of doing that, as they did not confide their destination to me,” Skip said

“That is odd,” Sir Owen remarked “You are their closest friend, are you not?”

“Indeed, but knowing Mandy, she would not wish to cause me trouble and put me in a situation that could take me there”

“Then I am disheartened,” Sir Owen returned with a shake of his head “It is time to take action”

“Action? What action?” the viscount expostulated worriedly

The duke had quietly been listening and watching this exchange but was moved to ask dryly, “Indeed, I am curious, what action do you have in mind?”

“As the charges against Ned are absurd, we should be working to get them dismissed,” Sir Owen said sharply “We need to take action to do that”

“Just so, how do you propose we go about acco that?” the viscount returned impatiently

“What have you been doing to find the maid, Elly Bonner?” Sir Owen asked

The duke’s brows rose Was Sir Owen fishing for infor her? Was that because Chauncey and Ned had found the woman’s beau? Did Sir Owen already know that?

“I have set about inquiries, of course To date, those inquiries have turned up absolutely nothing The girl and the diary have vanished,” the viscount answered on a heavy sigh “My fear is that the diary has already been thrown into the fire”

“Oh, I doubt that,” said the duke “This maid took it for a reason I believe, e find her, we find the diary and that both will reveal the name of the father of Celia’s unborn child”

Sir Owen looked more worried than he should have at this conclusion, “Just so,” he said quietly “As it happens, I have found some information about the hts ago”

Both the duke and the viscount were on their feet The viscount rimly, “Why wait until just now to tell us this? Was she alone at the time?”

“I…I was leading up to it She isn’t there any longer, but she was seen with someone A brute of a man”