A Dangerous Pursuit (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 1) - Laura Beers (macos ebook reader .TXT) 📗

“No, that is impossible,” Mrs. Foster said firmly. “Besides, we don’t frequent any businesses in that part of Town.”

Corbyn gave him a knowing look. “What if she found a clue to Miss Hardy’s disappearance and left to investigate it?” he asked. “After all, it wouldn’t be the first time Miss Dowding has visited disreputable establishments.”

“You have a point,” Baldwin admitted reluctantly. “But what could she have found that would have caused her to leave the orphanage, unescorted and without any word?”

“I don’t know,” Corbyn replied with a shake of his head.

Mrs. Foster interjected, “The constable searched Miss Hardy’s room, but didn’t find anything that would give a reason as to why Madalene disappeared.”

“What of the people that work at the orphanage?” Oliver asked.

“There are three teachers, a housekeeper, and a cook,” Mrs. Foster shared. “They did recently hire a man to do odd jobs around the orphanage, but he wasn’t assigned to work today.”

“Was Miss Dowding in a disagreement with anyone?” Corbyn questioned.

“No, everybody loves Miss Dowding,” Mrs. Foster asserted.

Baldwin abruptly rose from his chair and walked over to the darkened window. They were missing something. He could feel it. And time was of the essence.

Rising, Mrs. Foster said, “I am sorry for burdening you with this, my lord, but Miss Dowding seemed to believe that you have a knack for finding missing persons.”

Baldwin turned back to face her. “You did the right thing coming to me. I will begin making inquiries immediately, and we will bring Miss Dowding back home.”

Mrs. Foster bobbed her head, but he could see the fear in her eyes. She didn’t seem to believe his words.

“May I escort you home?” Baldwin asked.

“I thank you for the offer, but I would prefer it if your time was spent trying to find Miss Dowding,” Mrs. Foster said.

Baldwin met her gaze and promised, “I won’t rest until we have found her.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Mrs. Foster said, turning to leave.

After she left the room, Corbyn and Oliver turned their gaze towards him.

“We need to start making inquiries from the other agents to see if anyone has heard from or seen Miss Dowding,” Baldwin ordered.

Corbyn tipped his head. “I will see to that.”

“Good,” Baldwin said, striding towards the door. “I will be searching for her, as well.”

Oliver’s voice stopped him from exiting. “Where, exactly, are you going to start searching?”

“I will start at the orphanage,” Baldwin shared, “and then I will search every blasted building in the rookeries if I have to.”

Oliver frowned. “You are letting your emotions cloud your judgment,” he said. “Wandering around the rookeries is a good way for you to end up dead.”

“Then what would you have me do?” Baldwin exclaimed. “Sit here and do nothing?”

“No,” Oliver replied. “We need a plan.”

“A plan?” Baldwin repeated back incredulously.

Oliver nodded. “Yes, we need to carefully think this through.”

“How about this for a plan?” Baldwin mocked. “We find Miss Dowding and bring her back home.”

Corbyn approached him. “I agree with Oliver,” he said. “You are entirely too invested in this, and you need to take a step back.”

“I will not!” Baldwin exclaimed, pointing at the door. “Miss Dowding is somewhere out there, alone and afraid, and I will not abandon her.”

“We have agents in the field who can search for her, but we need you to prepare for tomorrow’s mission,” Corbyn asserted. “There are hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent lives at stake if you screw it up. You must think about them, as well.”

Baldwin reared back. “Are you truly asking me to stay home and do nothing?”

“No,” Corbyn replied, crossing his arms over his chest, “I am ordering you to stay home and prepare for tomorrow.”

For a long moment, Baldwin stared at Corbyn, his mind reeling with all the horrible tragedies that could have befallen Miss Dowding. No. He wasn’t about to stand by and do nothing. In a collected voice, he said, “Then I quit.”

Dropping his arms to his sides, Corbyn questioned, “You don’t truly mean that, do you?”

“I do,” Baldwin declared. “If you are making me choose between Miss Dowding and being an agent, I have made my choice.”

“What about tomorrow?” Oliver asked.

Baldwin shifted his gaze towards his brother. “I know my duty,” he replied. “I will be at the Blue Boar per the plan, and I will stop the bomb from ever reaching its destination. You have my word.”

Without waiting for their response, Baldwin turned and headed towards the entry hall. He hadn’t even reached the main door when his brother caught up to him, matching his stride.

“Don’t even try to stop me,” Baldwin growled.

Oliver glanced over at him. “I won’t,” he said. “I’m going with you.”

“You are?”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

“Aren’t you afraid Corbyn might dismiss you for coming along with me?”

Oliver grinned. “It is a risk I am willing to take to ensure that my brother doesn’t get himself killed.”

“I won’t get myself killed,” Baldwin grumbled.

“Perhaps, but I don’t really want to be the next Marquess of Hawthorne,” Oliver joked. “So, I am going along just to make sure of that.”

As they reached the main door, Baldwin placed his hand on the handle and said, “I do appreciate you accompanying me, Oliver.”

“You would do the same thing for me,” Oliver replied.

“I most assuredly would,” Baldwin stated as he opened the door wide. “Have no doubt about that.”

Chapter Seventeen

Madalene groaned. She felt as though she had been run over by a carriage. The entire left side of her head throbbed, and her whole body seemed to ache with every breath. As she moved to touch her forehead, she was reminded that her hands were bound together.

“Good,” a familiar voice from above her said. “You are finally awake. I was worried that I might have killed you with that blow.”

With great reluctance, Madalene attempted to pry her eyes open and was met by the smiling face of Miss Gaillard.

“The effects will wear off soon enough,” Miss Gaillard remarked as she turned back to tinkering at the table. “I removed your