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Empty.

It was still quite early for him to begin his duties for the day and yet…

The bed was still perfectly made and the room looked untouched which meant he had not even bothered to return here after the debacle of the night before.

Her heart sank, though she would never show it.

She knew it.

Her son was spiraling, and she feared that that woman was the root cause.

Victoria.

She stepped further into the room, her eyes scanning the dimly lit space, hoping for some sign, some clue as to where he might have gone.

But there was nothing.

The cold hearth and the neatly organized papers on his desk only increased her sense of worry.

Victoria.

She would know where he is?

Anger surged again, replacing her momentary worry.

This is absurd.

She would not allow this madness to continue.

She would not allow her to drag Anthony into ruin.

No, she would take control of this situation before it was too late.

Put her in her place

Turning on her heel, Helen stormed out of the room, her gown billowing behind her like a queen preparing for battle.

As she made her way down the hall, she spotted a servant slowly dusting a vase near the staircase.

"You," she called, her voice low and cold, stopping the girl in her tracks.

The maid turned quickly, her eyes wide with fear, knowing well that the dowager duchess was not to be trifled with when she was in one of her moods.

"Where is my son?" Helen demanded, her words sharp enough to cut. "Where is the Duke?"

The maid trembled under the weight of her gaze. "I… I do not know, Your Grace. He has not been seen since last night. The others say-"

"The others say what?!" She snapped, stepping closer.

"That he left the estate after the guests were dismissed, Your Grace. I… I'm not sure where he went, but the stable boy mentioned something about the stables being in disarray this morning. It seems his horse was taken."

Her eyes narrowed at the words, words that only served to make her suspicions grow darker by the moment.

Anthony had left? In the middle of the night? Alone? No, this was not mere coincidence.

Something was wrong, something must have happened last night to make him behave like that and then vanish for hours

"And Victoria? Where is she in all of this?"