Page 42 of Her Rogue of a Duke
Yet, each room he searched was as empty as the last.
Where had she disappeared off to so suddenly? Why wasn’t she here, waiting for him as they’d agreed?
Trying to quell the unease churning in his stomach, he reassured himself that perhaps she had simply gone back to her chambers to dress and had been waylaid by something on her return.
Leaving the Orangery with a newfound resolve, he marched back to the manor. Once inside, he ascended the grand staircase to her bedchamber, convinced she had to be there.
However, as he reached the second floor, Warren suddenly appeared and hurried down the hallway toward him.
“Your Grace! I have been searching everywhere for you,” the butler declared as he came to a stop in front of Joshua. “Forgive my intrusion on your morning, but I must inform you of a matter that I fear cannot wait a moment longer.”
Joshua frowned as he continued his strides towards the guest chamber. “What is this about, Warren?”
“It is regarding the inquest you tasked of me concerning Lady Francesca,” Warren explained as he hurried to catch up with his master.
He paused. Suddenly, Joshua recalled Warren approaching him a few days prior with a similar request. At that time, he had been too preoccupied to listen to what the butler had to say, and presently, he found himself busy again, leaving him with little desire to engage in a conversation with Warren regarding his findings.
Besides, he felt he already knew enough about Francesca by now. Anything else might be a breach of the mutual trust they had developed with one another.
“I am sure it can wait a little longer,” he said dismissively, moving to walk past the butler in the direction of Francesca’s temporary chambers. “I have more urgent matters to attend to—"
“Forgive my impudence, Your Grace, but I must press upon you,” Warren hurriedly interjected as he moved to block Joshua’s path. “I shall put my neck on the line if I must, but the information I possess is of utmost importance.”
Warren’s forcefulness caught Joshua off guard for a moment and piqued his curiosity. But then there was also the innatenature of the man to exaggerate the smallest details and infractions.
Still,Warren was scarcely this insistent.
Perhaps it would be prudent to listen to what he had to say.
Despite his eagerness to seek out Francesca, Joshua finally nodded and acceded, “Very well, Warren, this had better be important. Follow me to my study so we can speak in private.”
Warren let out a hefty exhale at Joshua’s acquiescence. “Thank you, Your Grace. Should I…”
Joshua followed the direction of his butler’s gaze to the bags in his hands. He had momentarily forgotten he was still carrying them. “No, I think I’ll hang onto them for now.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
The two made their way back through the manor and proceeded to Joshua’s study. Warren closed the door behind them with a quiet click while Joshua moved around his desk to sit, setting Francesca’s bags beside his chair. Once he was settled, he looked up at the butler expectantly.
“Well? What is it you have found?”
Warren approached Joshua’s desk and picked up a stack of papers resting on its surface. He handed them to Joshua, who began to sift through them.
“Baron Oakvale, it seems, was once considerably affluent,” Warren began as Joshua perused the documents—business records and land deeds. One, in particular, caught Joshua’s eye, sparking a memory. “However, when Your Grace reclaimed the aptly-named Oakvale meadows—that rightfully belonged to your family, of course, the Oakvale fortunes were quickly depleted. It appears a significant portion of the Baron’s income was derived from the profits of that land, and without it, he struggled to sustain the lifestyle he had grown accustomed to.”
Joshua’s frown deepened. He recalled the recovery of a long-lost deed affirming his family’s ownership of the land in question. Reclaiming it had been a straightforward process, one he had not given much thought to since. He had also known it was one of the primary reasons Francesca had despised him so much, but at the time, he had not cared, for the feelings were mutual.
Now, he realized just how justified her animosity toward him was. More justified than his own, at least. Guilt twisted inside of him at the thought that he was the reason her luggage was so light.
“I know most of this already, Warren. Is there anything else more consequential?” he muttered through gritted teeth.
“Yes, Your Grace,” the butler hastily nodded. “I also delved into the matter regarding the Baron’s present whereabouts and…”
“And? And what, man? Spit it out!”
The butler hesitated, a look of reluctance on his face, before finally divulging, “…There is no sign of him being anywhere, Your Grace. As far as I can tell, Lord Nightingale was supposed to have returned from his trip three weeks ago.”
Joshua’s brows knitted together in concern. “You are certain he did not get delayed somewhere? Or that he extended his trip for some reason or another?”