Page 38 of Marrying a Marquess (Widows of Mayfair #3)

His mind went to Latham and Viscountess Norton. And then there were Anne and her father. Although now that he knew the baby she carried wasn’t his, he couldn’t imagine them doing this.

“I’m going to visit Blackstone, Langford, and Caldwell,” Nick said.

“They have connections with a Bow Street Runner. With any luck, Lady Priscilla will be home before afternoon tea.” He wanted to believe it, but he said it mostly to alleviate some of the misery he witnessed on Priscilla’s parents’ faces.

Back out the door and mounted on his horse once again, he sped off toward Latham House to speak with Latham and Caldwell.

He left his horse in the mews behind Latham House, walked briskly to the front door, and knocked. Once inside the entry, Nick handed over his calling card. “Please tell the baron and Mr. Caldwell that it is of the utmost importance that I speak with them immediately.”

“Yes, my lord.”

A few moments later, he was let into a drawing room. “Please make yourself comfortable. They will be with you shortly.”

The furnishings, though pleasant and comfortable, didn’t interest him.

His feet ate up the distance back and forth from one side of the room to the other.

His mind and body were too jittery to be still.

Where was Priscilla? Was she hurt or even worse.

..? He couldn’t let himself think that way, or he would break down and be no help finding her.

He needed to keep his wits about him. If he couldn’t, it was another reason to bring his friends and a Runner into Priscilla’s disappearance.

“Hollingsworth,” Caldwell said as he hurried into the room dressed in his trousers, boots, and a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up. “What has happened? You look like hell.”

“Priscilla is missing. No one has seen her since last night.”

Caldwell walked to the open door and spoke to someone outside the room, then turned back to Nick.

“My brother will be right down.” Caldwell frowned with a thoughtful look on his face.

“If you think Latham is involved, I can tell you he is not. He returned home with us last night and hasn’t left since. ”

Nick couldn’t lie to Caldwell. “It crossed my mind.”

“What crossed your mind?” Latham asked as he entered the room, dressed better than his brother, with a footman carrying a tray.

“Lady Priscilla has been missing since last night,” Caldwell said as he took the liberty of pouring three cups of coffee.

Latham frowned as he said, “Missing? You don’t think I have anything to do with it, do you?”

Hell if Nick knew what he thought at this point. It was all so unbelievable. “I might have.”

“Well, think again. I had nothing to do with it,” Latham paced the room, running his hands through his hair. “I asked her to marry me twice, and she turned me down twice. That was humiliating enough for me to stay away from her.”

“I keep thinking about Emmeline and Lilly and what happened to them,” Nick said as he ignored the coffee in favor of toast with butter and jam. His stomach needed something to soak up the coffee already eating a hole in his stomach.

“Have you spoken to Blackstone or Langford yet?” Caldwell asked.

Nick snorted. “I came here right after I met with Priscilla’s parents. Avery said he did send word to Emmeline and Lilly asking if she was with them, though. And he heard back that she wasn’t.”

Caldwell left the room for several moments and then returned. “I’ve sent word to have them come here as soon as possible, explaining that you were here.”

“Thank you,” Nick said as he finished another piece of toast before he finally picked up a cup of coffee. “Would you mind sending word to your Bow Street Runner?”

“Already done. Hopefully, all three of them will arrive within the hour. In the meantime, do Lady Priscilla or her parents have any enemies that you know of?”

“I can’t think of anyone who would dislike Priscilla.

As you know, she mostly keeps to herself.

She’s a member of the Ladies’ Society of Mayfair, but I don’t think it has to do with that.

” He finally collapsed into an overstuffed chair and sipped his coffee while it was still hot.

“I don’t believe the duke and duchess have enemies, either. ” He exhaled loudly. “Any ideas?”

Nick was surprised when Latham spoke up. “Well, now that you mention it, Viscountess Norton isn’t feeling favorable toward you right now. She didn’t take the news of you interfering with the business Norton ran for the better part of fifteen years very well.”

“What?” Caldwell bellowed. “What are you talking about? What business? ”

Nick explained all about the business the Viscount and Viscountess Norton were involved in, including what had happened to him. “According to the viscountess, Norton was retiring from his role in criminal activities and chose Latham to fill his shoes.”

“What?” Caldwell bellowed again.

“Relax, brother. Thanks to Hollingsworth, I never got a chance to partake in anything. What I did get were copies of Norton’s records of who he schemed and blackmailed and the amounts paid to him.

” Damn, the cad, if he didn’t look right at Nick and grin.

“Imagine my shock at finding your name on the list. Now I understand where the gossip came from.” He frowned.

“The list is quite shocking in its entirety. The well-known and prominent names and the amounts Norton collected are staggering. If anyone knew such a list existed and that I had it in my possession, my life would be in danger. What I don’t understand is why Norton didn’t continue blackmailing them, or why the viscountess doesn’t do it now.

Most would pay dearly to have their secret remain hidden. ”

“Get the list,” both Caldwell and Nick demanded simultaneously.

“Then both your lives will also be in danger.”

“We will risk it,” Nick said, pausing. “Still, the names on the list have nothing to do with Priscilla.”

“Actually,” Latham began, “the Duke of Avery was one of the first swindles nearly fifteen years ago. However, I don’t believe this concerns her father.

” He paused. “You do realize the viscountess wants you for herself, don’t you?

Not only is she a social climber, but she’s also money hungry.

A marchioness is quite high in the rankings compared to a viscountess.

You also come from one of the oldest and wealthiest families. All things she desires.”

“How do you know her so well?” Caldwell barked out.

Latham exhaled and turned to Nick. “She won’t take no for an answer.

She doesn’t care that you threatened to ruin both of us if we proceeded with the business.

She believes that you are bluffing, that you would never ruin her or the brother of a friend.

Perhaps she took Lady Priscilla to force your hand or to ensure you keep your mouth shut.

Or maybe she’s ransoming her off to the duke for money. ”

Nick’s fingers went to his temples, and he massaged them, trying to ease the stabbing pain. The day had barely begun, and he wanted it to end. To end with Priscilla in his arms in her bed, safe and sound. “I need quiet to think.”

“Done.” Caldwell sank into the chair beside his.

Latham stood at the window staring at God knew what. All Nick knew was it was silent. This business with Priscilla—it must have something to do with him. Priscilla had no enemies. At least Nick didn’t believe so.

He dozed off for a few minutes, then voices and footsteps aroused him.

“What is this I hear about Lady Priscilla being missing?” asked Lady Langford.

Wonderful. The ladies had come, too. Not that he had anything against Lady Langford and the Duchess of Blackstone, but the pounding in his head was growing, and the more people were here, the louder the room became.

He pushed the pain aside. He needed to concentrate, and they needed to all work together to figure out Priscilla’s disappearance.

“Do we know anything?” Blackstone asked as both he and his wife sat on the settee.

“Forgive me a moment,” Caldwell said, then ducked out of the room. When he returned, he came with several footmen, each carrying a chair which they placed around the low table where the breakfast tray sat. “Please have a seat.”

Once everyone was seated, the Runner, Mr. Whitcomb, arrived, joined the conversation, and listened intently.

They reviewed everything and anything they could think of regarding Priscilla, Nick, and her parents. It always came back to the viscountess. Mr. Whitcomb left to assemble a team of men he trusted to start surveillance on the viscountess and any known associates of Norton’s business.

Langford placed his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Trust Whitcomb. He will find her.”

“Yes,” Blackstone chimed in, “he will.”

After Langford and Blackstone left with their wives and it was just the original three of them, Caldwell said, “What about that list?”

Latham groaned. “I hate for anyone else to see it. Believe me, it is dangerous knowledge. If half of the men on the list knew it existed, the viscountess and I would be dead, and the list burned or used for other despicable reasons. Someone could make a fortune off these men. Those who are living anyway.”

“David,” Caldwell groaned. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Latham looked affronted that his brother would even think such a thing about him. However, Nick had no problem believing it.

“Never mind,” Caldwell continued before Latham could answer. “I don’t want to see it. If I were you, I’d burn it. But know this, brother: If you have a sudden influx of coin, you will answer to me.”

Nick stood and stretched out his sore muscles.

“I’ll leave you two to argue. I’m going to inform Priscilla’s parents of what we know then I’ll go to Norton Hall to visit the viscountess.

I know the Runner’s looking into her, but I’d feel better meeting with her myself.

” He wanted to see her face when she denied or admitted to having anything to do with Priscilla’s disappearance.