Page 32 of Mr Winterbourne's Christmas

Lysander blinked at him, seeming astonished. “Adam, I—”

But whatever he intended to say was cut off when the door opened, and someone else stumbled out onto the terrace with a muffled curse.

Adam and Lysander sprang apart, both wheeling to turn and face the newcomer.

It was Cavendish.

“Zander—” Cavendish hissed under his breath, his expression agonised. “You have to help me find Bella—she’s vanished!”

Chapter 12 - Lysander

“What do you mean?”Lysander said, staring his friend. Half of his mind was still stuck on the astonishing and wonderful revelation that Adamlovedhim. It was a thought made Lysander’s heart race and joy bubble up inside him, all his doubts about what Adam truly thought of him swept away by that sweet, certain declaration.

He bit back the absurd smile that wanted to take over his face, his rational mind sternly pointing out that Perry was panicked and foolish grins did not become the situation.

“She said she was going to bed when the dancing started,” Perry said, his voice hoarse with fear. “When I saw how miserable she was, I decided to check on her. See if she was all right. But the damned chit ain’t there! Bed’s neat as a new pin.” He groaned. “M’mother’ll kill me if anything happens to her.”

“Perhaps she’s gone for a stroll,” Adam said.

“She can barely walk!” Perry cried, then glanced over his shoulder at the closed door, alarmed.

“Calm down,” Lysander said, setting his hand on Perry’s arm. “We’ll find her.”

Perry just groaned. “If she gets involved in some scandal, it’ll be the end of her reputation. No chap’ll have her and I’ll get the blame of her being an old maid. And mother’ll auction me off to some Friday-faced chit with a good dowry instead—which ain’t damned well fair when I don’t even like the ladies and Bellawantsto get married!”

“Have you checked the library?” Adam asked calmly, interrupting Perry’s increasingly hysterical rant. “Perhaps she went to get a book to distract her from her sore ankle?”

Perry looked hopeful. “She does read.”

“Right, well, it’s worth a try then,” Lysander said.

“You’ll come with me?” Perry begged, his eyes imploring.

Damn. Lysander wanted to finish his conversation with Adam, but what could he say?

“All right. But let’s walk through the gardens to the front door so we don’t get stopped by Mother and made to dance.” He glanced at Adam hopefully. “Are you coming?”