Page 103 of Never Besmirch a Wallflower: Dukes and Wallflowers

“For my protection,” Mr. Braddock said, shifting his body to maintain his balance as the coach rounded another corner, “she wouldn’t say anything except that she didn’t intend to leave England.”

Levi’s stomach flipped. “And you believed her?”

“I had no reason to doubt her.” Mr. Braddock’s eyes rounded, and he paled. “If she departs the country, I’ll never see her again.”

Neither will I.

Banging on the wall, Levi encouraged Mr. Spencer to increase the coach’s pace. A loud crack followed the non-verbal direction, and a second burst of speed shook the cabin.

“Is this safe?” Warwick asked, his eyes on the wildly swinging lantern. “The ground is quite slick.”

As he spoke, Mr. Spencer yelled and yanked on the reins, slowing the horses. The coach, however, didn’t decelerate. Instead, the wheels slid, scraping on the icy cobblestones, and the coach skidded sideways toward a plethora of screams.

The rear wheel stuck in a rut, and the coach tilted, balancing on two wheels, hovered for a moment, then crashed back down again.

“Did we lose Miss Braddock?” Levi asked, jerking the window curtain aside and gasping when he recognized their location.

“I’m unharmed,” Warwick said, using his cane to smack the back of Levi’s calf. “Thank you for your concern.”

Levi turned, ignoring Warwick. “We’re at the theater.”

“Why would Eveline return here?” Frowning, Mr. Braddock moved around Levi and opened the door.

He stepped down from the coach, followed closely by Levi. The two men, disregarding the murmurs that accompanied them, trudged past the theater entrance to Mr. Braddock’s coach. Scooting in front of Levi, Mr. Braddock opened the door, stuck his head in, and swore.

“She’s not there.” Mr. Braddock stepped aside, allowing Levi to peek into the cabin.

“Neither is her trunk.” Levi’s chest constricted, crushing the oxygen from his lungs.

Mr. Braddock strode toward the driver, who was covering one of the horses with a wool blanket.

“Why are you here, Mr. Allan?”

“Your sister asked me to return.” He pushed his hat back, exposing thick, black hair. “Said it wasn’t right to leave her guests stranded at the theater because she felt ill and had to retire early.”

Levi sagged against the coach.

“Come, Your Grace.” Mr. Braddock grabbed Levi and dragged him back across the street. “She may still be at the residence.”

His body numb, Levi nodded, and he allowed Mr. Braddock to shove him into the cabin.

“Where is Miss Braddock?” Warwick asked as Mr. Braddock gave instructions to the driver.

“At her residence,” Levi said, struggling to maintain the hold on his temper. “We chased an empty coach.”

Warwick laughed, then sensing Levi’s distress, he stopped mid-guffaw and clapped Levi on the back. “We’ll find her.”

Silence punctuated the carriage ride back to Miss Braddock’s residence. Though Warwick appeared as though he wanted to speak, he held his tongue, his hands kneading the top of his cane.

When they reached the house, Levi and Mr. Braddock squeezed through the small coach door, raced through the break in the iron fence, rushed up the path toward the house, and ripped open the front door.

“Eveline!” Mr. Braddock screamed, running across the foyer and dashing up the staircase two steps at a time.

She appeared at the second-floor landing, her red hair loose and tumbling down over her shoulders, the vision causing Levi’s heart to explode into triple-time.

“Ernest, has something happened?” She hurried toward him, freezing when she spied Levi at the base of the stairs. “Your Grace.”

The warmth that greeted her brother didn’t extend to him.