Page 50 of Never Besmirch a Wallflower: Dukes and Wallflowers

Frowning, Beaufort glanced over his shoulder, his gaze scanning the chamber. “Warwick appears to have vanished. Is that what you’re seeking?”

“No.” Mansfield shoved past Beaufort and entered the room. “Has any of your jewelry disappeared?”

His eyebrows pulling together, Beaufort combed his fingers through the loose strands of dark hair that framed his face and twisted around. He walked to a rumpled bed and rooted through the covers, unearthing a wrinkled black waistcoat. Examining the material, he lifted his gaze to Mansfield.

“How did you know?”

“What’s missing?” Levi asked, his throat tightening.

Beaufort’s eyes flicked to Levi. “My gold fob.”

“Ours as well.” Mansfield gestured between him and Levi. “And Lennox’s ring.”

“Your father’s?” Beaufort’s eyebrows shot into his hair. “And Roxburghe? Was he affected?”

Levi glanced at Roxburghe, who shifted his weight, focusing the whole of his attention on the open doorway.

“He was not. However,” Levi continued before Beaufort accused Roxburghe of theft, “he has a witness to confirm his whereabouts.”

“Is it Warwick?” Beaufort slashed his arm toward the other bed.

The corner of Mansfield’s mouth pulled into a half-scowl. “We don’t know where he is.”

Beaufort snorted. “Have you investigated the library? Whenever Warwick deigns to bless me with his delightful personality, he always finds his way to that room.”

“Why is everyone yelling?” Miss Webb’s soft question drew Roxburghe to her side.

He slipped his arms around her and pressed his lips to her forehead.

“It appears Lennox, Mansfield, and Beaufort are missing pieces of jewelry they possessed prior to entering this house.”

“Are you accusing Miss Rowe of theft?” Miss Webb jerked free of Roxburghe’s embrace, fire flashing in her honey-colored eyes.

“No one has been faulted,” he replied, wrapping her in his arms again. “We’re in the process of determining what occurred last night.”

“Why is everyone awake?” Disheveled, Miss Rowe appeared in the doorway, her chest heaving as though she’d run the length of the corridor in her stockings.

Miss Webb peered at her around Roxburghe. “Several items of value have vanished.”

“A thief?” Paling, Miss Rowe’s hands flew to her mouth. “In my home? Are you certain?”

Levi stepped forward, an unexplained need to ease the fear growing in Miss Rowe’s eyes flowing through him.

“We haven’t determined the cause yet. Several of us were not in our right minds last evening; we may have simply misplaced the pieces.”

“All three of us?” Mansfield growled, causing Miss Rowe to flinch.

She took a step backward, hovering between the chamber and the hallway as though she intended to take flight the moment anyone approached her.

Sliding between Mansfield and Miss Rowe, Levi glared at Mansfield, then turned his back, favoring Miss Rowe with a kind smile.

“I suggest we split up and search both floors,” he said, keeping his tone soothing.

“I’ll rouse Winifred,” Miss Webb said and detangled herself from Roxburghe’s amorous grasp. “She’ll want to be involved in the hunt.”

Compacting herself into a smaller space, Miss Rowe moved aside, allowing Miss Webb past.

“Would you ask your sister if she’s missing anything as well?” Miss Rowe’s soft voice cracked.