The Dark Duke by Landon Laura

Author:Landon, Laura [Landon, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Prairie Muse Publishing
Published: 2013-12-31T00:00:00+00:00

Sterling was becoming more frustrated by the second. “What does that mean, Barkley?”

“It means,” Wilson, his longtime valet interrupted, “that Lady Amanda has gone missing.”

“Missing?”

The emotion he felt could be described by several names. Fear, irritation, anger, fury, rage, and terror were among the first that came to mind.

“Yes, Your Grace,” Barkley added as he and Wilson raced to stay up with him as he made his way to the door and out of his room. “The lady is gone as well as her manservant, Jenkins, as well as her carriage.”

“Damn!” he yelled, slamming his hand against the newel post as he turned to go down the stairs. “How long has the lady been gone?”

“We’re not sure, Your Grace. Nellie looked in on Lord Mattenden like she was instructed to do during the night, and by chance, peeked into the lady’s room to make sure she was resting comfortably. She found her bed empty. We’ve made a thorough check of the house and discovered her manservant, Jenkins, missing, and her carriage gone from the carriage house.”

“Hell and damnation!” Sterling shouted. “Does Reynolds have my carriage ready?”

“Yes, Your Grace. It’s waiting out front.”

Without waiting to be helped, Sterling grabbed the coat Barkley held out, and raced through the open door. “You know where to go,” he yelled to Reynolds as he jumped inside.

“Yes, Your Grace. To the docks.”

Yes, Sterling thought as the carriage lurched forward. To the docks. The bloody fool woman was doing exactly what she’d promised she wouldn’t do. And he had no doubt she knew what she was going to do even as she lied to him and told him she’d give him time to see what he could discover on his own.

Since the docks were halfway across Town from where he lived, it usually took a fair amount of time to reach the waterfront. Tonight it seemed to take infinitely longer. “Are we almost there?” he shouted to his driver.

“Yes, Your Grace. We’ll be there shortly. Where should we start looking for the lady?”

Sterling thought for a moment. Go to Kroften Import and Export.” He’d interrupted her before she had a chance to break into their office. She’d no doubt try to finish what she’d started.

His carriage finally arrived at the location and Sterling jumped from the carriage. “Stay here, Reynolds. I’ll be back momentarily.”

Sterling didn’t wait for a reply, but raced toward Kroften Import and Export. He paused for only a second when he saw Flanders Shipping a few doors down the street. He made a mental note to check there if he didn’t find her at Kroften Import.

Sterling stayed in the shadows as much as possible, then turned down the alley. He placed his hand on the knob to the Kroften office and slowly turned. The knob turned easily.

“Damn,” he muttered as he opened the door and stepped inside.

She hadn’t heard him, an observation that made him angrier than he was before. If he could sneak up on her so handily, that meant anyone else could have, too.

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