“You’ve worn the willow long enough. About time you found your stones and began to order people about again! It’s fabulous.” Finn jumped to his feet. “Bloody well brilliant.” Then he narrowed his eyes at Ashley. “Does this have anything to do with Miss Thorne?” Then he swiped at the air with his hand as though wiping his comments away. “Never mind, it’s not important. I hear you found Anne.”
“I did.”
“Where was she?”
“In the village, of all places,” Ashley said. He wouldn’t tell Finn about the odd circumstances he’d encountered when he found her. Finn would never believe him, anyway. “She was being teased by some of the lower orders.”
“She wasn’t harmed, was she?” Finn’s sandy-colored brows drew together with concern.
“Not harmed, but she was rather frightened.” Ashley took a deep breath and regarded his brother.
“Why do I feel like you need to tell me something?” He reached for his own nose. “Do I have snot on my nose?” He swiped at his upper lip.
“Shut it,” Ashley ground out, but he couldn’t stop the grin that pulled at his lips. Finally, he admitted, “I need your help.”
“With?” Finn suddenly looked serious.
“Miss Thorne.” That was all he said. Then he met Finn’s gaze, which danced with humor. Blast his hide. He balled up a piece of parchment on his desk and threw it at his brother’s thick head. “Just what do you find so amusing?”
“My big brother, the dangerous Duke of Robinsworth, needs help getting a chit into his bed?”
“Not into my bed, you idiot.” Ashley swore beneath his breath. He could get her into his bed all by himself. Couldn’t he? It wasn’t important. “You offered to research her past. I’d like to take you up on your offer.”
Finn sat forward with his elbows on his knees. Ashley had his full attention.
“I want to know everything you can find out. About her, her brother, Marcus, and even her grandmother.”
“Answer one question for me,” Finn said with a grin. “Are you in love with her?”
Was he? He’d been fairly certain he was, until tonight. Now he didn’t know what to think. “Just put your snout to the ground and dig up whatever you can.”
“Only Miss Thorne is allowed to compare me to a dog,” Finn said.
“Why is Miss Thorne allowed to do so?”
A lopsided grin crossed Finn’s face. “Because she’s much prettier than you are.”
A cough sounded from the doorway. Ashley looked up to find Wilkins standing at attention. “Don’t cough up any vital organs, Wilkins. Just speak.”
The butler looked more than perturbed at Ashley’s comment, which was almost amusing. “I have never ‘coughed up any vital organs,’ Your Grace. Nor would I.” He raised his nose in the air.
“Of course not. It would be much too messy,” Finn tossed out.
“Quite,” Wilkins replied. Then he cleared his throat. And grimaced at Finn’s grin. The man would probably never cough again. “You asked me to send Miss Thorne to you.”
Ashley raised a brow in encouragement and rolled his hand in the air. “And?”
“I’m afraid that would be impossible, Your Grace.”
Ashley jumped to his feet. “Has she refused to see me?” He started for the door. By God, she would see him. How dare she refuse him? A little part of his heart began to ache at the very thought of her not wanting to see him. Blast her.
Finn grabbed his shoulder. “Wait, Robin,” he said quietly.
“I cannot bring her to you because she is not in residence.” Wilkins looked decidedly uncomfortable.
“Not in residence?” Ashley knew he probably sounded like a dolt, but he didn’t understand.
“Not in residence,” the butler repeated. “She has left. And she took her grandmother and Mr. Thorne with her.” So, she’d gone and taken her whole family. What a dreadful turn of events.