He didn’t wait around for a response.
* * * *
Rose stood on the back terrace, inhaling the sweet fragrance of the rose petals as they drifted over the soft grass where she and Cameron had lain together. Following the aroma, she drifted down the stairs and out onto the cool, dry lawn, spinning around slowly, her pink nightdress catching the soft breeze. She lowered to the ground, stretching out on the spot where she and Cam had nearly made love. She inhaled, exhaled, caressing her abdomen and whispering sweet words to her slumbering babe. She closed her eyes, the breeze slapping her tresses across her cheeks gently.
If only…
* * * *
When Lily and Daniel’s carriage finally reached the house, it was near two in the morning and the house was quiet. Lily led Cameron into the main parlor and bade him wait.
“I’ll fetch Rose for you,” she said. “Get him a brandy or something.” She motioned to Daniel.
“What will it be, Price?” Daniel asked.
“Anything with alcohol in it. God, what will I say to her?”
“I’ll not tell you that I’m an expert on matters of the heart,” Daniel said. “I’m not, that’s for certain. And I’m not at all comfortable talking about this.”
“Nor am I.”
“But I will give you this one piece of advice. Tell her the truth. Don’t ever lie to her. Don’t ever keep something from her. You never know when she may not be around to hear it.”
“Your Grace?”
“I nearly lost Lily before I confessed my love to her,” Daniel said. “If I had… Well, it turned out fine, thank God.”
“Yes, I see.” He took the brandy Daniel offered and downed it in one gulp.
“Another?”
“No, I need my wits about me.” He paced back and forth. “Maybe one more. I’ll drink it slowly this time.”
Daniel refilled Cameron’s snifter as Lily strode in briskly.
“Rose isn’t in her chamber, Daniel.”
“She’s not?”
“No, and no one upstairs has seen her. I checked with Sophie and Ally, even Evan. I didn’t want to wake my parents or your mother. It would just worry them.”
“She’s likely not with any of them anyway,” Daniel said.
Cameron’s heart thumped, his nerves on edge. Was his beloved in danger? “We’ve got to find her.”
“My God, where could she be, Daniel?” Lily queried. “She’s been so upset about…everything.”
“This is all my fault.” Cameron tugged at his hair. “Where the devil is she?”
“Price,” Daniel said, “why did you leave her in the first place?”
“It’s a long story,” Cameron said. “I’d rather explain it to Rose before I explain it to anyone else.”
“All right,” Daniel said. “Well, we can’t just stand here, let’s look for her.”
“You stay here, Mr. Price,” Lily said. “You don’t know your way around the estate.”
“I can’t just wait here when she’s out there somewhere.”