As soon as she opened the door, he sat up in bed. “Did you find her?”
Kate closed the door and leaned against it. “I searched everywhere for her, Colin. No one has seen her.”
“Why would she have left?”
“I can’t imagine. She hadn’t left your side from the moment she awoke from the laudanum.”
He understood why she would have been upset with him. After all, he’d said he wanted to kill her mother. But that was in the past. “I want my carriage readied. She went back to her cottage.”
Where she feels safe. He should have known if she was upset that would be the first place she’d go. Nothing, not even a gunshot wound, would stop him from finding her and apologizing. He had to make her understand that while he had loved Mary, he was over her now. Mary would have been furious with him for grieving this long.
And she would have liked Selina.
“Colin, you are not ready to leave yet.”
“Either you help me or get out of my way. But I will find her today.”
“Your Grace, you are going nowhere.”
Colin looked toward the door where Mrs. Featherstone stood in the threshold with Miss Featherstone behind her. “Good morning, Mrs. Featherstone. While I appreciate you tending to me last night, I am perfectly well.”
She walked into the room and pursed her lips. “Indeed. Since I am quite certain you have no book or practical knowledge in healing, I will be the judge of your health. Now sit down.”
Something about the tone of her voice made Colin falter. She reminded him of his own late mother.
“Where is Selina?” Mia asked in bewilderment. “While her wound was superficial, she still shouldn’t be doing too much today.”
“That is why I am leaving. I need to find her.” Colin reached for his shirt and suppressed a groan. Just that little movement had sent shooting pain from his shoulder down his back.
“Your Grace, I will ask you once more to sit down,” Mrs. Featherstone demanded. “Mia, go find Selina and make sure she is all right. Once you find her, send word to His Grace. In the meantime, I will keep the duke in bed where he belongs.” She gave him a hard stare until he sat down.
He only obeyed her command because he knew her advice was sound. He really was in no condition to go riding across the countryside trying to find Selina. But he needed someone to go after Mr. Wells. “Miss Featherstone, while you are looking for Miss White, can you ride to Lord Hartsfield’s home and tell him I must speak with him immediately?”
She tilted her head and smiled at him. “That shouldn’t be a problem.” She opened the door and motioned to someone in the hall. “His Grace needs to speak with you.”
“Thank you,” Hart said as he walked past her. “I didn’t think a little thing like a pistol wound would keep you down.”
Colin knew his friend only teased to rile him. “I’d like to see you try it sometime. Then you’ll have this bossy termagant commanding your every move.”
“Now, now, Your Grace,” Mrs. Featherstone said with a smile. “You just do as I say and I won’t be so harsh.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Hart sank into a chair by the window. “So how bad is it?”
“The wound? I will survive—”
“I meant the reason you need to see me at eight in the morning.” Hart crossed his arms over his chest. “You know who shot you, don’t you?”
“Yes, but they were aiming at Miss White, not me.”
Mrs. Featherstone gasped as she lifted the linen off the wound.
“Am I all right?” Colin asked, suddenly concerned.
“I apologize, Your Grace. I heard what you said just as I lifted the bandage. Why would anyone try to hurt Selina? The tenants love her.”
Colin told them both about Mrs. Wells. “Selina said she did notice him just before he shot us.”