“How are you finding the country, sir?”
“It is most agreeable. Everyone has been so kind to me.”
“I’m glad to hear it. And I’m sure once you are married, it will get easier, with a wife to help you.”
Heath stopped in his tracks. There it was, finally. Miss Wilcott was husband-hunting. At least now he knew for sure. Well, he would put a stop to any notions she might have. “I am not currently looking for a wife, Miss Wilcott. I have other issues that are more pressing at the moment.”
She put a hand on his chest. “But eventually you will require a wife.”
No, I will not!
The words pounded in his mind, wanting to be free. Instead, Heath did the gentlemanly thing and smiled, then stepped back so her hand fell away.
“I think I may need to return to the house. My leg is not feeling up to a stroll this afternoon.”
The couple and Mrs. Wilcott returned indoors, after which Heath gave his thanks and excused himself. Mrs. Wilcott tried to squeeze out a promise for a future dinner invitation, but Heath skirted the question and left.
By the time he returned home, it was nearing five o’clock. He handed his hat to Jenkins. “Has Mr. Badgely returned? I was with the Wilcotts for the afternoon.”
“He has not, sir.”
Heath went to the library to wait. Now his curiosity was even more piqued by Kane’s mysterious trip to Dover. To pass the time, Heath wrote the letter to Allan Hayes, asking him to come to Stokesby Manor at his earliest convenience to look over the brewery and give his advice. That done, Heath settled in for the night.
Dinner came and went, and still no sign of Kane. Where the hell was he? Heath was torn between anger and concern. If Kane didn’t show up by morning, Heath would go searching for him. To calm his nerves, Heath settled in with a large glass of brandy which turned into two. The alcohol did the job. Before long, Heath’s head dropped onto his chest as exhaustion, and slight inebriation, overtook him.
CHAPTER6
He had almost kissed Heath. When he had lain on top of Heath after their fall, their faces had been so close that Kane had to fight the impulse to join their lips. The man was endearing in so many ways, but Kane could tell Heath was struggling. Not just with his new title and duties, but with himself. Kane knew all too well what it felt like to deal with personal demons. For years, he’d struggled with accepting who he was and giving himself permission to be happy. Now he wanted the same for Heath, because once the baronet embraced who he was, then the rest would fall into place.
Kane wanted to show Heath what it could be like between them. Each time they were together, it was harder for Kane to control himself. He hadn’t thought twice when Heath had fallen. Thinking only to save him from harm. But once they had landed on the floor? Kane had to shift in his saddle. Lord, what he could have done to Heath on that floor.
If he felt such a powerful allure towards Heath, then why had he put the poor fellow forward to dine with the Wilcotts? Because he had not forgotten his promise to Caroline to make inquiries around Dover regarding the missing girls. It was the perfect opportunity except for poor Heath, who would have to endure an afternoon with the Wilcotts. Mayhap there would be a time when Kane could make it up to him.
Erotic images raced through Kane’s mind, but he shook his head.Not now.He had a job to do. There had to be a reasonable explanation for why two young girls would vanish. There usually was. In London, it happened all the time. Some young person got an idea in their head and ran away from home for a spell, but they always returned. Even Kane had a time or two when a pupil had gone missing, but the lad had always shown up a few days later, none the worse for wear.
Once he arrived in Dover, Kane stabled his horse, then methodically made calls at businesses where a young girl might look for work. He asked at several taverns, the local hotel, even a brothel, but no one had hired any girls matching the descriptions Caroline had given him. Kane cursed under his breath as he went to the orphanage. As a teacher, he understood Caroline’s affection for her students. He would do whatever he could to help her. Hopefully, nothing nefarious had happened.
As he passed the baker’s shop, the proprietress stopped him. “Excuse me, sir.”
“Yes?”
She motioned with her head for him to follow her around the corner. “I know you spoke to my husband earlier, but he did not tell you the truth.”
“About what?”
“We hired a girl to help, about a month ago, and last week she disappeared. We haven’t seen or heard from her since.”
The hairs on Kane’s neck stood on end. “Was she from the orphanage?”
“No. She was from a local family, but she was around the same age as the girls you described.”
Interesting. “Do you know anything else?”
The woman looked both ways before she spoke. “I’ve heard rumors that the sewing factory had a handful of girls go missing. They showed up for work one day, then the next, nothing.”
“Thank you, ma’am for your assistance. If you hear anything else, please tell Miss Hearst at the orphanage.”
“I will, sir. Take care.”