Quinn sat up straighter, the coldness growing. “Last I saw her, she was walking in your front door.” He glanced up at the clock above the door. “That was about two hours ago.”
Hawkesmere sank into the chair across from Quinn’s desk. “What in the hell happened at Mercy House today? The servants are buzzing that there was a murder, but Allison, her lady’s maid Heather, and the footman Joseph have all disappeared, along with most of Allison’s belongings.”
“She’s probably afraid that you’ll curtail her activities. I’m certain she’s gone to stay with a friend or relative. Where would she go?” Though he certainly didn’t have time for this, Quinn found himself wanting to drop everything and help Lady Allison’s brother find her. Didn’t she realize that she was safest under her brother’s roof?
“If I knew the answer to that, I wouldn’t have come to you,” Hawkesmere fired back. “Why didn’t you tell me that she’d been involved in something like this?”
“She asked me not to, and I knew you’d find out anyway. Besides, I’m not her keeper,” Quinn snapped. “She was furious with me for escorting her home, but I didn’t think she’d immediately take off. If I’d known, I would have dragged her in and tied her to a chair.”
Lucien gave a surprised bark of laughter. “She needs to be tied to a chair. It drives me mad to think of her in this neighborhood, alone except for a maid and a footman. But she keeps reminding me that she has her own money and doesn’t need to do as I say, and I’ve been terrified of driving her away.”
“I don’t think anything has happened to her,” Quinn said with a sigh. “I imagine she’s just gone somewhere to avoid being under house arrest.”
“Is she in danger if she goes back to Mercy House?” Lucien asked wearily. “Do I need to spend all night scouring the city for her?”
“I don’t think that someone is going to start picking off the whores of Mercy House one by one if that’s what you’re asking. But I do think it’s dangerous for her to be in this neighborhood. I wish she would find some other hobby.”
Hawkesmere pushed to his feet. “I have a few ideas of where she might be,” he said with a sigh. “I can’t believe she’d just leave without a word. Doesn’t she realize how much I worry about her? After what happened to Anne....” He shook his head. “Sorry to have bothered you, O’Brien. I know you must have a lot going on tonight. And I didn’t mean to interrupt your dinner.”
“It’s all right,” Quinn assured him, surprised by the apology. Men like Hawkesmere usually didn’t feel the need to apologize to anyone. “Please send word when you find her, and if I hear anything, I’ll let you know as well.”
With a grateful nod, Hawkesmere left.
Quinn dove into his sandwich, wishing he knew where that little terror had gone. And then he wondered why he cared so much about a spoiled society girl who didn’t give a fig about him.