None of them were Finch.
He climbed the stairs once more. Perhaps the man was hiding somewhere or had been overlooked. But it only took a few minutes to look through each floor as all the doors now stood open and the rooms were empty.
Daniel paused alone at the top of the landing, frustration simmering within him at yet another failure.
Finch was still out there somewhere. He dreaded delivering the disappointing news to Beatrice.
“HOW IS SHE?” DANIEL asked the moment Beatrice returned to the drawing room after settling Sarah into bed.
“I think she’ll be fine. Caroline has been so kind as to make room for first me, then Mary and now Sarah.” Beatrice was beyond relieved that Daniel had found her friend yet felt terrible for bringing not one but two strangers in need under Caroline and Aberland’s roof. But she didn’t know what else to do. There was no place for them to go that she knew of.
Sarah had been confused, uncertain if Beatrice’s presence was real or a figment of her imagination. It seemed as if Daniel had arrived before anything truly untoward had occurred. But her fear had been palpable and her words muddled for the most part.
“A good night’s rest and time for the drug to wear off will help.” Beatrice’s voice caught on the last few words despite her intention not to become overly emotional in front of Daniel. Guilt that Sarah had ended up in the same situation as Beatrice made her feel positively ill.
He’d already done so much to aid her. The last thing he’d want to deal with was an overemotional female.
“Beatrice,” he said as he stepped closer.
She wanted him to take her into his arms and tell her all was going to be well. That he loved her, and they were in this together.
But he didn’t do any of those things. He only stood there staring at her with a guarded look. The distance between them made her ache with longing until she could hardly draw a breath.
Until this moment, Daniel hadn’t really looked at her since they’d discovered Sarah had been at the boarding house. She could only assume he was disappointed she hadn’t told Sarah the truth about what occurred. After all, that was what had caused the entire day’s events.
She swallowed against the lump in her throat, trying to hold in her emotions. Would an apology make any difference? It seemed inadequate considering the danger in which she’d placed not only Sarah but Daniel and the men who’d entered the brothel. Thank goodness none of them had been hurt.
“Daniel, I’m so sorry about all this. I should’ve been honest with Sarah in my letter and explained in detail what happened to me.” Her pride had kept her from doing so. She hadn’t wanted anyone in her village to learn about those terrible events. But what purpose was there in protecting her own reputation when it had risked Sarah’s life?
“There is no need for you to apologize.” His quiet, deep voice held an odd note, one she couldn’t decipher. “Neither you nor Mary nor Sarah is at fault in any way.”
Beatrice blinked back tears, wishing she could believe him. The closeness they’d shared in the past few days had vanished, leaving her chilled. She had no idea how to get it back.
“I’m certain you’re tired after what you endured today,” he continued. “You should rest while you can. Miss Ramsey will no doubt require much of your time on the morrow.”
“Sally is with her now.” She wanted Daniel to know Caroline wasn’t tending Sarah while Beatrice did nothing.
“All the more reason you should seek your bed. We’ll talk more once Miss Ramsey has recovered.”
Before she could think of an excuse to ask him to stay, he’d gone. Not once had he touched her. Did that mean their betrothal was at an end? Despair filled her at the thought.
With slow steps, she made her way to her bedchamber and sank onto the bed. She’d been so certain she had found her place in the world—with Daniel. His distant expression shattered her hope. Now that place with him seemed as impossible as holding a star—ever out of reach.
DANIEL LOOKED UP FROM the correspondence he’d been reviewing at his desk as Richard walked into the study late the following morning.
Alarm filled him. “Is all well? Did something happen with Miss Ramsey?”
“She is as good as can be expected. However, I was rather surprised not to find you somewhere in my house this morning, so I decided to call on you to make certain you were well.”
“As you can see, I’m fine.” Other than not having achieved any of the things he’d been working toward. The issue continued to fester deep inside him, but a solution had yet to come to mind.
When Beatrice had apologized the previous evening, it had taken all of his reserve to keep from drawing her into his arms. But how could he when the one comfort she deserved—knowing the man who’d ruined her in Society’s eyes, along with numerous other women, had been imprisoned and would be punished for his criminal activities—was something he couldn’t give her?
Until he found a way to make that happen, he intended to keep his distance. Planning a future with her when he’d so badly let her down was impossible.
Richard settled into the chair on the opposite side of his desk, studying Daniel. “You’ve saved not one but three women. You’re becoming quite the hero.”
Daniel scoffed. “Hardly. Last evening, I merely followed the police into the brothel and carried Miss Ramsey to safety.”
“Wasn’t that the purpose of the mission?”
“In part.” Daniel leaned back in his chair with a sigh. “I’d be happier if Finch had been captured.”
“Surely Hurdy is continuing to work toward that end.”
“One would hope so.” Some of his frustration
