Free Mortal Arts (A Lady Darby Mystery) by AnnaLee Huber Page A

been made for our safety should for some reason he turn violent. He’s being housed on the floor above our bedchambers far from anyone else.”
    “What of the children?” the marchioness demanded, gesturing to Alana, who stiffened. “Your own nephew? Are they not in the nursery on the same floor?”
    I squeezed my sister’s hand and scowled at Lady Hollingsworth. While perhaps a legitimate concern, she needn’t have voiced it in such a way. Alarming my already overtaxed sister did not help matters.
    “The children are as far away from William as we are, with many doors locked between them.”
    Lord Damien narrowed his eyes. “Then you do admit you fear for their safety. If you’ve taken such precautions, you cannot be as certain of your brother’s inability to do harm as you protest.”
    Gage shifted in his stance, drawing my attention. There was a tightening in the muscles of his face, a sharpening of his eyes that I knew signaled intense interest.
    “I . . . I do not believe William would hurt anyone,” Michael stammered. “At least, not on purpose. But if he were confused . . . I simply thought it best to ensure our guests’ comfort and his.”
    “And is he often confused?” Gage asked.
    I wanted to glare at him for assisting Will’s detractors, but I knew it was a reasonable question.
    “No . . .” He sounded uncertain. Raking a hand through his hair, he leaned forward over his knees and sighed. “Sometimes. Though less and less often.” He glanced sideways at Laura. “He’s never hurt my sister or Keswick.”
    “But that doesn’t mean he won’t,” Gage pointed out doggedly.
    I did glare at him this time.
    Michael stared down at his hands, considering Gage’s words. “No,” he asserted, shaking his head. “No. I don’t believe it. Will would not hurt anyone.”
    Gage looked as if he would like to argue, but held his tongue.
    Lady Hollingsworth was not so circumspect. “And what of this missing girl?”
    I sat up straighter, glancing at Michael in confusion. I noticed that Miss Remmington and Laura, seated on either side of him, had done much the same.
    He frowned. “What do you mean? Will has nothing to do with her.”
    “How can you be so sure?” she demanded.
    His eyes narrowed in warning.
    “Wait.” Philip held up his hands to interrupt, evincing the same perplexity I was feeling. None of the others seemed similarly lost. “What missing girl?”
    “A man stopped by a few days ago to tell us a girl went missing from the neighboring village of Cramond,” our host replied impatiently, still glaring at Lady Hollingsworth.
    A tingle of unease crept down my spine.
    “He wanted to know if we had seen her or noticed anything suspicious.” Michael leaned forward. “And we
haven’t
,” he bit out.
    Lady Hollingsworth lifted her chin, staring down her nose at him. “Yes, but how can you be so certain your brother was not involved?”
    “Because he never leaves the house without an escort.” He sneered. His sister glanced at him in concern, and he took a deep breath to calm himself before adding, “And, far as I know, he isn’t acquainted with anyone from Cramond.”
    I inhaled my own calming breath. Given those facts, it did seem rather unlikely that Will had anything to do with her disappearance. And even if Will did know the girl, and had been given the opportunity to meet with her alone, it seemed rather precipitous to accuse him of a crime just because of his recent enforced stay in an asylum. He had never been dangerous before, and it seemed unworthy to suppose he would be now. But, nevertheless, I couldn’t seem to shake the disquieting feeling that had crept over me.
    I glanced at Gage, curious how he had taken this news. His emotionless mask was back in place, his pensive gaze contemplating the floor at his feet. For once he didn’t seem to be eager to question Michael on the matter. I could only assume he didn’t know what to think of it either.
    Lady