.
“I said court the woman, not marry her.” Chris was teasing, though someone would have to know him, in order to guess from his expression.
Nash, who sat beside him, chuckled, and then raised his glass of spirits. “To doing what pleases us most.”
Reuben smiled and sipped his tea. He’d been out following one of the other lords he’d began to think was the assassin when he’d gotten word of a broken window at the palace, that evening. He’d rushed there, after the fact. The guards and Yall were keeping it from the public, but they could tell the assassin was growing bolder, and it was only a matter of time before he reached the king.
He returned home to wait for any word that would come in from those men that had been assigned to him, when Chris and Nash had arrived to celebrate his nuptials. He’d invited them, and yet while his brothers sipped brandy, Reuben clung to his tea, needing his mind to stay alert for whatever else occurred that night.
Chris looked around the room and said, “Well, at least she has fine taste. This room is impressive.”
Reuben agreed. The old wallpaper had been taken down, and new wine-colored paint had been applied. It seemed to tie well with the furnishings. He liked the eagles that stuck out of the legs. They reminded Reuben of what he’d wanted to speak to his brothers about.
He put down his cup and leaned forward. “Rachel says I should make an official coat of arms for the family, and since I am not the only Smith, I thought it good we discussed it together.” The coat of arms was something that the king gifted to only those families of aristocracy, and could only be used by them, but Nash and Chris were his brothers, and he wanted them to have their mark on it as well.
Chris and Nash shared a look, and then turned back to look at Reuben. Nash was grinning. “Never thought I’d have a coat of arms.”
Chris asked, “What have you decided for the crest?”
Reuben leaned back in his chair. “Well, the crest should represent the man who earned the shield. Rachel believes I am like the eagle, a bird of prey.”
“I agree,” Nash said readily, willing to show his excitement. “And put a sword in his beak.” He paused, and his eyes widened. “Or make the feather of his wings, swords.”
Reuben lifted a brow.
Chris shook his. “Have you thought of what you wish to go on the shield?”
He sighed. “Nothing that would symbolize all of us.”
“How about five figures standing in one accord?” Chris said.
Reuben imagined it in his head and nodded. It was the best way to make sure no one forgot how it all began. He, Chris, Nash, Alexandra, and Rose. The original Smith family.
“Oh, that’s rather nice,” Nash said to Chris.
Then they started to discuss what supports and mantling they would put on either side.
There was also another thing he wished to discuss with his brothers. He thought it time Nash knew the truth about his family. Reuben and Chris had both, in their own ways, allowed their past to control them, but Reuben had decided he would not allow it, anymore.
Perhaps, Nash could learn to do the same.
He was about to bring it up, when George burst into his office.
Reuben stood, when he saw Lord Woodley come in after him.
“Is she here?” Woodley asked.
“Who? Rachel?” Reuben’s pulse began to rush as he circled the table. Both of his brothers were on their feet, by the time he reached the man who was set to become his father-in-law. “She’s not here. What happened? I thought she was at a party with Lady Esther.”
Woodley paled, and his mouth trembled as he spoke. “She was, but she’s no longer there. Lady Esther made a great fuss about it.” He looked more scared than Reuben recalled the man ever looking.
Reuben grabbed his arm. “We’ll find her.”
“We’re coming with you,” Nash said.
Chris nodded, and Reuben didn’t mind in the least. Where would they start?
“Let’s go.”
They all leapt into Woodley’s carriage, since it was ready, and started back to where Rachel had disappeared.
During the ride, Woodley was silent and whispered, “This was all my fault. I never should have allowed her to change so drastically. She looked too much like Florentia.” He rocked with the movement of the wheels, as if no longer caring to keep himself straight.
Reuben frowned. “What does her dress, or her mother, have to do with anything?”
Woodley lifted his eyes to Reuben’s in the shadow. He looked haunted. Then he looked at Nash and Chris. “I…”
“My brothers will not share whatever it is you have to say.”
Woodley hesitated, as he became aware once more and then shared, “The reason Rachel doesn’t like closed places, is because when she was younger…”
Reuben waited, holding his breath with fear of what the man would say.
“She was kept in a trunk,” Woodley whispered. “Her mother.” He shook his head. “Everyone wanted Florentia, but it was me, she chose. There were men who never let me forget that. One man, a lord, in particular, didn’t like it at all. Florentia had kept lovers before we married, but she gave them all up for me.” Woodley smiled. “She truly loved me.”
“Why was Rachel in a box?” Reuben bit out.
The earl sighed, his face somber again. “It was Lord Fosse. For years, he tried to lure Florentia into his bed, but the last time she refused him, he kidnapped her and took Rachel, so she’d cooperate. He kept Rachel in a trunk with holes. Feeding her what little food could fit through the holes while he…”
Reuben didn’t need to hear the rest. He had a mind to kill Lord Fosse, even if he did, or didn’t, have anything to do with Rachel’s latest disappearance.
“I thought she might have gone with you,” Woodley whispered. “I prayed—”
“We’ll find her.” The promise came from Chris, as he jumped out of the carriage once it stopped.
They arrived to find watchmen posted outside, and a crowd standing around.
Someone rushed from the doors, at the sight of Reuben. It was Susanna.
“She’s not with you?” the woman asked.
Reuben shook his head.
Susanna frowned. “Well, that saves her reputation.”
He could care less about Rachel’s reputation at the moment. “Who else was at the party? Is there anyone else missing?”
Susanna’s eyes widened. “Oh, yes. Lord Castell, actually.”