Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"That's right. I haven't seen her, so I'm not sure what's happened. She spent the afternoon in the study—I didn't see her come out at all." Timothy glanced around the study, his eyes shadowed with concern.

Ines was still here, and as host, he couldn't afford to neglect his guest.

Jessica's situation could wait.

He told Mabel to search the house and then went to invite Ines to dinner.

Ines took the seat opposite him at the table. Timothy's sharp features were set in an unreadable expression as he looked over the dishes. He recognized them instantly-takeout from The Silverthread Eatery.

"Mr. Lawson, is your wife not home?" Ines asked, her tone gentle.

Timothy lifted his gaze. "She's usually here. Perhaps she stepped out for a walk."

He'd had the staff keep an eye on things; she wasn't likely to have left the property. Most likely, she was somewhere in the house and Mabel would find her

soon.

"Maybe you should call her? Invite her down to join us?" Ines suggested.

"Of course."

his number-still hadn't unblocked him. That afternoon,

at

to let outsiders see evidence of marital discord. He dialed

off. She's rarely out, often forgets to charge

the house. Wouldn't it be inappropriate not to wait for her?"

her own schedule. She'll join us later. If we wait any longer, everything will get cold,"

had inherited Jessica's

married for seven years. Henry was six-born soon after the

protected his wife

people found out, they'd only gossip that she wasn't good enough for Timothy. He must have cared for her deeply, Ines

things. Perhaps Timothy simply knew

eat while

no sign of Jessica. As she returned downstairs, she

all that worried about finding Mrs. Lawson,