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."

Jessica had blocked his number-still hadn't unblocked him. That afternoon, he'd

been at

no desire to let outsiders see evidence of marital discord.

rarely out, often forgets to charge it. Why don't

the lady of the house. Wouldn't it be inappropriate not to wait

her own schedule. She'll join us later. If we wait any

inherited Jessica's

Henry was six-born soon after the wedding. That suggested their

Timothy protected his

out, they'd only gossip that she wasn't good enough for Timothy. He

things. Perhaps Timothy simply knew Jessica's routines well and

eat while we wait for

room in the house, but there was no sign of Jessica. As she returned downstairs, she saw Timothy and his guest chatting amiably. She

didn't seem all that worried about finding