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."

unblocked him. That afternoon, he'd resorted to

at odds

evidence of marital discord. He dialed her number anyway, for form's

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

lady of the house. Wouldn't it be inappropriate not to wait for her?" Ines hesitated, sensing something was

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

had inherited Jessica's

years. Henry was six-born

protected his

good enough for Timothy. He must have

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

smiled, "Alright, let's eat while we wait

Mabel had searched every room in the house, but there was no sign of Jessica. As she returned downstairs, she saw Timothy and his guest chatting

didn't seem all that worried about finding Mrs. Lawson,