Justin turned around. “I didn’t know who else to send for, my lord. And they were just here supping. And Her Grace has been such a faithful friend to Lady Southerby.” “You did well, Higgins.” “Blackburn is on his way.” “Thank you,” Justin walked over and shook the older man’s hand. “I have to get her back.” “I know,” Gabriel said, thumping Justin on the shoulder. “Let me tell you what happened.” Justin followed Gabriel into the kitchen as if he were the guest rather than the owner. “Your cook was found lying in front of the hearth, his temple bloodied.” “How is he?” “Headache, but he’ll recover,” a husky, feminine voice answered. Justin’s head snapped up to see Mikala putting some things away. “I doctored him and sent him to bed with word to check him every few hours.” “Thank you,” he said sincerely before nodding for Gabriel to continue. “Higgins last saw Clarissa in the breakfast room. We’re guessing she came into the kitchen, saw your cook, went to help him, and was abducted.”
