“No. I went next to his business office, and no one there would tell me anything. They said the viscount’s affairs were his own, and they could not speculate on where he had gone nor how long he would remain away. Which tells me he has gone away, but why wouldn’t he let me know himself?”

Juliette patted her hand. “Perhaps he’s gone once more to his family’s estate in Kent? It’s only a half day’s ride from the city. Alonzo made a visit there recently. Perhaps he was called there again to see his grandfather and was delayed on his return.”

Hope lit Agatha’s reddened eyes. “Do you think so? If there was a crisis, perhaps he had no time to notify me. But why would he clear out his rooms?”

Daniel shrugged. “If he was preparing to return to the renovated townhouse, he may have sent his belongings on while he made a quick trip to the country.”

Juliette nodded. “Something has been troubling him since your father died. He’s been … distracted, for want of a better word.”

“Yes, I have been so concerned. He was so sweet and ardent right after, and through the funeral, always by my side, reassuring me. But then he became remote, distracted, and he’s all but neglected me over the past week.”

Daniel considered the situation. A young man close to the victim changed his behavior, avoided the woman he loved, and disappeared a week after the murder with no explanation. Was there something there?

Everyone was hiding something, from their families, from their friends, most often from themselves.

What was Alonzo Darby hiding?

He set his cup back on the tray. “I could travel to the family estate and make inquiries if you like. If the earl is ailing and Alonzo was called home, I will let him know his manners in not corresponding with you were poor. And I shall report back his whereabouts.”

And I can judge for myself if there is some connection between the viscount’s disappearance and Montgomery’s death.

“Would you? I would be most grateful.”

Agatha’s smile was like sun through rain … a bit watery still, but encouraging.

No doubt that smile would disappear for a long time to come should he discover Alonzo’s secrets had anything to do with Montgomery’s murder.

“I’ll leave on the morrow.”

At least Daniel had a lively mount for the journey. The bold chestnut he had taken out on livery snorted and tossed his head, his long strides eating up the road. And a nice road it was, better than most, with a fairly even surface and trees well back along the verge once he’d left the city.

He still kept a pistol tucked into the waistband of his trousers, for highwaymen could lie in wait anywhere, even in this beautiful countryside.