Throwing open his door, he shrugged into his coat on the way down the hall. Harrison’s room was empty, so Kit continued in the direction of the stairs. When he reached the landing, he found Nellie Young at the railing, observing the chaos below. All the chaperones and young ladies were gathered in the front hall, milling about and chattering, the din worse than the betting window at the racetrack.

He stopped alongside Nellie. “What in the hell is going on?”

“Oh, just a tiny little scandal. You see, Alice’s mother caught Harrison and Maddie kissing last night after they were outside in the rain together.”

“Jesus.” He dragged a hand through his wet hair. “Then what?”

“First she told Maddie’s father, who subsequently had a long chat with Lockwood and Harrison. And Mrs. Lusk told all the chaperones, which resulted in the exodus you are currently witnessing below.”

How could Harrison have been so stupid? Had Kit taught him nothing over the years?

“Where’s Maddie?”

“In her rooms. Her father is forcing her to marry Harrison this afternoon.”

Kit threw his head back and laughed. “The bastard actually did it. I can’t believe it.”

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

“What about Lockwood?”

“The duke has already departed. Ordered his things packed and drove off about fifteen minutes after leaving Mr. Webster’s office.”

“Boy, I really missed all the excitement today.”

“Not all of it. I assume you are staying for the wedding.”

“Wouldn’t miss it. Are you?”

“Yes. Maddie asked me to attend, even though my aunt is having a fit about staying. I keep telling her my reputation is already ruined, so what difference does another scandal make?”

Kit searched the faces below, looking for one in particular. “Have you seen Miss Lusk?”

“Hoping to arrange for another lesson in New York?”

His head swung toward her. “She told you?”

“Yes, she did. And while she claims it isn’t serious, I have to wonder about that.”

“I would never hurt her—and we can discuss this later. Right now, I’d like to find her.”

Nellie tilted her head toward the drawing room. “She’s sitting on the sofa in there. She can’t walk or stand easily with her sore ankle.”

Right. He should have guessed. Moving around Nellie, he started for the main stairs. She put a hand on his arm. “Take the servants’ stairs. You’ll be able to sneak in there without this lot”—she gestured to the crowd below—“seeing you.”

“Thanks.”

He practically ran to the back stairs, which were empty at the moment. Once on the ground floor, he traveled through the rooms, not the hallways, and ended up at the entrance to the drawing room. A quick check revealed that Alice was alone with Katherine Delafield, their chaperones nowhere to be seen.