“Forty-six seconds and counting,” Edward intoned.
Wearing a look of panic, Violet blurted, “Quinces!”
Her accurate spelling garnered her team seven points. As she accepted congratulations, she muttered, “Gadzooks, I hope that’s enough. But Q! That’s like boxing with an arm tied behind your back!”
It was Freddy’s turn. Sensing his son’s nervousness, Gabriel said, “You’ll do fine.”
“Remember ’tis only a game.” Thea ruffled Freddy’s hair. “Just do your best and have fun.”
With a nod, Freddy reached into the box. He unfolded the slip.
“T,” he said.
Gabriel waited, breath held, as his son frowned in concentration. Countless words flitted through his head, and he wished he could somehow put them into his son’s. But this was something Freddy had to do on his own. With half a minute to spare, Freddy spoke.
“Tenterhooks,” he said. “T-E-N-T-E-R-H-O-O-K-S.”
Eleven points. They’d won.
As cheers and congratulations went up all around, Thea said to Freddy in admiring tones, “You were brilliant, dear. However did you think up that word?”
“It just came to me,” Freddy said happily. “In one of our lessons, Mademoiselle Fournier…” He trailed off, as if he’d just realized what he’d said.
Gabriel tensed at the mention of the villainous governess. As far as he knew, she was still at large. He’d questioned Heath about his partner in crime, but the man had refused to talk.
“She taught you the word?” Thea said gently. “It’s all right to speak of her, if you wish. In fact,”—her gaze met Gabriel’s—“sometimes it is best to talk about things even if they are unpleasant.”
Freddy swallowed and nodded. “She was explaining how cloth was made. They used tenterhooks, she said, to stretch the fabric after washing. To make it dry flat and smooth. She said that the tentergrounds near where she lived were as colorful as a field of wildflowers.”
Gabriel stilled, his nape prickling. His gaze shot to Thea’s; though he saw the awareness in her eyes, she subtly shook her head. Warning him not to frighten Freddy.
“Did she mention which tentergrounds in particular? There are a few in London,” she said.
“No. All she said was that the tentergrounds had closed recently so that buildings could be put in…” Freddy’s eyes widened. “Do you think… is this a clue? To finding her?”
“Did she say anything else, son?” Gabriel said.
Freddy’s forehead furrowed. “I can’t recall anything else. I’m sorry.”
Thea patted his shoulder. “You’ve been incredibly helpful, Freddy. Now run along and play with the others.”
With an uncertain look, Freddy scampered off.
Thea said, “Are you thinking of continuing the search for the governess? After all, you have the Spectre in custody already. ”
“Let’s talk to your brother,” Gabriel said.
***
Thea asked Violet and Harry to take charge of the younger ones as Gabriel quietly assembled the others. They gathered in Ambrose’s study, closing the door just as sounds of “Hide the Slipper” could be heard from the drawing room. The four couples arranged themselves in a circle: Emma and Mrs. McLeod on the settee, their husbands standing behind them, Thea in a wingchair and Gabriel pacing behind her, and Marianne at the desk, Ambrose at her side.
“So Freddy said Marie Fournier lived near tentergrounds?” Ambrose said alertly. “Did he remember anything else?”
“That she said those grounds had recently closed and buildings were put in,” Gabriel said.
“She’s talking about Spitalfields.” Mr. McLeod’s shaggy head lifted like that of a hound on the scent. “The area bordered by White’s Row, Wentworth and those two lanes, what are their names…”
“Bell and Rose,” Mrs. McLeod supplied. “The area is the heart of the rag trade. Weavers, seamstresses, button makers—they’re all there, so crowded together that the streets are fairly bursting at the seams. No pun intended.”
