Simon shook his head. “I do not trust them to get the job done fully, and I need to keep you safe.” He met her gaze. “And Marina is safe as well. Who’s to say that she will not go after her?”
Rachel felt a hard lump form in her throat. She had not considered that possibility till now.
“But what I do not understand is,” Marina jumped back into the conversation, “what motive does she have to do this?”
“Think of it as an old grudge,” Simon replied. “And even your father is not safe in this situation. I do not know what she wanted from him at the ball, but he may be in danger as well. He may not even realize it yet.”
“You think she means to harm him?” Rachel’s heart twisted painfully.
“I think Grace does nothing without reason,” Simon answered after a moment of contemplation. “And if she has been keeping close to him, there is a purpose behind it.”
“So, what do we do now?” Marina asked.
“We catch her,” Simon replied, and then rubbed an open palm across his face. “I do not know exactly how, but this will be sorted out. We need to stay vigilant from now on.”
Rachel swallowed hard, watching him take the lead.
“There is a traitor among us,” Simon continued. “That much is clear. No one should have been able to enter my estate so easily. No one could have known when to strike unless someone on the inside had been feeding them information.”
A gasp escaped Rachel’s lips. “You mean one of your own men?”
“Or women,” Simon nodded. “One of my staff is working for Grace, and I intend to find out who.”
“And what happens when you do?”
Simon’s lips curled into something vindictive.
“Then Grace Langston and her spy will both learn what happens when they cross me,” he said. “Now, please. Both of you rest up. I shall see you in a while.”
“Where are you going?” Rachel stood to stop him. “I do not want you to leave me.”
“I have to, Rachel,” he said to her. “Please, lie back down. You need to be well-rested. We don’t know how this is going to pan out.”
Rachel wanted to protest, but Simon did not seem like he would budge. Slowly, she sank back down to her place in bed.
“Do not get yourself into any trouble.”
Simon let out a small laugh. “My darling, it is far too late for that now. But I will be near, and you just have to call for me if you need me.”
Rachel bit down on her lip. “Please be safe.”
Rowan was pacing in the study when Simon walked in.
“Well, how are the girls?” he asked immediately, wasting no time.
“Rachel is awake now,” Simon stated, feeling relief flood through him as he said the words out loud. “And she seems to be doing fine.”
“And Marina?” Rowan asked.
“She has a head injury, but the physician says she will recover.”
“This was too close a call,” Rowan said, frustrated. “I still do not understand how they managed to get inside. Your estate is guarded, Simon. No common intruder should have made it past your men, let alone into your home.”
“They didn’t break in,” Simon exhaled slowly, his expression darkening.
“What are you saying?” Rowan paused mid-step, turning to face him.
“Someone let them in.”
