The girls looked at each other and then to Grey before offering tentative nods.
It was Grey’s turn to kneel. “I think sometimes you haven’t felt safe,” he said, holding their hands. “But from now on, Aunt Georgie and I and Chalmers and Mrs. Chalmers and all the staff—and the Packhams—will be here to help Bark keep you safe.”
The nods were still tentative, but Grey knew it was still too soon for certainty. So, he hugged them both and stood up.
“Now,” he said. “Are we ready to go, Aunt Georgie?”
She smiled and held out coats. “We are, Uncle Grey.”
And for the first time since Grey discovered two frightened little girls in his front parlor, he felt positive about leaving his household to do the government’s work. Somehow, he had been gifted with the perfect wife to handle things at home while he was gone. Even if it was the last thing she wanted to do.
It was as they were seated with the girls in the carriage wending their way toward the docks that Grey realized that his wife was just a bit too bright, her posture a bit too perfect, as if she were bracing herself. As if she were protecting him and the girls from the real impact of the morning’s meetings on her.
Suddenly he realized he really didn’t want to go right then. He wanted to call out to Braxton to tell Drake to stuff his mission. Grey had more important things to do.
Except, in the greater scheme of things, he didn’t. It was absolutely vital he find Gracechurch and learn what intelligence he had unearthed. And he had to do it as quickly as possible.
“I’m sorry,” he said very quietly, glad the girls were focused on their ginger biscuits.
Georgie turned, betraying surprise. “What for?”
His smile was rueful. “Dumping this all on you. I’m not sure who will be the biggest nightmare, Hartman or Philomena.”
He’d been hoping for a real smile. What he got was a carefully drawn in breath. “Oh, if worse comes to worse, I shall call for Grandmama to back me up. I have yet to meet anyone with the brass to challenge her. And then, when you return home, I will have toted up the cost of your absence, which will be paid with support for my projects.”
Smiling, he took her hand. “Gladly,” he assured her. “You never told me what they are.”
Her own smile was private. “I know.”
“I don’t get a hint?”
“When you are ready to stay home. I’ll have the tally by then.”
He had the dreadful suspicion that cost was going to be high.
“Well, at least I gave you a safe place to escape to, if necessary,” he offered. “If worse comes to worse, you and the girls can always run away to Painswick Park.”
“One of your properties?”
He stared a bit. “No. In fact, one of yours.”
Georgie blinked. She blinked again. “Pardon?”
Grey sighed. “You didn’t read the settlements? I was sure you would.”
She shook her head, suddenly looking truly shaken. “I was so busy. Father assured me you had settled sufficient funds.”
Grey scowled. “But he forgot to mention you have your own estate.”
She was still profoundly silent.
Gray nodded. “You can read my copy when you get back to the townhouse, if you’d like. It is in the wall safe. You are in control of one third of your dowry and have control of Painswick Park, allegedly a nice little piece of land and manor house in the Cotswolds. Also near Coleford Abbey and Gloucester, come to think of it.”
Georgie began to shake her head. “I don’t understand.”
He smiled and picked up her hand. “Georgie. Because of you, I will be allowed to recover the heritage my cousins squandered. The least I can do is share some of it with you.” Lifting her hand, he kissed her knuckles. “Although if I end up being as profligate as my cousins, I may have to ask you for a loan.”
“An estate,” she said, as if the word were foreign. “It cannot be in my name. I’m a woman.”
