“I’m counting on it. Mrs. Tyler is sure to tell him. It’s my guess he’ll make up some excuse. He won’t want her to know too much. Once she’s settled with Grandfather, I welcome Farnborough to show his hand. I should like you to spend some time there, too, Thea.”
She disliked the idea of being settled safely anywhere. It sounded like he was tidying her away. “I don’t see why I can’t be of help. Farnborough is a dangerous devil.”
“You can be. I want you to accompany me to the school.” He smiled when she firmed her lips. “I agree Farnborough is dangerous, but I can handle him.”
“He needn’t know I was with you when you take Julia. When I return to London, he might appear at the same balls and soirees as Grandmama and I do. I can watch him. See who he meets.”
“I won’t have you creeping around some mansion listening at doors.”
“You must admit it is a good idea.”
Grainger shook his head, causing her to scowl. He shut her out.
He leaned toward her and raised her chin with two fingers. His amused blue eyes gazed into hers. “What would happen if he got his hands on you? It would be an excellent bargaining chip for him to hold you hostage, would it not?”
Meeting his searching gaze, his body so near, made her weak with longing. She pulled away, annoyed with herself, and said airily, “I don’t intend to let him see me.” Then she realized how difficult that would be, even in a crowded ballroom. She admitted she sounded petulant, which wouldn’t get her anywhere. Especially as there was a stubborn cast to Grainger’s jaw. “Does Farnborough know Julia has an aunt? If he does, he will go to Miss Bannockburn’s home to look for her.”
“He may not be aware of Meredith Bannockburn’s existence.”
“We can only hope.” But it wasn’t certain Farnborough hadn’t heard of her, Thea thought. She saw by Grainger’s expression that it had occurred to him, too. “I wonder if Grandmama knows of Miss Bannockburn?”
“She has been reclusive. An invalid from birth. It’s doubtful Lady Trentham would have met her.”
“Met who?” Grandmama came into the room empty-handed.
Thea’s gaze flew to Grainger’s. When he gave a slight nod, she continued. “Grainger must discover where Miss Meredith Bannockburn, Julia’s aunt, lives. It’s somewhere in Cambridgeshire. Have you heard of her, Grandmama?”
“Meredith Bannockburn?” She shook her head. “I don’t recall her. Why do you wish to find the woman?”
Grainger leaned forward in his chair. “Lady Trentham, it is my understanding that Julia’s life is in danger from Lord Farnborough.”
Doubt filled her eyes. “Her stepfather? That is absurd.”
“I fear the threat is very real.”
Her brow furrowed. “Farnborough is a colleague of Tothill’s.”
“Grandmama, I overheard Lord Farnborough threaten a man’s life. And that man is now dead.”
Grandmama stared at her. “What nonsense is this? Who? When?”
“At the Duchess of Worthing’s ball, Grainger and I heard him plan to kill Lord Spencer. We were in the garden beneath the window.”
“What on earth were you doing with Lord Grainger in the garden?” She raised a hand. “No, don’t tell me, Thea. I don’t wish to know. I fear I might suffer apoplexy.”
“It was entirely innocent, but allow me to explain,” Grainger spoke in a calm, reasonable voice. He talked of their first meeting while failing to mention Thea’s reason to leave the ballroom. As he spoke of what had happened since, her grandmother took up her fan and waved it before her face.
“Incredible,” she murmured when he’d finished.
“I hope to remove the girl from harm as soon as possible.”
Grandmama snapped her fan shut. “You realize kidnapping is a crime? You cannot take this girl from her school without her stepfather’s permission.”
“I will if I can.”
“Why not alert the authorities? Have them deal with this.”
“It would be my word against Farnborough’s.”
