“What reason could there be for Eugene Farnborough to harm the girl?”
Grainger patiently told her the rest. He sketchily outlined Spencer’s death and Corbet’s arrest.
“Murder? Well, I’ve never heard the like.” Grandmama glared at Thea. “You knew about this? No wonder you have been so quiet, which is most unlike you, Thea.”
Thea put a hand to her head, it sounded preposterous even to her ears. “Only some of it, Grandmama.”
“So, this is the reason you were so averse to Farnborough’s suit.”
“Yes.” Thea clamped her lips. Her father would hear of this from Grandmama before long.
Grandmama’s eyebrows arched. “I’m astonished that your father’s friend, who proposed marriage to you, could become involved in such dastardly activity.”
“Papa isn’t aware of it.” Thea would never believe her father was a villain.
“Of course, he isn’t. It would appall him. But why didn’t you go to him and explain?”
“He wouldn’t have believed me. I’d be sent home.”
Her grandmother nodded. “That might be best.”
Thea gasped. “Oh, no, Grandmama! You must not consider it! Julia needs our help.”
“I should like to know why Farnborough wants his stepdaughter dead. If it is true.”
“I have yet to gain the complete picture,” Grainger said. “It concerns a great deal of money. There are two other men involved in this scheme.”
“And who are they?”
“We have yet to find out,” Thea said miserably. “We only saw Farnborough at the window.”
Her grandmother shook her head, her mouth pinched. “Grainger, I won’t allow you to involve my granddaughter in this.”
“But he cannot do it alone,” Thea cried. “He needs a woman with him to make him appear trustworthy, otherwise, the schoolmistress won’t let Julia go with him.”
“Thea won’t be in any danger,” Grainger said. “Farnborough can’t reach her once she and Julia are at my grandfather’s estate.”
“As long as you give me your assurance.” Her grandmother clutched her hands.
Ash nodded. “I do, Lady Trentham.”
“Why do you think Farnborough asked me to marry him, Grandmama?” Thea asked. “He sought to control me because he saw me beneath the window and fears I overheard him condemn a man to death.”
“’Pon my word! Your father must be told. Why on earth did he leave London? The post being what it is, it will take days!”
Thea drew in a sharp breath. “He won’t believe it of his friend. Grandmama, please, I cannot bear to think Julia might die because we didn’t act fast enough to save her.”
“If I understood Farnborough’s motives...” Grandmama began.
“I have discovered that, before he died, Bannockburn tied up his fortune in a trust for Julia, until his daughter reaches her coming of age. Farnborough plans to break it,” Grainger said. “Lord Spencer explained it before he died from his wounds.”
Grandmama’s brow puckered. “Farnborough is a wealthy man. He should have no need of the trust’s funds. Why would he wish to harm his stepdaughter? Besides, he must know he’ll have little success, for trusts are notoriously difficult to break.”
“He has become reckless,” Grainger said. “Something has led to it. I’ve yet to find out what that is.” He glanced at Thea. “And with time, I will, but the first thing I must do is stop him.”
She fussed with her shawl. “I shall have to write to Tothill. He will know what to do.”
“May I suggest, Lady Trentham, that you wait until we have Julia safe?”
