I glanced at the painting over the hearth, a seascape of a sunset. The buildings green and white. The sky was reds, oranges, and yellow.
“Mine looks like it but pink.”
“It does. It also looks a lot like my home, I think.”
Then Hope tugged me to the desk behind a chair and ottoman—all next to a big window. “Pa-Papa keeps locked, but the key here.”
She pointed underneath the desk. Before I crawled to get the key, she pointed to letters on the velvet ottoman. “Friend, more secrets.”
Some notes looked like my stationery. The other were from a solicitor’s firm in Tonbridge.
“If those are from my mama, could you read them? Pa-Papa won’t read.”
So, Ashbrook was difficult to all the women in his life. I drew my hands to my side. “Your father knows best. I’m sure he’ll read them later when you are older. Let’s check the desk.”
Pounding . . . I heard the pounding of slippered heels, hard and loud. Ashbrook?
There wasn’t a place to hide. My barrister shouldn’t be mad at both of us. “Sweetie, your father’s home. Go to him, run.”
“But he says not to.”
“Just this once. Go greet him, Hope. Run fast.”
The child squeezed my hand and then dropped to the floor. She crawled out the door.
Something was wrong, but I had no time to discover it or the earl’s secrets.
Moving to the window, I stared outside. The earl’s carriage headed toward his mews.
In another moment, the front would be clear of people. I’d jump down into the hedgerow, and then figure out how to get to my horse in the back of the property.
Lightning zipped. I leaped out and landed on my bottom.
But I’d left the window glass open.
The observant earl would detect that someone had entered his home. I needed to be gone before he or the rain came barreling down.
CHAPTER 25
DANIEL—IN THERAIN
Mood foul like the coming weather, Daniel stormed into Finchely. He’d lost a trial at the Old Bailey, earned sneers from the Lord Mayor and a lecture of useless warnings. No barrister was perfect, and one who’s client lied to him and his solicitor only to confess on the witness dock did prohibit a win.
Days like this made him question Prinny’s gambit if Daniel was to be judged by a standard no one could uphold.
“Papa, you’re home.”
He looked down at the sprite, so happy in her pink dress. “You’re not supposed to come down these stairs by yourself. These stairs are steep.”
“I was careful, Papa. Friend helped me.”
Yawning, Mrs. Gallick met them in the hall. “I suppose you left, Miss Thackery, because I wanted you to wear blue?”
“Don’t like blue, only pink.”
His housekeeper yawned again. “You in for the evening, sir?”
“Yes. I am a little early.”
