Her sister and the boy were hidden, far from London. Whatever Barrington was doing, and wherever he was, he believed Lydia was dead.
So long as he continued to believe that, her sister and nephew would be safe. But no matter how often she repeated that to herself, the dread settled in her chest. She could not quite shake it loose.
A knock at the study door provided a welcome interruption.
"Your Grace?" Her housekeeper appeared. "Miss Evermore is here."
Miss Evermore. The duchess blinked. Estella's friend, Thea? She turned to the housekeeper. "I didn't send for Miss Evermore."
"No, Your Grace. She says she's returning a book."
Moments later, Thea Evermore entered carrying a volume that the duchess could not recall loaning her. "You're returning a book, I hear."
"Yes, Your Grace. You'd said last time I visited that I could help myself to His Grace's scientific tomes, so I borrowed this one." Thea set the large book on Philippa's desk with a decisive thud. "I disagree with nearly all of it."
The duchess's lips twitched with amusement. She wasn't entirely sure what the girl expected her to say about that. She tilted her head to read the title. An Essay on the Principle of Population.
She settled on, "I'm sorry to hear that." Philippa gestured to the chair. "Sit. Have tea."
Thea sat and Philippa poured. She might not have sent for the girl, but her timing was fortuitous. Ever since Estella had found a happy match with Lord Blackwood, Philippa had set her sights on aiding Estella's friend Thea next.
The problem was, Thea did not wish to be aided.
And so Philippa was attempting, in her way, to subtly bring the girl around to the idea. This was not easy considering Philippa had little talent for subtlety and Thea was too smart for her own good. But she was also blunt and almost entirely without social instinct.
As far as Philippa could determine, the girl was also almost entirely without family protection, though Thea was maddeningly evasive on this point.
She came from a good family. Philippa had looked into it. But if anyone in that family noticed their bespectacled bluestocking was roaming London unsupervised, they didn't show it.
"I've been thinking…" Philippa began.
Thea sighed. "Oh dear."
"About your situation."
Thea was already shaking her head. "I don't have a situation."
"Everyone has a situation, Miss Evermore. Yours is that you are a young woman of good birth and sharp mind with no sponsor, no chaperone, and no plan for your future beyond reading every book in London and hoping no one notices you've reached marriageable age."
"I see no flaw in it," Thea said.
"The flaw is that someone will notice. And when they do, you will need allies." Philippa set down the teapot. "I am offering to be one."
Thea stared at her unblinking. It was oddly unnerving. "You are offering to manage me."
Philippa just barely bit back a smile. "I am offering to help you."
"I do not see how the two differ," Thea said.
Philippa allowed herself a small smile. She liked this girl. She liked her enormously, in fact, which was precisely why she wasn't going to let her disappear into a library for the rest of her life.
"I don't need a patroness." Thea's voice was firm but not unkind. "I appreciate the offer, Your Grace. Truly. But I'm perfectly content as I am."
Philippa recognized the stubbornness in those clear eyes. It was not unlike the stubbornness she saw in her own mirror. So…she would not push. At least, not today.
"Very well," Philippa said. "We'll continue the discussion at another time."
Thea visibly relaxed and for a long moment they enjoyed their tea in silence. But then Thea set her cup down. "You know… If you're looking for someone who actually needs your help, you might consider Lady Clarissa Whitfield."
