Page 17

She shook her head. “That’s not why I came here. I am five and twenty. I don’t need to listen to her, but I find that I don’t know where to start. I wish to stay in town so that I can continue helping at the school. And once my family is gone, there will be nothing to stop me going in more often. But I’m at a loss as to how to proceed.”

I took in her furrowed brow and her hands, still clenched in her lap. Her concern appeared genuine. “What is it you think I can do for you?”

“You are familiar in the ways of inheritances and legal matters. I imagine that my father would have provided a living for me in the event that I didn’t marry, but it’s not as though I can ask my stepmother to arrange a meeting with the family’s solicitor. She wouldn’t give me that information, not when it’s clear that she wants to get me away from town as quickly as possible. And away from you, my lord.” She met my gaze and shrugged.

“So you’re asking me to set you up in a house?”

The look of horror on her face was almost comical. “No, of course not. I was hoping that you could make discreet inquiries and learn the name of my father’s solicitor. It’s not something I can do, and I have no other male acquaintances of whom I can make such a request.”

I smiled, relief filling me. I glanced at Kendrick, who nodded. Claire was telling the truth.

“I’ll see what I can do,” I said.

She rose, and I followed suit.

Her shoulders were no longer tense as she faced me. “Thank you. I don’t wish to leave town. I know that our outing was only that one time, and trust me, I have no expectations that it will be repeated. But I am happy that I can continue to stay. The country is so dreadfully boring, and…” She sighed. “There are two little girls who just started at the school, and I don’t want to abandon them. They’ve only just started to come out of their shells. I fear that if I were to disappear, they may never trust another adult.”

I nodded. “I will begin making inquiries tomorrow.”

Her smile was wide. She turned to Caroline. “Thank you for facilitating this meeting. And it was a pleasure to meet you, my lord,” she said, inclining her head toward Kendrick.

Caroline stood and followed her into the hallway.

Kendrick moved to my side. “You’re lucky to have found her.”

Truer words had never been spoken.

Chapter 12

CLAIRE

Caroline called on Monday, as promised, along with Lady Moreland and Lady Clifton. Georgiana, who had settled into the drawing room in hopes of attracting Greyson’s attention in case he called, was most put out when the three women barely paid her a moment’s notice.

When they stood to leave after their short visit, Georgiana wandered over to look out the window, hoping Greyson would also be calling soon. I doubted she’d heard Caroline’s comment about how much she was looking forward to furthering our acquaintance.

I smiled and thanked them all for the visit. I didn’t really think anything would come of it once my ruse with Greyson came to an end. Still, I couldn’t deny it was nice for once to have guests who called on me instead of my prettier, younger sister. I told myself it would be character building for her to discover she couldn’t always expect to be at the center of everyone’s attention. Heaven knew I’d come to that realization soon after my father’s passing.

When four o’clock arrived without an appearance from Greyson, Georgiana flounced from the room and went upstairs. That was when my stepmother joined me and suggested that perhaps I should spend more time during this final week doing my charity work.

We both knew exactly what was happening. She didn’t want me in the house in the event Greyson called again, but her suggestion was exactly what I wanted. Which is why I found myself at the school again on Tuesday morning. The children were happy to see me, and it always bolstered my mood to be around so much joyful innocence.

It never failed to amaze me that they were so much nicer than my sister, when they’d suffered so much loss in their lives. The school had become a supportive home for them, and I would do everything in my power to help them in whatever way I could.

It was early afternoon, and I was sitting on one of the garden benches, watching them play after their midday meal. I’d already read them a story and had helped one of the oldest girls with her reading.

Hope and Grace had lit up when I’d arrived this morning and were now playing close by. I was pleased they’d made strides over the past few days and were now playing with some of the other children.

“I didn’t expect you to be here today.”

The male voice came from my left. I turned, a smile already on my face as Greyson settled next to me on the bench.

“I think my stepmother was hoping to thwart any future attempts by you to take me to Hyde Park again. She’d be less than pleased to know you were here now.”

He was dressed in his guise as Mr. Grey, his suit lacking Lord Greyson’s finery. Instead of silk, his waistcoat was the same charcoal gray fabric as his tailcoat. But one thing that would always be true was that this man was breathtakingly handsome.

I narrowed my eyes as a thought occurred to me. “How did you know I was here today?”

He shrugged. “I have my ways.”