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“Of course,” she said, digging into a pocket to draw out a ring of keys. She removed one from the ring and handed it to me, her hands steady.

“I’ll return as soon as I can.” I reached for the doorknob but turned back to her. “You should know that the school might be in need of a new headmistress soon. We’ll speak about that after I find Claire.”

I was moving quickly now, not caring who saw me or what they would think. My first inclination had been to hunt down Mrs. Atkinson and demand answers, but Fairfax had constantly warned me about strategy and having a solid plan of attack in place before rushing in and causing a mess.

Between them, Fairfax and Rexford had a vast network of contacts and would know how to proceed. I only hoped they were both at King’s right now.

Chapter 33

CLAIRE

The woman who swept into the drawing room a few minutes later was not at all what I had expected. Helen had described Mrs. Beauchamp to me, but there was a hardness to her gaze as she stood just inside the room that made me uneasy.

Her eyes narrowed as she examined me thoroughly, and I had the uncomfortable feeling of being stripped bare before her. Finally, she placed her hands on her hips and spoke. “And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?”

I tried to keep my voice steady, but I couldn’t completely erase the slight waver when I replied. “I am Ms. Claire Sullivan. I am here on behalf of the Honora Millworth School for Girls to ensure that Hope and Grace are settling in at their new home.”

Her head tilted to one side. “I don’t believe you. I was told the placement was final. No one from the school should be visiting.”

I took a step back, unnerved. “They had a difficult transition when they first arrived at the school. We were concerned.”

She moved farther into the room and then did the oddest thing. She walked around me, making a full circuit as she examined me from every angle. When she stood before me again, there was a calculating gleam in those hard eyes.

“Can I see the girls?” I asked, determined more than ever to see them.

She let out a loud sigh. “I suppose it can’t be avoided. I will have my footman bring you upstairs.”

“Thank you,” I said, ignoring the way my instincts were shouting at me to flee the house. Hope and Grace were here, and I couldn’t leave until I ensured they were being treated well.

Mrs. Beauchamp walked into the hallway and beckoned for a footman.

“Show her into the blue room,” she said.

“Yes, madam.”

With a smile I hoped didn’t appear as false as it felt, I followed the silent footman up two sets of stairs. I tried to convince myself that I was overreacting. The house seemed well appointed, if oddly furnished. Mrs. Beauchamp was simply an extravagant woman who had decided to adopt two young girls. I would see them, they would tell me they were being treated well, and then I could leave. After that, I could only hope that their new stepmother would allow me to visit them on occasion.

When we reached the third floor, the footman took me down a long hallway. It was eerily quiet up here, but I suppose that was to be expected in such a large house. When we reached the last room, he opened the door without knocking.

I frowned but held my tongue. He would need to learn to knock. A footman couldn’t enter a girl’s bedroom whenever he wanted.

The bedroom was indeed blue, from the walls to the carpets covering the wood floors and the bed linens. I took in the entire room and was surprised to find it empty. I turned to ask the man if he was going to collect the girls and bring them here, but he was already closing the door.

And then I heard the unmistakable sound of a key turning in the lock.

I stared at the door for a full ten seconds, unable to believe he’d locked me in the room. Then, making my way to the door, I reached for the doorknob and turned it.

It didn’t budge.

I tried again, my panic beginning to rise. And then I banged on the door, but the only sound I heard was that of laughter and footsteps growing fainter.

I spun back around to examine the room. Convinced that I would find the girls cowering on the other side of the bed, I hurried to that side of the room. My heart sank when I didn’t see them. Frantic now, I looked behind the curtains and flung open the doors of the tall wardrobe. Both were distressingly empty of cowering little girls.

I turned back to the door, my mind racing. Uppermost was my regret that I hadn’t waited for Greyson.

Chapter 34

GREYSON