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She lifted a brow. “I’ve reached out to Mrs. Atkinson and just heard back. I couldn’t understand why she would send someone here after our business was concluded.”

My stomach dropped at her words.

“I’m sure she told you that she advised me not to come. I apologize for any inconvenience my appearance here must have caused. When I arrived at the school today, I was surprised they’d been adopted so quickly. Please understand… the girls had a difficult time adjusting when they arrived at the school. I took it upon myself to ensure the same wouldn’t be true here.”

I could tell that my plea hadn’t swayed her. If she turned me out without allowing me to see Hope and Grace, I vowed to head straight home and see if Greyson was waiting for me there. If he wasn’t, I’d track him down at King’s and tell him what had happened. As a trustee of the school, he’d want to know about my concerns. And something told me the longer I waited, the worse it would be for the girls.

Mrs. Beauchamp took a step closer, her dark eyes cold and flat. “You won’t be returning to the school. You decided to come here and meddle in my business, and now you’ll be staying.”

I took a step back. “Staying? You can’t keep me a prisoner.”

The look in her eyes sent a shiver down my back. “I think I can. You see, here we entertain gentlemen during the evening. And since you’re no longer welcome back at the school and live alone, no one will miss you if you simply disappear.”

I couldn’t help thinking of Greyson. I wanted to shout that he would miss me, but I wasn’t foolish enough to admit that to her. If she didn’t know about him, it would give him time to find me. And as a Legend, he would have resources that far outstripped mine. He certainly wouldn’t have barged into a house without learning whether it would be safe to do so.

But then I remembered how he wasn’t planning to have dinner with me tonight. We’d seen each other every day since I moved into the house, but now that was changing. What if he’d already decided he was done with me?

I forced my racing thoughts away from that line of thinking and back to the present.

“Entertain gentlemen?” I hated the tremor in my voice.

“Yes, and it’s exactly what you’re thinking.” Her grin was evil personified. “You’re going to be very popular tonight. The new girls usually are.”

My hands flew to my mouth, my composure gone. I was almost afraid to ask, but I needed to know. “What of the girls?”

She shrugged. “They’re to work in the kitchen until they’re old enough to be of use.” She took another step closer, and only inches separated us now. “But they’ve been more trouble than they’re worth. They’ve been huddled together, crying, and won’t listen to cook.” She was glaring at me now. “But since you’re here, you can be of help with them. I will bring them to you, and you can explain to them that they are to mind those who work in this house and do exactly what they’re told. Make no mistake, if I cannot put them to work here in the kitchen, I will send them to a workhouse. At least I’ll be able to recoup the money I spent on them.”

I wanted to throw myself at the woman and claw out her eyes before forcing her to let us all go. But then I remembered the butler and the footman I’d seen, who were both large and muscular. I wouldn’t be able to get away with attacking this woman and simply walking out with the girls.

I could only hope that eventually, Greyson would discover my absence. I was sure he’d come looking for me. He may not want to marry me, but the man who’d helped me gain my independence wouldn’t shrug his shoulders after learning I’d disappeared. And if that didn’t happen today, he would find out the next time he visited the school. I could only hope that would be soon.

I nodded. “Of course, I will do anything to ensure the girls are safe.”

Mrs. Beauchamp’s smile was filled with satisfaction at having gotten her way. “I thought as much. Just wait here. I will return with them momentarily.”

When she slipped back into the hallway, it took everything in me not to race after her. She didn’t lock the door, but she already knew I was determined to keep the girls safe. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that.

Several minutes passed before I heard their footsteps. Finally, the door opened, and Mrs. Beauchamp was standing with a death grip on the children’s upper arms.

When they saw me, they raced into the room, and I kneeled to accept their embrace.

“Miss Sullivan, we were so scared,” Hope said against my shoulder.

Grace’s arms were clenched around my waist in an alarmingly tight embrace. “We thought we’d never see you again.”

I gathered them to me, thanking the heavens that they didn’t seem to be hurt. They were frightened, yes, and I’m sure they didn’t understand what was happening. Neither did I, for that matter. How could Mrs. Atkinson be a part of something so heinous? She’d actually sent these beautiful children to serve in a house of ill repute. I wanted to give the woman the benefit of the doubt, but even if she hadn’t known, she couldn’t just allow anyone to come in and adopt children. She should be ensuring the children were placed in reputable homes.

Hope was starting to cry now, and I forced myself to take a few deep breaths and pull back. I wiped at her tears and gathered both before me.

“I am going to be staying here with you,” I said, trying to infuse a joy into my voice that I was far from feeling.

“You are?” Grace asked, her lower lip trembling.

Hope watched me solemnly. “They want us to work in the kitchens.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Like servants.”

My heart broke in half seeing how scared and confused they were.

“This is not what any of us expected,” I said, “but if you do as you’re told, you will be treated well.”