he’s no friend of mine, and once his father is gone, I’ll have no excuse to return, so I should do us both a favor and stay away.”
“What did he say about the painting?”
“He didn’t. He shut the door and it would not reopen.”
Chloe frowned. Bean always knew exactly what to say to cajole and convince. Perhaps he hadn’t pressed because of the accident. “Lanbrooke is preoccupied with his father. If anything ever happened to you, I wouldn’t be the least bit rational. We can give him a little time.”
“We’ve no papers of provenance, or we could go to the magistrate. Not that they would take any action against a duke.” Bean slammed his hand on the seat. “I gave Faircliffe my money and he gave us the painting. It seemed simple. At the time, I didn’t care any more than that. After all, we were never going to sell it.”
Chloe stared at him in dawning horror. “And now we have no proof that it was ever ours.”
“His word against mine,” Bean agreed. “And soon, not even that.”
She curled her fingers into fists. “What can we do?”
“What we always do,” he answered. “Create a plan and execute it.”
Chapter 5
“Miss Chloe? A letter came for you.”
Chloe turned from the blank spot on the wall where Puck & Family used to be. Their footman, Norbert, stood in the doorway holding a square of parchment.
She strode across the Planning Parlor and unfolded the missive.
* * *
SHE’S HERE.
Blond. Pink. Painted fan.
* * *
Chloe glanced up at Norbert, startled. “Is this from Mrs. Pine?”
“Yes. Her boy is below.”
“Please ask the lad to wait,” she told Norbert. “I’ll drive him back in the coach.”
She dashed to her bedchamber to toss a handful of her new calling cards into a small basket. After pulling on a bonnet and pelisse, she clambered down the steps to the front door.
Bean was already there, handing the boy a shilling in exchange for his secrecy.
He straightened, holding onto his back with one hand. “What’s happened?”
“Miss Spranklin is at the orphanage. No doubt hunting a replacement for Dot.”
Bean’s eyes flashed. “We have to stop her.”
“Mrs. Pine isn’t the only person who works at the orphanage, but she won’t sign over any children,” Chloe said. “She’ll delay any transactions as long as possible. I can do this part, if you’d like to rest.”
“I told you,” he replied. “I’ll rest when they’re all safe.”
The coach-and-four pulled up to the door.
“Come along then,” Bean said to the wide-eyed boy, motioning him up and into the carriage.
“What’s your name?” Chloe asked.
“Henry,” answered the boy.
“I’m very pleased to meet you, Henry,” she replied. “You did an excellent job of bringing me that letter.”
The boy puffed up his chest.
“Do you want to look out of the window?” she asked.
He nodded.
Chloe gave the boy the seat with the best view and arranged herself on the side facing traffic.
“When we get there,” she said, “you follow Henry.”
Bean frowned. “Where will you go?”
“It’s not where I’ll go, but who I’ll be.” She held up a calling card. “This is my opportunity to introduce ‘Jane Brown’ to Miss Spranklin. It’s so much better than turning up on her doorstep. Our meeting will seem completely unplanned. And if I—” Chloe’s throat closed.
Bean leaned forward. “What is it?”
“A funeral.” She touched the window. “Lanbrooke is in a procession to the cemetery to bury his father.”
“Not ‘Lanbrooke’ anymore,” Bean said quietly. “He’s the new Duke of Faircliffe.”
Faircliffe.
She wondered how long it would take her to remember to call the statesman by his new name. She wondered how long it would take him to remember to answer to it.
Poor Lan—er, poor Faircliffe.
What an utter nightmare. Chloe would not be surprised if he took some time off from Parliament. She would also not be surprised if he threw himself into his work with even more fervor.
Anything to keep the grief at bay.
“Don’t you dare die,” she told Bean, her stomach rebelling against the horrific thought.
“We all die,” Bean replied, “but I can promise not to take any undue risks. I’ve no desire to leave you children a single second earlier than I must.”
“Look,” said Henry. “We’re here.”
The carriage pulled to a stop at the corner.
“Let me go first.” Chloe hopped down to the pavement. “Wait until I’m inside before you follow.”
Bean nodded. “I’ll teach Henry your magic trick with his new shilling to pass the time.”
Henry’s eyes widened. “Real magic?”
Chloe flashed a sovereign through her fingers and snapped to make it disappear.
Henry’s mouth fell open.
She grinned as