What Happens in Piccadilly - Chasity Bowlin Page 0,73
an hour or so… I want everything in readiness. Children will be up and dressed and bags will be loaded into the carriages and carts for the journey… and your aunt, Mrs. Marler, will accompany us for the sake of propriety as Miss St. James shall be with us, as well.”
Foster frowned and looked very concerned. “Yes, my lord. I’ll see it done.”
Winn nodded and then immediately left the house, heading once more for the Darrow School. Fear, anger, fury at what might have happened, indignation that Burney had ignored his warnings—all of that was driving him. Long strides ate up the distance and early as it was, there was little traffic on foot or otherwise to impede his progress. He reached the school in record time. He didn’t have to battle his way in either. Miss Euphemia Darrow opened the door herself and ushered him inside, leading him to a small drawing room he’d not previously entered.
“Where is she?”
“She is upstairs, Lord Montgomery,” Miss Darrow replied. “Before you see her, you must know that she means to ask for sanctuary at one of your country houses… without you or the children. Callie feels her presence is a danger to you all and she’s determined to be foolishly noble about the whole thing.”
“What happened, precisely?” Winn asked.
Miss Darrow moved to the settee and sank down heavily upon it. “Two men broke into the house last night. Callie had been upset and had fallen asleep in her chair in her room and awoke when they entered. Thankfully, she was well concealed from them there. Had she actually been in her bed, they would have—she overheard them say they meant to slit her throat from ear to ear while she slept, so that no sound would be made and no one would be alerted to their crime.”
His heart stuttered in his chest, the beat going erratic for a moment. When he could form the words, he asked, “How did they get in?”
Effie sighed. “A door in the dining room, it faced the back garden. It was found unlocked this morning. They must have cut through the mews and made their way in through the garden gate.”
“Highcliff needs to be told,” Winn said firmly. “I won’t ask what your relationship with the man is. It isn’t my place, but it’s clear he’s invested in your well-being and this… this cannot stand. What the Duke of Averston, or the dowager duchess, have put in motion will not simply stop because Callie is no longer present. Any hint that you or anyone else is aware of their actions could place you in harm’s way.”
Winn said nothing further as the door opened and Callie entered. Her face was pale and he could see violet shadows beneath her eyes, a testament to the fact that she’d not slept at all the night before.
“Have your bags packed,” Winn stated. “We’ll be leaving London within the hour.”
“Effie will provide another governess for the children so that their education does not suffer while I am away,” Callie offered.
“That is entirely unnecessary as the children are going with you… as am I,” Winn replied. “You are not simply going to one of my country estates to take your chances on your own. I will not simply leave you to whatever fate the Averstons have in store for you.”
Her lips pressed together in a firm line that displayed her disapproval of his response quite clearly. “I won’t endanger them—”
“They are in danger already. As am I. Do you think they will stop at eliminating only you, Calliope?” Winn demanded. “You may be the primary target at the moment, but we will all feel their wrath eventually.”
“Then what good will running do?” she asked.
“It will give us time. And an opportunity to summon the trustees of the family fortune to meet you and decide for themselves if you are the true heir,” Winn replied. “Our only option is to take the power from him and from his dragon of a grandmother.”
“There’s more, Lord Montgomery,” Miss Darrow said. “I spoke with Madame de Beauchamps. According to Madame de Beauchamps, Callie was not illegitimate at all. The former Duke of Averston and her mother married in secret at St. Clement Danes. While you and Lord Montgomery are safe in the countryside, Highcliff will help to procure the necessary proof of that… it will prevent anyone from challenging their decision once it is made.”
“Effie,” Callie said imploringly, “Explain to him why this cannot happen! I must