Chapter Seven
T he entire Hanlin household appeared to be rattled to find a duke and duchess unexpectedly on their doorstep. Niall and Kara had been left in an admittedly impressive hall done up in carved wooden panels, niches with busts of ancient scholars, and several tall-backed benches. The footman who had taken word of their arrival to his employers must have whispered the news along the way, for several giggling maids peeped out from doorways and from the gallery above. Niall straightened as a lady emerged from a passage to the left, while a gentleman clattered down the stairs ahead of them.
Perhaps Hanlin had not recognized Niall’s title, for he drew up short, pausing several steps up as he got a good look at them. For a moment, Niall thought it was even odds whether the man would turn and bolt. After a moment, though, he clearly decided to bluster his way through.
“Good afternoon, good afternoon,” he said heartily. “I am Mr. Matthew Hanlin, proprietor of the school.” Approaching, he gave them a courtly bow. “Your Graces. I bid you welcome.”
At Niall’s side, Kara regarded the man blandly. Hanlin was not much taller than her. He was slim, with a heavy beard and dark eyes. The man’s wife moved closer, stopping just behind and to the side of her husband. Niall bowed, taking note of the downward turn of her mouth and the heavy look of unhappiness in her eyes.
“Thank you for receiving us,” Niall said without inflection. “We should like a private word with you, Mr. Hanlin.”
“Actually, why don’t we ladies withdraw and allow the men to address business?” Kara had fixed her attention on the wife. “We’ve had a long morning, I fear. I confess, I would welcome a quiet cup of tea, Mrs. Hanlin.”
“Of course.” The woman stepped back and swept a hand to indicate a parlor to the left. “Let us go and sit a bit. I’ll have a tray sent up to the study as well.”
“Don’t bother,” her husband said, smiling at Niall. “It is not every day that a duke comes calling. We shall break out the good brandy.”
Kara gave him a look as she followed the wife, and he set off upstairs after Hanlin. The educator led the way, pointing out rooms and features, speaking of the courses they offered as if Niall were a prospective parent. He supposed it was a comfort to fall back on a familiar routine, and hoped that meant he was making the man nervous.
“Come in. Come in.” Hanlin led him into a well-appointed study. Again, he pointed out the art on the walls and spoke of first-edition books in his library. Niall found the man as cocky and irritating as a banty rooster.
“So, Your Grace, I can only surmise that you have heard of the investment opportunities available for the new school I am forming.” Hanlin poured two brandies and handed one to Niall. “I confess, I can think of no other reason for your visit.”
“I have indeed heard of your new venture,” Niall confirmed.
Palpable relief flowed off the man. “Oh, good. You must agree, it is important work. Preparing a generation of capable, highly educated governesses can only benefit us all, as a society. After all, they will help mold the new crop of our leaders, noblemen, and businessmen.”
“I agree, wholeheartedly,” Niall said. He still had not drunk from his glass. “A first-rate education is so important to these women. Valuable knowledge that she can pass on—it seems crucial. As you said, a governess can be such an important influence in a child’s life.”
Hanlin nodded affably.
“I am very glad we are in accord,” Niall said.
“As am I.” Hanlin gave a little shrug. “I admit, I was afraid you might be here for another reason altogether.”
“But you just said you could not imagine another reason for my visit.”
The educator gave an uneasy chuckle. “Well…”
“Petra Scot,” said Niall.
“Indeed.” Hanlin took a long drink. “I suppose you heard that Scotland Yard was around, asking after her. They said she was making threats against you.”
“Yet you chose not to help them locate her,” Niall said evenly.
“Well, I don’t know where she is, do I? And you must know how it is with her. I don’t dare cross her again. Ungrateful chit. We gave her the most superlative education. A brilliant mind, that one. And we provided her with the best tutors. The finest scholars. We gave her access to far more than she might have learned, even had she been a legitimate royal. And what did she do? She used that brilliance to ruin us.”
“Only after she discovered you had been siphoning off funds meant for the care and upkeep of her and her fellow students—the children of your great experiment.”
Hanlin flushed. “A first-rate education does not come cheap.”
“Nor does a place like this. Or the second home you keep in Brighton. It seems you have recovered from the blow she and her League dealt you.” Niall raised a brow. “I surmise that you must have squirreled away funds that even William Barnstable, with his superb grasp of finance, did not locate?”
“Now, see here—”
“But of course, there can be no price put on ethics, can there? On character. Which leads me right back to your original statement on the value of the governesses you mean to train.” He directed a level look at the man. “It stands to reason that a steady, stable temperament is equally important for these women, wouldn’t you agree? Forming the minds of our children is important work, as you said. It should be undertaken by those who are healthy in mind and spirit, as well as learned.”
Hanlin looked confused.
“And given the truth of that, it stands to reason that the man who undertakes the training of these women should nurture them gently, should value them accordingly. He should take the greatest care of the girls he is entrusted with. In fact, I should think he would wish to be an example of how to treasure all women, wouldn’t he?” Niall stopped and stared expectantly.
“Ah, of course,” said Hanlin.
“Then explain to me, sir, how forcing your attentions on a girl in your care, a girl who has come to you in hopes of fulfilling her dreams, is in any way nurturing or valuing her?”
Hanlin gaped at him.
“No true gentleman would use such a girl in such a way,” Niall sneered. “You are no gentleman, Hanlin, but rather a snake. A worm . You were entrusted with her care. You were paid to safeguard and teach her—and instead you abused her and made her a vessel for your betrayal and basest weaknesses.”
“I don’t know what…who—” the man began to sputter.
“Miss Rose Martin, that is who.”
Anger and shame flooded the man’s features. “I don’t know what she has told you—”
“Everything, sir,” Niall interrupted. “She has told us everything.”
“Lies!” Hanlin cried.
“Are they? Peculiar, then, that they should be so similar to Miss Penny Baldwin’s, isn’t it?” Niall deliberately set his glass down. “And no, Miss Baldwin is no longer in residence at your little nest in Pelton Road, just as Miss Martin is no longer at the workhouse where you abandoned her.”
Hanlin paled. “It doesn’t matter what those girls say. I am a respected educator. A leader in my field. It is their word against mine.”
“Indeed. It is.” The look Niall gave him made it clear whose side he would come down on.
“Who will believe them? Girls of low moral character, eager to raise their skirts in exchange for tuition or advancement.”
Niall’s anger was rising. “I’m sure a look at your books will disprove that defense.” He took a step toward the cocksure menace. “And I’m also sure that if I begin to question past students of your school, I will find plenty of similar stories.”
“No one will believe them. Or you.” The man refused to back down. “And if they do, they won’t be troubled about it.”
“Oh, I daresay the queen will be troubled. She might find it very interesting information indeed—such disturbing tales about the man seeking her patronage.”
“You wouldn’t!” Hanlin looked shocked.
“I will,” Niall vowed.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You would ruin my livelihood over a couple of light-skirted girls of no name or family?”
“Mr. Hanlin, as far as I can tell, you have failed your wife and your students. You have failed to uphold every contract and responsibility you have entered into. I will take pleasure in exposing you.”
“If you think this is the way to convince me to give you Petra Scot, then are very much mistaken,” Hanlin said, desperate.
“I thought you did not know where she is to be found?”
“I don’t, damn you!” He cast his glance about and put a hand to his head. “But the boys—the other two boys…”
He stopped as the study door flew open. His wife stood on the threshold, her eyes wild and her face flushed red. “Truly, Matthew? Another one? What of your promises?”
“Sarah, don’t believe them!” Hanlin turned on Niall, his brandy sloshing over as he spun around. “Out, damn you! Get out of my house!”
“Your bluster won’t do you any good,” his wife said, shedding angry tears. “They have the girl. Both girls, apparently. They know it all. All of your wicked secrets.”
“Hush, Sarah,” Hanlin commanded.
“Why?” The woman gave a biting laugh as she crossed to the desk and began to write on a slip of paper. “It’s too late now. You have ruined us, as I said you would.”
Hanlin looked at Niall, his eyes wide. “No. It’s not too late, surely. I don’t know where Petra is hiding, but I can give you the boys. She might have gone to ground with one of them.”
“He doesn’t know where to find the boys,” Sarah sneered. “He never kept up with them. Why would he? Young men of no fortune or viable connections? They had nothing to offer him.”
“Those girls were not offering anything either,” Kara said, appearing in the doorway. “Yet they had everything stolen from them. At least one of them came to you, Mrs. Hanlin. She asked for help, and you turned her away. You threw a young girl, heavy with child, into the street.”
“I know,” Sarah said thickly. “I was already sick with guilt. My guts have grown more and more twisted over the years, but I have scarcely slept since that day. It’s haunted me, my own wickedness. I deserve to fall with him.” She tore the paper off and crossed to hand it to Kara. “Which is why I am giving you Robert Preston’s address.”
“Robert Preston?” asked Niall.
“One of the five original children in our experiment. He never excelled enough to suit Matthew, but he was always a sweet boy, and he has grown into a decent man. Robert is an engineer, by trade. He is working with Sir Charles Barry on the rebuilding of the new Houses of Parliament. You should be able to find him at Westminster, but this is his address, in case you miss him.”
“How do you know Robert’s address?” Hanlin frowned at his wife.
“You are not the only one in this house with secrets, Matthew.” With a toss of her head, she moved past Kara. “You will not find Petra with Robert. They always despised each other. But Robert is still close with Tom, and Petra has always run ragged over that one.”
“Tom?” Kara asked.
“Tom Hawkins, the last of the five given over for our experiment.”
“The child from the streets?” Niall guessed.
“Yes, and he has returned to them,” Hanlin snarled. “It’s in his blood. As a child he was forever sneaking out, stealing away to fraternize with gin whores, costermongers, and cracksmen. He’s still a gadabout and a ne’er-do-well, despite all of our efforts. He’s nothing but a card sharp now. He spends his days drinking and gambling and cheating green fools fresh from the country. If it wasn’t for Robert, he’d have rotted in debtor’s prison long ago.”
“Do be quiet, Matthew, and stop speaking of what you don’t know.” Sarah looked to Kara. “I don’t know where Tom is residing now, but Robert will know. Tell him I urge him to cooperate with you.” She stilled. “Petra… Associating with Petra is not good for Tom. In the state she’s likely in now, she could be a danger to him.”
“Petra Scot has proven herself a danger to my family, to the Crown, and to the world order,” Niall said scathingly.
Sarah cast a glance back at her husband. “Yet another sin we must atone for. I shall start writing letters to the parents. The girls must be sent home.”
“No. Sarah! You cannot!” Hanlin looked panicked, as if the enormity of it all had finally struck him.
“It’s over.” Ducking her head, she turned and disappeared down the passage.
Nodding, Niall crossed to take Kara’s arm. He glanced back over his shoulder. “Atonement is coming for you, Mr. Hanlin.” Setting a hand on his wife’s, he gave her a tug. “One step closer,” he murmured. “Let’s go.”