“I’ll send them in private coaches. That way I’ll know they’ll all get there.” He looked at the footman. “Take my valet with you. He and Oliphant can make the arrangements.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Now—” Theo placed her serviette on the table. “Simon, you and Morna may attend the wedding breakfast I’m having for the Feathertons in a few hours.”
“You are as bold as brass, my love,” Titus said admiringly. “What about your children?”
“They shall be on their way to Carberry Tower.”
Morna’s eyes flew wide. She opened her mouth, then closed it, flicking a glance at Simon.
His sister did nothing without a reason, but damned if he could figure it out. “What are you thinking?”
“When Lord Freskin discovers you are here, he’ll come looking for you. The children will be safe away, but he won’t know it because you will still be here. I shall put it about during the breakfast that Titus and I are traveling to London when our guests leave. It has been a long time since I’ve visited my family.”
“When will the children depart?” Morna asked.
“During the breakfast. When there are so many carriages and coaches in the area no one will notice.”
“Wait a moment.” Simon held his hand up in a useless attempt to slow things down. “You saidwhenFreskin finds out. Don’t you meanif?”
“No, I meant what I said. You, my dear brother, have a spy in your midst.”
Morna gasped, her hands covering her mouth.
Simon had the sudden urge to strangle whoever the person was. “Who?”
“Fee’s maid.” Theo had a smug smile on her face. “Yesterday I told Fee that she must remain in the house unless she had my permission to go out, including not going alone into the garden. This morning, she asked permission to go for a walk in the square. With everything going on, I told her if she needed air, to sit on the terrace and I’d station a footman with her. Not long afterward, one of the grooms who had helped bring your servants over here saw Fee’s maid leave through the gate to the mews. He followed her to Lord Freskin’s town house, then came right back and told the head groom what he’d seen.” She looked at Morna, whose complexion had paled. “It’s my belief the girl planned to take Fee to her grandfather. The maid’s satchel was already packed. I added enough money that she’ll be able to get home. However, she will not be allowed in this house again. I expect to see your father either before the entertainment begins, or afterward. Even he’s not stupid enough to court the scandal he’d create by attempting to drag Fee out of here. Did your servants know about your trip to England?”
“No,” Simon said. “We—I wasn’t sure who we could trust. If they overheard us, and Freskin finds out we are planning to leave, he’ll be watching the port in Leith.”
Huntley cleared his throat. “You may use my coach to take Cormac and Fee to wherever they are going.”
Simon nodded tersely. “Thank you. It will serve to further confuse anyone watching the house.”
“Good morning to you. Or is it?” Cormac entered the breakfast room and stood near the door, looking uncertain. “If you’re discussing something you’d rather I didn’t hear, I will leave.”
“Not at all.” Simon pulled out the chair next to him. “You’re involved.”
His son strolled forward and kissed Morna’s cheek before settling in the chair next to Simon. “Is it bad news?”
“Some of it is.” Simon couldn’t keep the gravity from his tone, then he grinned, because no matter what, he was that much closer to having his family out from beneath Freskin. “And some of it’s not.”
It would have been too much to hope that Simon would be able to tell the story his way. It was, after all, Theo’s plan, and she’d made most of the arrangements. At the end, she beamed at them all, and for the first time he had a good idea how much she’d worried about him, Morna, and the children. His sister wanted nothing more than to fry Freskin in his own fat, but would settle for her family being safely away in England.
“So then,” Cormac said. “Which one of us gets to string the old man up first?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Kit leaned against the doorway as Mary’s maid put the finishing touches on her hair. He’d scandalized poor Mathers by insisting he be present during Mary’s toilet. What would the maid do when he insisted on watching his wife being dressed?
God, she was divine, and to think she was finally his.
Mathers began to pack Mary’s remaining items. Everything else had been sent to Charlotte Square earlier. Kit moved to Mary. “Are you ready, my wife?”
Her smile was the best thing he’d ever seen in his life. “I am, my husband.”
There had been several hours when he’d doubted the wisdom of remaining at the hotel, but somehow it had worked to their advantage. He couldn’t imagine being more in love than he was now. Still, after having watched his parents for the past several years, he knew his feelings would deepen and Mary’s would as well.
