“With a pistol,” Georgie replied. “I sleep with a muff pistol under my pillow.”
If Lord Grenton was surprised by her admission, he didn’t show it. Instead, he asked, “Was this person sent by your brother?”
She bit her lower lip before admitting, “He was.”
Lord Grenton looked displeased. “Your actions have put this orphanage at risk. I cannot in good conscience let you continue to remain here.”
“You wish to fire me?”
“I don’t know,” Lord Grenton said in an exasperated voice. “What if this man comes back and tries to hurt the girls to get to you?”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“How can you be so sure?” Lord Grenton asked.
“Because he is a Bow Street Runner, and he upholds the law.”
Lord Grenton’s brow shot up. “The man that tried to abduct you was a Bow Street Runner?” he asked. “Perhaps you might want to start from the beginning.”
Lowering herself onto her seat, Georgie said, “My brother hired a Bow Street Runner to find me and bring me home. The same man tried to abduct me from the marketplace.”
“I see,” Lord Grenton muttered.
“I didn’t think he would discover my whereabouts, but I was wrong,” Georgie shared. “He found me, and I don’t think he will quit so easily.”
Georgie could see the muscles in Lord Grenton’s jaw clench. “You can’t remain here, not if he knows you are here,” he declared.
“Where would I go?”
“You can come stay with me,” Evie interjected. “I have more than enough room at my townhouse, and I know that my aunt would love the company.”
“What about the girls?” Georgie asked. “The tutors have already arrived for the day.”
“You can travel to the orphanage by day and reside with me at night,” Evie said. “No one would dare try to abduct you from my townhouse.”
“I suppose that could work.”
Evie jumped up from her seat. “Wonderful,” she said. “I will send a coach for you this evening. We shall have such fun!”
Lord Grenton glanced between them, a look of skepticism marring his features. “Do I not get a say in the matter?” he asked gruffly. “After all, this ismyorphanage, and Miss Lloyd is still under my employ.”
“I do apologize, my lord,” Evie drawled. “We shall defer to you and your infinite wisdom.”
Lord Grenton narrowed his eyes slightly. “I do not like your tone.”
Evie’s lips twitched. “And I do not like your cravat. It is crooked.” She dropped into a curtsy. “If you will excuse me, I need to be anywhere but here.”
Georgie brought her hand up to cover the smile on her lips. She couldn’t believe Evie had been so brazen as to say those things to Lord Grenton.
After Evie had departed, Lord Grenton adjusted his cravat as he turned to face her. “Do you intend to stay with Miss Ashmore in the evenings?”
“That appears to be the plan.”
“I do hope you will not develop her sharp tongue.”
“There is nothing wrong with her tongue,” Georgie said. “I find it admirable that she speaks her mind.”
Lord Grenton huffed. “To a fault.” He moved to sit on the chair. “Why do you suppose your brother hired a Bow Street Runner to bring you home?”
