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“I am,” Will confirmed. “I’ve never seen a more fearful lot of little girls.”
“It grieves me to say their fear is well-founded,” murmured Horton, eyes ablaze. “I’ll not break my oath by relating the details. That’s for Madame Trouvère to reveal when she determines you trustworthy. But I will tell you that her school is the only thing standing between those children and a life of such horrors as you cannot begin to imagine.”
Will didn’t have to imagine. He’d seen enough of London’s underbelly to know what went on in her shadows. Although moved by the man’s impassioned speech, he had a duty to fulfill, and his vow as an officer of the law was just as sacred as any sworn by a physician. “You wish me to stand down, but I cannot. Understand—I’m charged with removing all doubt. If I fail to do so, they’ll only send someone else. There can be no ambiguity. I must definitively prove either innocence or guilt.”
Horton’s jaw clenched. “Then you risk destroying the only hope those girls have on this earth. If you expose them, you will ruin not only their lives, but the lives of all who care for them. The fate of every person on the premises will be on your conscience. Is there no way to halt the investigation?”
Pinned by Horton’s piercing gaze, Will squirmed. “None. But be assured I will conduct my inquiry with the utmost care and discretion.”
The other man swore under his breath. “It won’t matter how careful you are.” Sighing, he continued his appeal. “If I could, I’d allay your doubts this instant, but I have not that right. Only Madame Trouvère can share with you the truth of it. Please, before you make any assumptions or, God forbid, any accusations of wrongdoing, talk to her, tell her who you really are, and allow her to explain.”
Will refrained from laughing—just. The woman would toss him out on his arse the moment she learned the truth, and then the fat would well and truly be in the fire! “I’ll consider it,” he lied, hoping to placate his distressed companion. “I cannot help observing that you’re rather protective of the headmistress.” For some reason, the thought that there might be a relationship between them made Will uncomfortable. More than uncomfortable, actually, for reasons he chose not to explore at the moment.
The good doctor again raised troubled eyes. “My desire is to protect not only her, but all who shelter within her school, as well as those who support it financially. You’ve no idea the sort of trouble you court by seeking to expose the truth.”
A frisson of trepidation crept up Will’s spine. No. Horton wasn’t in love with the woman. His was devotion of another sort more akin to religious fervor. “Then explain it to me—inasmuch as you can. What are you protecting them from?”
“Curiosity. Beyond that, I cannot say, lest I violate the trust given me,” said the other man, rising. “Please excuse me, but I’m afraid I must be leaving.”
Will leaped to his feet. “You cannot tell her!” he rasped, glancing at the door and hoping to God no one was outside it, listening. “If you obstruct this investigation in any way, know that I’ll be forced to bring you before the magistrate and have you charged. Don’t make me lump you in with the guilty.”
“Guilty?” Horton’s reply was no less wrathful for all that it was quiet. “If you want guilt, I beg you to seek it elsewhere—you might start with the places from which those girls were liberated.” His eyes burned. “I shan’t give you away, but don’t ask me to betray their trust again. If you want the truth, you’ll have to get it from the source, as I did.” Turning, he strode to the door and let himself out.
“That went well,” Will muttered sourly as his erstwhile friend’s footsteps died away. At least he had the weekend to try to figure out what to do next.
Chapter Seven
October 15
Jacqueline returned Mr. Woodson’s cheerful greeting as they passed each other in the hall. She quickened her step, determined to ignore the disturbing aftereffect of seeing his lopsided smile.
It both pleased and worried her that he was fitting in so well. Mrs. Hayton had reported him as being an exemplary tenant, a true gentleman in every sense. The other boarders seemed to have grown fond of him as well. As for the students, the girls appeared to be adjusting to his presence. Little Janet Fairfield had even told her in confidence that she liked him. In fact, everyone he met seemed to take to him almost at once.
It made her suspicious. No one was that perfect. She was sure he was concealing something. No overt word or action on his part had caused her to arrive at this conclusion. It was more of an intuition. Or perhaps paranoia. She didn’t know, and in truth, it didn’t matter.
I shall be ready when he shows his spots.
He would, eventually. They all did, because all people were flawed. She’d ferreted out most of the faults among her staff and students and knew them well. That she hadn’t been able to do so with him bothered her. No one was wholly free of darkness.
“Headmistress?”
A tingle shot through her at the sound of Woodson’s voice right behind her. Turning, she addressed him with what she hoped was a neutral expression. “Yes?”
He approached with a hesitant smile. “I spoke to Mr. Sharpton and confided in him your need for additional textbooks. I also relayed to him the past difficulties you’ve had in procuring such goods, as well as my offer of assistance in the matter. I hope you don’t mind my consulting him.”
“Not at all,” she lied, swallowing a lump of mortification. Of the few males she considered friends, Mr. Sharpton was the most benign. Unfortunately, he was also a hopeless romantic, and his interest in her was no secret. Thankfully, he’d been too shy to speak out. As she could never marry him, she hoped he never would. The last thing she needed was Woodson making her beholden to the fellow. “What had he to say?”
The man’s smile stretched an increment, producing an adorably boyish dimple in his right cheek. “He agreed to act as an intermediary to obtain the necessary texts directly from the publishers. Additionally, he offered to donate to the school some of his outdated scholarly texts. I took the liberty of accepting his offer on your behalf. They may not be the most current editions, but the information should certainly suffice for our purposes here.”
For our purposes. He certainly joined ranks quickly. And yet something told her he wasn’t being entirely forthright.
His deep blue gaze bored into her as he awaited her response.
“Mr. Sharpton is most generous, and I will gladly accept them.” She gripped her stack of books a little tighter. “I shall draw up a list of what is needed from the publishers and send it with you at the end of the day, along with my thanks. We shan’t need the books until the new wing is complete, so he should have adequate time to find them.”
“Speaking of the building, how goes it?”
Work had begun and was progressing well now that MacCallum and his men had torn down the defective brickwork and cleared the debris. The workers seemed content to remain out of sight behind the partitioned entrance to the central courtyard. Only once had an unfamiliar male entered the school to seek her out, and he’d gone through the front entrance, per the agreement between her and his master.
