Page 55

Before she could answer, the butler entered. “Lady Simon, this has come for you. ”

Simon grabbed Morna’s cup before the liquid spilled across the table, and held out his hand. “I’ll take it.”

When he tried to hand it to her, she shook her head. “You open it.”

He perused the hastily written missive. “Your father attempted to gain entrance not long ago. Oliphant sent him away, telling him you were not receiving until after noon.”

Morna laughed. “I’d have loved to see that!”

“You’re not the only one.” The old bastard would likely take his ire out on anyone left at the town house. “How many servants do you have there?”

“Ten, no eleven, not including Cormac’s valet and Fee’s maid.”

“Are any of them from MacDiarmid Keep?” Simon would be damned if he’d call the place Morna’s home.

“Only our personal servants.”

“Send a messenger to the house and tell the butler I’ll hire anyone who wishes to work for me.” He glanced at Theo. “Where can they go until it’s time to leave?”

“You may as well put them on the stagecoach and send them to Hull. You won’t require more than your personal servants until you have a place to live.”

“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 said when Freskin finds out. Don’t you mean if ?”

“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?”