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They donned their cloaks and bonnets, and Regina opened the door to the parlour, hesitating as she heard a raised voice.

Peering out, her heart jolted in her chest as she saw a face she had hoped never to see again.

No! Surely it could not be? Yet there he was: Lord Wendover, large as life and looking even more dissipated than she remembered him.

There was a brutish-looking fellow at his back that looked like a hired thug, all muscle and belligerence.

Regina closed the door again, holding it shut, her breath sawing in and out.

“Harry?” Tilly said, regarding her warily. “Whatever is the matter?”

Regina swallowed, trying to compose herself. The last thing she wanted to do was frighten Tilly. “Nothing, love. Just… just sit down a moment longer. There seems to be something of an argument going on and I do not wish you to get caught up in it.”

Giving her a troubled glance, Tilly did as she was told, and Regina dared to crack the door open again, watching the scene at the end of the corridor.

“Damn it, man. He’s a friend of mine. I’ve just lost his direction, is all. It’s not a state secret, is it?” Wendover demanded.

The looming figure at Wendover’s back undermined the reasonable words and any chance he’d had of getting the information fled. Regina thanked heaven that Wendover was as stupid as he was wicked and that Mr Turnbull, the innkeeper, was not intimidated by such tactics.

“No, my lord,” the Turnbull said stiffly. “But Lord Ashburton is a valued client here, and I don’t go giving out information willy-nilly. If you’re such a good friend, I reckon you’d know where he lives.”

Regina sent a silent prayer of thanks to the kindly man. It would have been the easiest thing to reveal their presence in the parlour and leave it to the family governess to deal with the situation, but he was too decent for such behaviour.

“I just said I do, didn’t I? Are you a halfwit? I’ve simply mislaid the address,” Wendover bellowed in frustration. “And I’m not just anyone! I’m the Earl of Wendover, you jumped-up little toad. Now, tell me how to get to Goshen Court.”

This tack was the wrong one to take with the innkeeper, who was now very much on his dignity and determined not to be cowed. “I’m afraid I really couldn’t say, my lord. You’d best ask someone else.”

With that, he walked away before the thug could decide to thump him for his honour.

“Damn the man,” Wendover growled in fury before turning to his companion.

“I’m going to look about the village and see what I can discover.

You’ve been paid handsomely for your help with this, and there’s more if you find the bitch.

I’ll make her pay for what she’s done, one way or another. Is that understood?”

His companion nodded, a smirk spreading across his thin lips that made Regina’s pulse thunder. The men parted apparently going their separate ways.

Watching for a moment to ensure she did not bump into them when they left, Regina closed the door, leaning her forehead against it.

No. No. No . Oh, what a fool she had been writing that stupid story.

She’d wanted her grandfather and Wendover to suffer for stealing her future from her, but in getting her revenge, she had ruined everything.

He must have figured it out. No doubt the entire world had done so by now.

Foolish, foolish girl! There was nothing for it.

She would have to run. Wendover would find his way to Goshen Court soon enough and, when that happened, all hell would break loose.

She could do little to limit the distress she had brought to the earl’s door, but she must do her best.

Turning, Regina started in surprise to discover Tilly was right beside her. Well, of course she was.

“I told you to sit down,” she said sternly.

“Who is Lord Wendover?” Tilly asked anxiously. “And what was he saying to that man? Did he want to find Papa? What does ‘bitch’ mean?”

Regina swallowed and closed her eyes, hating that Tilly had been exposed to the vileness of the world. Crouching down, she decided to keep things simple. “Lord Wendover is a wicked man, and you must stay away from him, do you hear me? Never trust him, love. Never.”

Tilly nodded, eyes wide, but certain what she said was nothing but the truth.

Waiting until she was sure the way was clear, Regina opened the door and gestured for Tilly to come.

She ushered the girl along the corridor and out into the yard.

Letting out a breath of relief, she saw the coachman had hitched the horses and was ready to go.

Thank heavens Wendover and his associate hadn’t come out this way, or he’d have seen the crest on the earl’s carriage at once.

“In you get. Quickly now,” Regina instructed, helping Tilly into the carriage and closing the door on her.

Tilly leapt to her feet at once, pulling the window down. “What are you doing?” she cried in distress. “You must come home with me!”

Regina shook her head, emotion clogging her throat.

“I cannot, darling. Wendover will be there soon, and he’s going to tell your papa things about me.

He’s going to tell him who I really am, and I am afraid your papa will be rightly very cross because I lied to him.

If I am found there, Wendover will—” She broke off, having no idea of what the hateful man would do, but she did not doubt he would cause a scene she would not have Tilly see for the world.

If she wasn’t there, she knew he would set off after her at once and leave the earl and Tilly in peace.

“None of this is your fault, darling,” she added, seeing the distress in the girl’s face and hating herself for it.

“Being your governess has been the best, most wonderful thing I have ever done, and I shall see you again, I promise, but for now, I must leave.”

“I don’t understand!” Tilly exclaimed, her sweet face pale and tears glittering in her eyes. “I don’t care who you are, you’re my Harry and you must come home with me!”

“Oh, darling, I cannot. I’m not really Mrs Harris, you see.

My name is Genevieve Hamilton. I’m a Miss, not a Mrs, and I have been hiding from that man for a long time.

I ran away rather than marry him, and I know he’ll hurt me if he gets the chance.

I will not let that happen. Now you must go home and warn your papa that Wendover is coming. ”

“But Papa will protect you, I know he will,” Tilly sobbed, pushing at the door, but Genevieve held it resolutely closed.

“I know that, I know he would,” Genevieve said, the tears she tried so desperately to hold back sliding down her cheeks now. “But it will cause the most awful scandal, and I cannot put you both through that. I must do what I can to limit the gossip, so I shall find my way to my uncle’s house.”

“Who is your uncle? Where is he?” Tilly demanded, sobbing in earnest now. “We’ll come and fetch you.”

“He’s the Marquess of Wrexham,” Genevieve said with a crooked smile as Tilly gaped at her in astonishment.

“Don’t cry now, darling girl. Be brave for your Harry, for no matter what happens, I shall always be your Harry.

Don’t forget that. I shall see you again, dear. But now you must go home to your Papa.”

“No, Harry! No, no!” Tilly cried, pushing at the door.

Regina turned to the coachman who had been watching from his perch, his expression one of complete astonishment. She sent him a weak smile. “Take her home safely, please, John.”

“Yes, miss,” the coachman replied, touching his hat with his fingers.

Genevieve experienced the oddest sense of unreality at hearing herself addressed so after being Mrs Harris for so long, but nodded in return.

She held the door until the coach rolled into motion, praying Tilly had the good sense not to open it once they were moving.

To her relief, this was so, but the child still hung out the window.

“Papa will come for you, Harry! He will!” she shouted, tears streaming down her face as the carriage turned the corner and out of sight.

Genevieve sucked in an unsteady breath and looked around the yard, aware of the grooms watching the scene.

She could not linger here. Hurriedly, she picked up her skirts, and went to discover from the innkeeper the best way she could travel from here to Norfolk.

He had proven himself trustworthy, and now she must rely upon him to do her another kindness.