Page 64 of Betrayal from Beyond
The director led them to a large, sun-filled room done up in blues and featuring another portrait of the late Elizabeth Cavendish.
“I have not yet noticed a portrait of the duke’s first duchess, Georgina,” Kara remarked.
“Nor will you,” Mrs. Brennan answered. “Our founder was a close connection and admirer of Elizabeth Cavendish. She revered her spirit, her determination, and her willingness to go far to protect her children. Those qualities inspire our own mission—to educate and guide our girls so that they might fulfill their richest potential and grow into the best version of themselves.”
Niall hoped they were not training the girls to be schemers, which was his general impression of Lady Elizabeth, or Bess, as she had been best known. Everyone knew the story of how she had moved in with her bosom friend, the duchess, and promptly become a mistress to her husband. He knew the duke had sired children on the woman and seen them raised with his legitimate brood. He’d rather thought Bess had used her children as weapons in her quest for advancement. And it had worked. After living with the couple for years, when Georgiana died, Bess became the new duchess.
He thought Kara looked as if she was thinking much along the same lines, but she merely nodded. “A noble goal.”
He noticed Gyda was wearing a smirk, and it struck him suddenly that Mrs. Brennan might be wondering if her three visitors were living out a similar scenario.
He worked to suppress a groan.Odin’s arse.
“Now, what may we at Clifford’s do for you?” Mrs. Brennan asked. “If I recall the stories in the papers correctly, you and the duchess are newly married, Your Grace. You will have no daughters of an appropriate age for our school.” She turned an expectant look on Gyda.
“Oh, no! Not me.” Gyda raised her hands in protest.
“Perhaps you have heard of our good work, then?” the director asked. “We do have several patrons who support us in expectation of a place for their own daughters, when they are ready.”
Kara’s eyes widened. “That does indeed speak well of your efforts. But I am afraid we are here on a different sort of business. We need to speak with one of your teachers. Miss Katherine Prentice.”
Mrs. Brennan’s pleasantly fixed expression abruptly shuttered. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Your Grace, but Miss Prentice is no longer employed at our school.”
Niall gave the woman a sympathetic smile. “We did wonder if that might be the case. Can you, then, give us her new address or the name of her current place of employment?”
“I cannot. It is our policy to keep private such information for our instructors, past or present.”
Kara arched a brow at the woman. “Mrs. Brennan, we are here on business regarding Miss Katherine Prentice’s family.”
Not a lie, Niall reflected.
The woman maintained her dignity. “Your Grace, I know that some feel that teachers are little better than servants, but they do deserve the same consideration of privacy as anyone else.”
“Of course they do,” Kara said gently. “But I assure you, ma’am, we are here to help.”
The director merely shook her head. “Nevertheless.”
Niall leaned in toward the desk. “Mrs. Brennan, our business is quite urgent.” He tilted his head. “You might have noticed that Miss Prentice might not have been acting herself when she returned from her holiday.”
The woman’s lips thinned.
“Well, there’s your answer,” Gyda said.
Relenting a little, the woman nodded. “I did notice. We all did.”
“Do you expect her back?” asked Kara. “To collect her possessions, perhaps?”
“No.” The woman closed her eyes. “I’m sorry. The truth is, I don’t know where Miss Prentice has gone. She took everything she wanted and bade the maids to keep or burn the rest. It was quite disturbing, the way she acted. I could never have imagined such a thing.”
“Might she return, perhaps, to pick up the last of her salary? Or her post?”
“Miss Prentice will not be returning,” the director said coldly. “She made that very clear when she demanded what was due her. And frankly, after her antics, she will not be permitted back on school grounds.”
Kara tossed Niall a questioning look. They had agreed not to tell the truth about Petra masquerading as her sister, for fear of putting those who knew at risk. But it did sound as if Petra had burned her bridges here.
“You are quite sure she won’t be allowed back?” he asked. “To visit her colleagues or students, perhaps?”
“Absolutely not. All the staff and security have been informed.”
