Page 30 of Betrayal from Beyond
Hanlin paled. “It doesn’t matter what those girls say. I am a respected educator. A leader in my field. It is their word against mine.”
“Indeed. It is.” The look Niall gave him made it clear whose side he would come down on.
“Who will believe them? Girls of low moral character, eager to raise their skirts in exchange for tuition or advancement.”
Niall’s anger was rising. “I’m sure a look at your books will disprove that defense.” He took a step toward the cocksure menace. “And I’m also sure that if I begin to question past students of your school, I will find plenty of similar stories.”
“No one will believe them. Or you.” The man refused to back down. “And if they do, they won’t be troubled about it.”
“Oh, I daresay the queen will be troubled. She might find it very interesting information indeed—such disturbing tales about the man seeking her patronage.”
“You wouldn’t!” Hanlin looked shocked.
“I will,” Niall vowed.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You would ruin my livelihood over a couple of light-skirted girls of no name or family?”
“Mr. Hanlin, as far as I can tell, you have failed your wife and your students. You have failed to uphold every contract and responsibility you have entered into. I will take pleasure in exposing you.”
“If you think this is the way to convince me to give you Petra Scot, then are very much mistaken,” Hanlin said, desperate.
“I thought you did not know where she is to be found?”
“I don’t, damn you!” He cast his glance about and put a hand to his head. “But the boys—the other two boys…”
He stopped as the study door flew open. His wife stood on the threshold, her eyes wild and her face flushed red. “Truly, Matthew? Another one? What of your promises?”
“Sarah, don’t believe them!” Hanlin turned on Niall, his brandy sloshing over as he spun around. “Out, damn you! Get out of my house!”
“Your bluster won’t do you any good,” his wife said, shedding angry tears. “They have the girl. Both girls, apparently. They know it all. All of your wicked secrets.”
“Hush, Sarah,” Hanlin commanded.
“Why?” The woman gave a biting laugh as she crossed to the desk and began to write on a slip of paper. “It’s too late now. You have ruined us, as I said you would.”
Hanlin looked at Niall, his eyes wide. “No. It’s not too late, surely. I don’t know where Petra is hiding, but I can give you the boys. She might have gone to ground with one of them.”
“He doesn’t know where to find the boys,” Sarah sneered. “He never kept up with them. Why would he? Young men of no fortune or viable connections? They had nothing to offer him.”
“Those girls were not offering anything either,” Kara said, appearing in the doorway. “Yet they had everything stolen from them. At least one of them came to you, Mrs. Hanlin. She asked for help, and you turned her away. You threw a young girl, heavy with child, into the street.”
“I know,” Sarah said thickly. “I was already sick with guilt. My guts have grown more and more twisted over the years, but I have scarcely slept since that day. It’s haunted me, my own wickedness. I deserve to fall with him.” She tore the paper offand crossed to hand it to Kara. “Which is why I am giving you Robert Preston’s address.”
“Robert Preston?” asked Niall.
“One of the five original children in our experiment. He never excelled enough to suit Matthew, but he was always a sweet boy, and he has grown into a decent man. Robert is an engineer, by trade. He is working with Sir Charles Barry on the rebuilding of the new Houses of Parliament. You should be able to find him at Westminster, but this is his address, in case you miss him.”
“How do you know Robert’s address?” Hanlin frowned at his wife.
“You are not the only one in this house with secrets, Matthew.” With a toss of her head, she moved past Kara. “You will not find Petra with Robert. They always despised each other. But Robert is still close with Tom, and Petra has always run ragged over that one.”
“Tom?” Kara asked.
“Tom Hawkins, the last of the five given over for our experiment.”
“The child from the streets?” Niall guessed.
“Yes, and he has returned to them,” Hanlin snarled. “It’s in his blood. As a child he was forever sneaking out, stealing away to fraternize with gin whores, costermongers, and cracksmen. He’s still a gadabout and a ne’er-do-well, despite all of our efforts. He’s nothing but a card sharp now. He spends his days drinking and gambling and cheating green fools fresh from the country. If it wasn’t for Robert, he’d have rotted in debtor’s prison long ago.”
