“Is my uncle in trouble?” she blurted out. Drat. She had meant to ask that with more propriety.
“I beg your pardon?” Colin’s face wore a sudden formidable look. “Has something happened? Has he been here?”
“Your questions… and that look,” she said, her skin prickling with alarm. “I feel there is something I do not know, yet I should. What might that be?”
The mention of Uncle’s name appeared to create some level of concern, because Colin paused for a long moment before answering.
“Your uncle tried to kill me after losing this property to me.”
She gasped.
“My friends and I have an idea where he is staying.”
“Does my grandmother know?”
“She does.” His voice was emotionless.
“I saw him.” She instantly regretted her words, fearing his reaction to her gift.
He raised a brow. Nora was not sure how much to reveal, not wanting to be ridiculed. She enjoyed laughter, but not at her expense.
“I am prone to forewarnings, and his face flashed across my mind at the strangest of times this morning. I make it a habit not to think about my uncle, so I found it most odd.” I trust him with my feelings. She discerned in that instant that her heart had begun to rule her head.
Showing only surprise, he did not laugh.
“I am interested in what you saw,” he said, his voice softening. “My own mother has spoken of such presentiments. She has sworn many times that the fairer sex oft possesses the ability, and it should never be taken lightly.”
“It was nothing more than that. ’Tis wholly unusual for me to even think about him. He has never been pleasant to my family, especially to my mother, his own sister.”
Colin casually pulled up a brush from its holder and fingered it while he studied her.
“Your uncle has a… female companion… who lives in the East End, and we think he is staying with her,” Colin informed her.
“A ladybird? I cannot imagine why she would ally herself with him, beyond the lure of his money.” She heard herself disclose. She immediately regarded him. Had she shocked him? His expression remained calm.
“Uncle has never been pleasant to my mother or myself, and my grandmother does not mention him. In fact, he is tight-fisted,” she added. Really, I must learn to guard my tongue. Whatever possessed me to tell him that, and in front of the children, for heaven’s sake? I should know by now to keep my family business to myself.
“Her name is Jenny Maven, and she is employed by the gambling establishment on the hill.” He seemed nonplussed by her disclosure. She was unsure how she felt about that.
“Do you refer to Lattimore Hill?” There was little doubt what Uncle had been doing there, yet Nora wondered about Colin’s presence at such a place. She wanted to ask, but a lady was supposed to know nothing of such establishments. Good sense this time kept her tongue in check. It was one more reason that she detested the ton. They went to places like East End and Seven Dials to mix with low company and visit the gin shops. It was not enough that the social classes were so abruptly dissimilar. Although the upper classes were aware of the needs of the poor, most turned a blind eye, their only concerns being to satisfy their own needs, their own vices. Was there another attraction for him in the East End beyond gambling? “Do you intend to have him arrested?” Would it be too harsh to hope the answer to this was yes?
“Indeed. That is my plan. Still, I am pursuing some additional information before having him arrested. He has already bribed an official, for his release on the night of the incident, and is not aware we know where he is. Attempting to kill a peer is a very serious offense.” He looked at her, his gaze holding hers.
To her surprise, she felt both pity and relief. The prospect of Uncle getting his comeuppance should thrill her considering how disagreeable he has been.
“What would you have me do?” he asked in a solicitous tone.
A fissure of contentment shot through her. Colin cared about her opinion. “You are in earnest? I would like to see him punished just enough to allow him to feel how he has made others feel,” she ventured finally. The clamor of feet and the sounds of giggles sounded from the stairs. “Perhaps we should continue this later this morning, when we are in the carriage. The children are… coming… and here they are,” she said brightly as the smaller children rounded the door-case and began eyeing the assembled art supplies. Amy and Alice made straight for her. “Sweetings, you recall Uncle Colin, do you not?” She caught his expression of amusement from the corner of her eye. The energy she felt when in his presence was addictive.
“Good ’ay, Uncle Colin,” Alice said. The little girl gripped Amy’s hand in hers. “Amy says good ’ay, too.”
He chuckled. “I understand that you children are all going to turn your hands to painting today. I would very much like to watch, if that would be acceptable to you.”
Nora and Colin looked about the schoolroom at nodding faces. “Well, it seems the children have spoken,” she said—and even she could hear the smile in her voice. “Children, before we start, please find an overall. The girls have the smocks and boys wear the aprons. Here are some for you younger children.” She held out a few that would fit the smaller girls. There were no grumbles—not that she had expected any. She was fairly certain this was the first time most of these children had even seen supplies such as these, much less use them. “Everyone listen carefully, and I will show you how to begin. I want you to draw
