Kendra sank onto a sofa beside Lucas. “The situation has just changed dramatically—in a good way. At Angelo’s Academy yesterday, Denshire saw me when he came in and began shouting accusations that I’d kidnapped our son from his school. Which I might have done if I’d known what school it was, but I didn’t.”

The Kirklands looked appalled. “He lost your son?” Laurel exclaimed.

“Yes, but the story has a happy ending. Lucas and I returned to Thorsay House and were having tea when there was a little knock on the door. It was Christopher.” Kendra couldn’t prevent herself from beaming. “He’d made his way to me at Thorsay House all the way from the Scranton School in Yorkshire. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it?”

Kirkland frowned. “I have, and it was nothing good, particularly not for a boy as young as Christopher. He’s a brave and clever lad to have escaped and found his way home to you. Will he be safe staying with you?”

“We weren’t sure, so we moved him to Duval House,” Lucas replied. “But he’ll be safer out of London. We’ve discussed taking him to Camden Keep to stay with my great-aunt and uncle.”

Kirkland leaned back in his chair and looked thoughtful. “You might consider my old school, the Westerfield Academy. It’s small, with excellent teachers, and most importantly, bullying is not allowed. It’s a remarkably civilized place for a boys’ school.”

“ ‘For boys of good birth and bad behavior?’ ” Kendra inquired.

Kirkland grinned and looked much younger than his usual reserved self. “So it is said. In truth, Lady Agnes Westerfield, the founder and as fine a woman as there is in Britain, prefers students who don’t quite fit the aristocratic mold so she can teach them how to survive in their world without being driven mad.”

“That sounds an excellent goal.” Kendra couldn’t resist asking, “Why were you sent there?”

Amusement sparked in his eyes. “Nothing interestingly lurid. My arrogant English father hated that I preferred my mother’s relatives, who were mere merchants as well as being appallingly Scottish. My father assumed that Lady Agnes, being a duke’s daughter, would be as snobbish as he was. Instead, she encouraged me to look for every person’s true value. My Scottish relatives are better than my father was in all ways.”

“It might be a good place for Christopher,” Kendra said thoughtfully. “Where is the school? I’d like to talk to your Lady Agnes. How difficult is it to gain admittance?”