“You said we would be safe here,” she hissed. “Am I right in thinking that Mrs. Ellis-Brant is the woman who told you about Deele’s search for us? The gossip?” At my nod, she pressed her hand to her forehead. “It is a catastrophe. We cannot risk being here. If she discovers who we are she will tell her husband or Lord Davenport, and they are friends of Deele. They will tell him where we are.”

“We must go now,” Lady Hester said. She swayed upon her feet and Miss Grant tightened her grip upon her beloved’s thin arm. “My brother will take us. He has come here to arrange our travel out of England, after all. Why else would he be here?”

Indeed, why was he here? He was not supposed to be anywhere near us.

I stood and motioned for them to keep their voices down. The Ermine was halfway across the huge house in the drawing room with Charlotte, and I had stationed Weatherly to ensure that the woman, or anyone else for that matter, did not come ferreting around our corridor. Even so, extra caution was always prudent.

“I know it is alarming, but we cannot leave immediately, nor in the company of your brother, Lady Hester,” I said. “It would be too strange and would alert Mrs. Ellis-Brant. She may be a busybody, but she is not stupid. Besides, where would we go? You can barely stand up.”

“We will be discovered,” Hester said, terror in her voice. “Deele will come.”

“There is no reason why Mrs. Ellis-Brant should find out,” I said. “Lady Davenport has prepared the way by telling your story: you are Mrs. Carter, a widow from Bournemouth who has been ill and is convalescing in the company of her sister. It will allow you and Miss Grant to stay out of the woman’s way.”

Julia stepped forward. “Lady Hester, if you tried to leave now—even in the care of your brother and Miss Grant—I fear you would not get far before you collapsed. Remember how hard this journey has been, and it was done in comfort!”

My sister had tried to persuade Hester with the same truth when we were set upon meeting Evan by the roadside, and Hester had not listened then. Nor did she seem to be listening now. At least Miss Grant was considering our words. “I think Lady Augusta and Lady Julia are right, my dear. We cannot go yet.”

“I must see my brother,” Hester said, her mouth set into a mulish line. “I must. He will have plans for us.”

“He did not last time,” Miss Grant muttered.

Hester glanced hard at her companion, something passing between them that I could not catch.