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They were very cautious around me at first.” She moved one hand in a small, dismissive gesture. “Only to be expected. They have been through so much upheaval and turmoil in their young lives. They are naturally quite careful about whom they take into their confidence.”
    “You seem to have an excellent understanding of young people, Miss Glade.”
    “To be honest, by the time they told me of Miss Bartlett’s mysterious departure, I had already begun to realize that there was something very odd, to say the least, about the entire situation.” She sighed. “Actually, I sensed from the start that matters were not as they seemed at Aldwick Castle.”
    “What alerted you?”
    “You know what they say about things that appear too good to be true.”
    He considered that for a moment. “I beg your pardon, Miss Glade, but why would a post teaching four young ladies at a remote, tumble-down castle far from the nearest town seem too good to be true? It sounds quite the opposite to me.”
    “One’s perception of a post often depends upon the condition of one’s circumstances at the time the post is offered,” she said dryly.
    “Point taken.”
    “As it happens, I had just been dismissed from a very pleasant situation at a school for girls not far from London. I was quite desperate for a new position. When the letter from Mrs. Jervis arrived with the offer of the post at the castle, I was extremely grateful and accepted immediately.”
    He frowned. “Who is Mrs. Jervis?”
    “The woman who operates the agency that found me the position at the girls’ school. She supplies teachers and governesses to schools and private households.”
    He nodded. “What information were you given concerning the position at the castle?”
    “I was told that a new charity school for orphaned young ladies had been established at Aldwick Castle. I was to be the new headmistress. It was made clear that there were only four students in residence but that more would be arriving in the future. It all seemed . . .” She gave a tiny, forlorn little shrug. “Quite wonderful. My dream come true, if you will.”
    “What is your dream, Miss Glade?”
    “To be in charge of a school of my own.” In spite of her exhaustion,she suddenly became more animated. “One where I can put into practice my personal philosophy and ideas concerning the education of girls.”
    “I see.” Curiosity tugged at him, but this was not the time to pursue questions about her dream. “Were you told the name of the benefactor of the girls’ academy at Aldwick Castle?”
    He did not realize how sharply he had spoken until he saw her stiffen warily.
    “The letter from the agency mentioned a certain Mrs. Jones,” she said. “I was informed that she was a wealthy, reclusive widow.”
    “What else were you told?”
    “Very little. Only that I would have complete discretion concerning the instruction that I was to provide. Mrs. Jones’s single requirement was that the reputation of the students be guarded with great care. After I got to Aldwick Castle, I was delighted with my four students. Phoebe, Hannah, Edwina and Theodora proved to be intelligent, eager pupils. What more can a teacher ask? But, as I said, I knew that something was amiss.”
    “I think it is safe to say that there never was a Mrs. Jones. What else besides the discovery of Miss Bartlett’s gloves raised your suspicions?”
    “The housekeeper was a sullen creature who kept to herself as much as possible. I later learned that she was addicted to opium. I was forced to have several stern talks with the cook, who showed no interest in preparing healthy meals for the students. The man in charge of the stables was a lazy drunkard. The gardeners never tended the gardens and”—she paused, eyes narrowing slightly—“they carried guns.”
    “Guards, not gardeners.”
    “That was certainly how it appeared to me.” She took one more sip of the sherry and slowly lowered the glass. “But the