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things that concerned me the most were the gowns.”
    He looked at her. “What gowns?”
    “Ten days ago a dressmaker came all the way from London. She brought with her bolts of expensive fabrics and three seamstresses. Several lovely new gowns were made for all of the girls. I was told that Mrs. Jones wanted the students to be prepared to take their places in Society. But that made no sense.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    She did not bother to conceal her impatience with the question. “The young ladies were all born into respectable families. Indeed, Edwina and Theodora once lived a very privileged life. But all of them are now orphans. None can claim any property or inheritances or social connections. They have a few distant relations but none who cared enough to step forward to take them into their homes.”
    He contemplated that briefly. “I see what you mean. None of them can expect to move into Society.”
    “Precisely. At best they can only look forward to careers as teachers or governesses. Why provide them with gowns that are suited to the ballroom and the theater?”
    “Obviously you suspected the worst.”
    “Yes, Mr. Wells, I did.” One hand clenched in her lap. “I came to the conclusion that my students were being prepared to be sold as expensive, fashionable courtesans.”
    “It’s a possibility, I suppose,” he said, thinking it over. “As I told you, Larkin does have extensive interests in a number of brothels.”
    “You must have seen some of the scandals in the press concerning the trade in young girls who are taken out of orphanages and sent to work as prostitutes. It is quite appalling. And the police have done very little to halt the business.”
    “Yes, but your girls were not packed off to a brothel. They were sent to Aldwick Castle. A teacher was employed. You said yourself the girls’ reputations were to be carefully preserved and guarded.”
    “I do not believe that my girls were intended to become ordinary prostitutes. Consider the facts, Mr. Wells. All four of my young ladies were brought up in respectable circumstances. They are well mannered, well bred and well educated. They speak with the refined accents of their social class.”
    “In other words, they did not come from the streets.”
    “No. I am not naïve, sir. I have been out in the world for some time. I am well aware that there is a market for exclusive courtesans who can emulate ladies who move in respectable circles.”
    He managed to conceal his surprise. Her casual acknowledgment of certain realities was oddly disconcerting. Women of her class rarely discussed such matters, let alone in a matter-of-fact fashion.
    “True,” he admitted.
    “How much more valuable would those women be if they actually came from good social circles and possessed the airs and graces to prove it? To say nothing of innocence, youth and pristine reputations?”
    “I will not argue with you on that account. Nevertheless—”
    “Tonight I overheard Rimpton and his companion discussing some sort of auction that was to be held in the near future. I am certain that they meant that my students were to be sold to the highest bidders.”
    “An auction?”
    Her hand tightened in her lap. “Yes.”
    He hesitated, thinking it through, and then nodded slowly. “You may be right. It would certainly explain a great many curious aspects of this situation.”
    “What is your interest in this affair, sir? Why were you watching the castle and waiting for Larkin’s arrival?” Her expression brightened. “Are you a policeman? Scotland Yard, perhaps?”
    “No. I am engaged in a private inquiry on behalf of a client who hired me to discover the truth about her sister’s death.”
    “You’re a private inquiry agent?” She was clearly startled. But in the next instant curiosity flared in her fine eyes. “How interesting. I have never met anyone engaged in that profession.”
    “I hope you continue to find me interesting, Miss Glade, because