Chapter 27

She reached up and touched the cross hanging from her neck on a chain. “The boy had one of these. A silver cross and chain. I bought it for him but expected no change in his horrid behavior. Like father, like son.”

“Where is Bertie now?” Edward asked. “Do you have his address?”

“Address?” she asked absently. “He said he was lonely. He missed his friends at the orphanage. He was unhappy and bored living with us. That’s why he misbehaved, or so I assumed.”

“A temptation to Teddy,” Edward added.

“Perhaps temptation is too strong a word.”

“Nonsense.” Leslie didn’t believe her and said so. “Bertie was overjoyed at leaving St. Andrew’s.” He glanced at Edward. “I remember something else. He said he was off to live with a lovingfamily.” Leslie practically choked on the last word.

“Believe what you want,” she said. “The boy is gone and I haven’t seen him since I took him back.”

“Back where?” Edward asked.

“To Saint Andrew’s, of course. Where else would he go?”