Even so I hated to leave. I lingered, hoping against hope that she would ask me to stay, to have breakfast, to speak with her. She would not, of course. She was tired and distressed and likely wished to see the last of me.

They were waiting for me to do something. I made a half-bow. "Good morning, then," I said. "I see that I leave you in good hands."

They turned her away, taking her upstairs. In a moment, she would be gone from my sight.

Between one stair and the next, Mrs. Westin stopped. She turned back, her hand on the railing. "William," she said. "Please take Captain Lacey to my sitting room. Bring him coffee. I should like to speak to him, at length, if he can spare the time."

Of course I could spare the time. I had no obligation, no one to go to. I could spend the entire morning and all afternoon with her if need be.

"Indeed," I said.

The maid looked unhappy and the footman, worried. They were ready to hustle their lady upstairs and out of sight, protecting her from my gaze, like an Indian woman to her purdah.

"But, madam, we must not- " the footman whispered.

Mrs. Westin interrupted. "I will speak to him, William. He can help us."

William snapped his mouth shut. The maid still looked reproving. Lydia gave her a cool nod and told her to take her upstairs.

As the two ladies ascended in a swish of silk, William returned to me. He had wide brown eyes and wisps of brown hair that stuck out from under his footman's wig. His gloved hands clenched and unclenched, as though he debated whether to obey his mistress or toss me out onto the pavement.

At last he sighed. "This way, sir," he said, and led me upstairs.

I waited in a drawing room whose windows faced a tiny patch of garden at the rear of the house. I sensed at once that this was her room, one she had created as her own sanctum. A small pianoforte stood in one corner, and the cream-colored walls were adorned with portraits of the family. The furniture had classical lines; its tapered-legged chairs matched the furniture downstairs. The divan, chairs, and cornices over the windows were decorated with gold studs laid out in simple scrolled patterns.