Well! Nathaniel would shudder if she tried to deck him out in this finery, so she picked out a suit for Luke, three broadcloth shirts, and a spectacular fuchsia silk tie. It was time to inject a flash of color back into their lives, even if her spirit wasn’t quite there yet. For a while she’d thought she was on the verge of joining her life to a man who was a dear friend but also took her breath away.

He was still those things, but it would be hard to build a life with him if he was in Milwaukee. Or Boston. Or wherever else Wilkie chose to send him.

She paid for Luke’s new clothes and arranged to have them delivered to the townhouse, for she’d planned an epic day of shopping and couldn’t be weighed down with packages. If she returned to the emptiness of their home, she’d start moping over Nathaniel’s abandonment again.

Or Ida’s rejection. Ida had been the closest thing to a mother she could remember, and the way things had ended hurt. Working for Ida had mostly been a thrill and a joy, but how quickly and tragically it all came crashing down.

Outside the shop, a gust of wind sent some fallen leaves scuttling down the street, their brilliant orange shade beginning to brown at the edges. She felt like those leaves, discarded and fading. She wandered down the street, gazing into bow-fronted windows to admire the antiques and bric-a-brac, but it didn’t really help.

She turned to continue walking and almost bumped into George Cortelyou.

“Hello, Caroline,” he said warmly.

“George!” How wonderful to see his familiar face. She hadn’t had a chance to say good-bye after her expulsion from the White House. He looked hale and hearty, even though with the president’s death, he was out of a job too.

“I’m sorry about how things ended,” George said kindly, for he was quite possibly the only person on earth who truly understood what Caroline was up against with the first lady. “You didn’t deserve what happened.”

“How is Mrs. McKinley?” she asked, determined not to let regrets mire her down.

“She and her sister left for Ohio yesterday. She’s doing as well as can be expected.”

“Good,” Caroline said honestly, for she truly wished only the best for Ida. “And you? What’s next for you?”

“I’ve been keeping busy,” George replied. “President Roosevelt is creating a new department to govern the nation’s business and trade. It’s going to be called the Department of Commerce, and I shall be secretary there.”

“Wonderful! And who shall you be secretary for?”

“You misunderstand,” he said with a kind smile. “I’m going to be the Secretary of Commerce. My first job is to manage the department’s creation.”