And he wanted out of this particular battle. He was in over his head. The first lady had been within yards of a potential assassin, and her secretary consorted with traitors. Even thinking about it made his ulcer ache.

“Caroline, I’m very busy, and unless you’re here to tell me that you are leaving White House employment, I’m not interested in anything you have to say.”

A range of emotions flashed across her face before it finally settled into an expression of wounded anger.

“I came to see if you were all right after the stress of the day,” she said. “I can see that you have enough spit and vinegar to keep you fueled for decades. Good night, Nathaniel.”

Her voice radiated anger, but she closed the door with a soft click.

Caroline found it impossible to sleep that night. Every time she began drifting off, something caused her to jolt awake, the sound of shotguns echoing in her mind. She’d never been so terrified in her life as when she dove behind Ida’s wheelchair, hiding like a coward. She had inanely covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, as though that would help her hide. She’d also screamed like a banshee, because that was what cowards did.

While she’d collapsed into mindless screaming, Nathaniel scooped Ida up like she weighed no more than a feather. He’d been so brave, but his abandonment hurt.

Logic said that Nathaniel had done exactly what he was supposed to do: protect the first lady at all costs. But the way he left her behind still stung. It was the Marine band’s clarinet player who came to her rescue, darting to her side and ushering her to safety.

Thank heaven for clarinet players, or she might still be cowering in the dirt behind that wheelchair.

Back at the White House, the staff were eager to hear her side of the dramatic events. She’d sat in the basement dining area while Mrs. Fitzpatrick made her a cup of chamomile tea. When Ludmila noticed Caroline trembling, the laundress gave her a warm hug. Later, the housekeeper turned down her bedsheets and offered to bring her a cool compress.

Everyone was so kind, but nervous agitation made the thought of sleep impossible. Caroline had gone to Nathaniel’s office to seek a bit of comfort from someone who had been there and might understand. Ida was being comforted by the president, and Rembrandt didn’t live at the White House, so that left Nathaniel, but he was as cold and nasty as he’d been since he learned about Luke.

Despite the trauma, life went on. Gray had said some of their care packages were now getting through to Luke, and Caroline intended to send him an extra-nice one, since their shared birthday was next week.