Caroline secretly disagreed. The kiss they’d shared on the back steps during the state dinner had been the most tenderly romantic moment of her life. She contributed nothing to the speculation, but this midnight huddle by the window was fun. It made her wish she’d had sisters.

It was after one o’clock when exhaustion prompted her to surrender and crawl into bed, for she had a long day tomorrow. If some sort of birthday present was truly coming, it would arrive whether she watched at the window or not.

The next morning she rose at the same time as the kitchen maids, pulling on a dress and finger-combing her hair. She could style it properly later, but for now she needed to know if anything had mysteriously arrived overnight.

Nathaniel sat at the kitchen table, looking tired as he nursed a cup of coffee. She made a quick survey of the room, noting the bowls of eggs and a mound of oranges delivered for this morning’s breakfast.

“Well?” she asked a little breathlessly.

“Nothing.” He looked half annoyed, as though it was her fault he’d chosen to stay up all night.

A trickle of disappointment tugged, even though the absence of an overnight incursion was surely for the best. She didn’t want anyone getting into trouble on her behalf, but a tiny piece of her longed for a hint that Luke’s sense of mischief was still alive.

“I’m sorry you went to such trouble for nothing,” she said as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

“It wasn’t for nothing. I suspect those patrolling guards prevented another infestation of artichokes or whatever your brother had planned. Besides, the 15th has only just begun. I’ll have my men patrolling tonight as well.”

He didn’t sound happy about it, but that was his problem, not hers. Her entire morning was spent with Ida, discussing the food to be served at the inaugural ball. Then she met with the head of the Marine band to discuss music to be played during the parade and festivities. Then an officer from the Department of the Interior wanted to confirm the route of the inaugural parade.

Throughout it all, she wondered if a gift had been delivered, but there was no sign of anything.

At dinner, the staff dining room was crowded due to Nathaniel’s additional security guards. To call this space a dining room was a stretch. It was merely an open area on the far side of the kitchen with four tables, each large enough for six people. Staff came down at odd hours to serve themselves from the sideboard filled with food warmers. It was always an odd mix, as upstairs ushers wearing formal suits dined alongside the cleaning staff and gardeners.