Arthur’s increased eligibility and the never-ending business of running my household meant that I, like the children, became fractious as dark fell early and dragged on long that month. There was an itch in me that I had caught from my first encounter with Frankie, of which I could not be rid.

None of this did I tell her then. Our friendship was as yet a tight bud, I did not know what variety of flower would emerge.

“I hope I have not given offense,” said Frankie, having taken her leave of the children and followed me downstairs. It was true that she had treated us as if we were Indians in a menagerie; but she was envious of what I had and had behaved with tact. I signaled that she should follow me into the parlor. Throughout the visit, I had thought how to give her what she had come for. I shut the door behind us.

“Despite what George said, he understands a woman’s grief at having no children. I know what he would prescribe to cure the Earl’s difficulties,” I said in a low voice so that he would not hear in the next room. “If you can promise me, on your life, that you will never tell your husband or mine, then I can provide what you need.”

Our heads were almost touching.

“I promise,” she whispered. “Is it a crime to give medicine to another without them knowing?” She seemed excited by the idea.

“It is not poison you are giving him!”

“But to give it to him secretly?”

“How else? His melancholy humors obstruct the path to happiness for you both. Your children will be proof enough of the rightness of your actions.”

“We are so rarely together, he and I.”

“Ask him to teach you something; husbands like to instruct their wives. French?”

“He never learned it well.”

“Music?”

“He dislikes it.”

“Not dance then.”

“He studied military defenses during his travels.”

“Could you pretend an interest in it?”

She shook her head. “He would not think it seemly.”

“Is there nothing at all that you have in common? Theater?”

“I love plays. He hates them.”

“Walking in the park?”

“He says it is for women and children as are coach rides, shopping at the Exchanges, fashion, card games, any form of gambling, bearbaiting, pleasure gardens, quoits … anything except preparing for, or fighting, a war.”

“Then you must buy a puppy. Not a lapdog, a big dog. He will train you to train it.”

As Frankie considered this idea, I searched quietly among the bottles clustered about the room.