As Philomena reached the room, the housekeeper dropped her hand. The woman peered up and down the passageway, her face furtive, then pushed the door shut. “This is your chance. If you want to get away, go now.”

Philomena stared. “B-but they’ll know you helped me.”

The woman shook her head. “I’m past caring and that’s the truth. I thought I could sit back and let it happen, but I can’t. I remember you, Miss Philomena, when you were but a tiny baby, before your mother died and your father, Mr. Stanton, went off to London with only a nursemaid to look after you.” She shook her head.

Philomena sat on the grand four-poster bed with a thud. “You knew my mother?” she whispered.

“Oh, yes, she was a most elegant and gracious mistress. We all loved her dearly. It was a sad day when she died.”

The woman crossed the room to the opposite wall and gestured towards a painting. Philomena gasped. “Is that my mother?” She ran to the portrait, her heart leaping. She saw fair hair, as in the lost brooch, neatly arranged in an old-fashioned style. The woman in the portrait had a wide mouth. A tiny, secret smile played across her face. Eyes, as blue and almond-shaped as Philomena’s own, twinkled from the portrait as though the sitter shared a delightful joke.

“Yes, my lady,” said the housekeeper. “Your mother, right enough. You lived here until she died and your father gambled away your inheritance.” The woman sighed. “A sad man, your papa never had a sensible thought once your mother was gone. Broken hearted was Mr. Stanton. Said he would never come back here and he never did. Next thing, the Manor was signed over to the Muldrows. Your papa meant no harm, you know. You were only little, and all his money was gone.”

She shook her head. “The master didn’t live long after that. Once he went to London town, we heard no more, not even what became of you.” She paced back and forth across the room. “We never saw the master or you again. I never forgot you, though, or your dear mother.”

The housekeeper stared up at the portrait. “You look like her, you know. It brings her back, having you here. I don’t pretend to understand what’s going on, but I know Mr. Muldrow had you brought here against your will, and that’s not right. I won’t be part of it.”

The woman turned back to Philomena and started to unbutton the back of her dress. Philomena resisted but the woman laughed. “I’ll see you safe away from here, don’t you worry. You change yourself back into those men’s clothes and be off, the back way. I’ll make sure Mr. Muldrow doesn’t know you’re gone for a good long while.”