Applegate looked at Hester with some desperation. "You seem to have an understanding of logic, Mrs. Monk. Either you are right or you are mistaken in this. If you are mistaken, there is no point in pursuing it, and you may damage the reputations of good men who have already suffered deeply in the loss of those they loved. I speak in particular of Alan Argyll." He spread his hands. "But if you are right, then he has been the cause of Havilland's death, and now of Mary's and his own brother's, albeit he did not intend the latter. Surely you must see that in that case he is a most dangerous man and will not hesitate to harm you if he has the chance. And please do not be rash enough to suppose you can outwit him!" He turned to his wife, touching her shoulder. "And for you, my dear, I am afraid I forbid you to endanger yourself in this way." He smiled-a sweet, gentle gesture that lit his face, making his emotions unmistakable. "Or in any other way."

Rose's eyebrows shot up. "Good gracious! What on earth do you imagine I am going to do? Go down a sewer and accuse some engineer of carelessness? Or perhaps visit Mr. Argyll in his mourning and tell him I think he is a murderer? Really, Morgan, credit me with a little sense! Mrs. Monk is primarily concerned with the safety of navvies, and that is a very right and proper thing for a member of Parliament's wife to care about as well-especially the wife of the member who is most involved with this work." She rose to her feet and stood facing him very patiently. "I shall be sociable and charitable. Mrs. Monk does great work for the poor and has served with Miss Nightingale, nursing soldiers. Who more appropriate to take with me when considering the injured?"

He looked bewildered. She had robbed him of argument, and yet he was obviously unhappy. Hester wondered why he was still quite clearly afraid for her.

"I promise you we shall not behave inappropriately," Hester said to him, wishing to make him feel less apprehensive, but also knowing that without Rose's knowledge of Alan Argyll and of what Mary had already discussed, she had little chance of success.

There was something Applegate wished to say, and yet obviously he felt restrained. He looked at Rose again. "Please be careful."

"Of course I shall be careful!" she said with the very slightest edge of irritation. "I am merely going to visit some of the men who have been injured in the past, and to whom Mary might have spoken." She looked at Hester. "What could we take them that would be useful and not condescending?"

"Honesty," Hester replied. She took a deep breath. "And perhaps a less fashionable gown?"