Sally opened her mouth for the offering. Her tongue worked over the food as she seemed to be considering whether it was acceptable or not. Soon enough she opened her mouth for more. Gloriana fed her another spoonful and laughed at the way part of it spilled back out. She quickly caught it with the spoon.

Mr. Carson turned to his son. “And you want this kind of spectacle at your dinner table?”

“Babies have no table manners, Father, but they will learn in time.”

“And are best taught in the nursery.”

“Not everyone has that luxury, Mr. Carson,” Gloriana declared, immediately regretting her comment.

“But I do, and I can have Sally trained up in a proper fashion that befits her status.”

“And what status would that be?” Luke looked him square in the eye. “She’s the daughter of a kitchen maid and a fisherman who was disinherited by his father. I think we’re doing just fine by her.”

“I won’t stand for this. I will not allow you to keep her here and make her some sort of commoner—a hoi polloi of lower-class refuse.”

Luke set aside his napkin and got to his feet. “Perhaps this was a mistake. Gloriana, I am sorry for my father’s rudeness.”

Gloriana didn’t know what to say. She was shocked by the older man’s malice toward her and others like her.

Mr. Carson stood as well. “I speak only the truth. The sooner you recognize how blind you’ve become to the matter, the better for all of us. But especially . . . especially . . .” He swayed a bit and pulled at his collar.

“Mr. Carson, are you all right?” Gloriana jumped to her feet.

“Father?” Luke moved closer. “Father?”

Instead of a reply, however, Luke’s father collapsed in a faint. Luke managed to keep him from falling to the ground.

Gloriana headed for the hall. “I’ll turn down my father’s bed. You can put him there.”

Luke lifted his father and carried him to the bedroom. Gloriana helped settle him by arranging the blankets and pillows. She reached to loosen his necktie.

“What do you suppose is wrong with him?” she asked.

Luke shook his head and began unfastening the buttons on his father’s waistcoat. “I have no idea. I’ve never known him to be given to fits of fainting or anything else that would show weakness.”

Gloriana unbuttoned the top of his shirt and gasped. The unmistakable rash seemed almost to glow against his hot skin. She looked at Luke. “He’s sick. He’s contracted measles, poor man.”

“I’ll send for the carriage and get him to the hospital.”

“No, just send for the doctor. Let’s find out how bad it is first and then decide what must be done.”

“I’ll go now.” Luke headed for the door while Gloriana continued to undress the older man. “I won’t be long.”