“He certainly was,” Quill affirmed. “He was the first westerner to trace the length of the Ganges River.”

Mrs. Ewing rose. “It is time that we were on our way. Your aunt Louise will be on tenterhooks until we arrive. And I imagine that Miss Jerningham and Mr. Dewland have plans of their own.”

“Oh, no,” Gabby exclaimed. “Please don’t go so quickly, Mrs. Ewing! I have grown very fond of Phoebe, and I hate to see her leave. I was hoping you might stay for luncheon.”

“Perhaps Phoebe can make a visit in the future,” Mrs. Ewing replied. “I am grateful to you for your invitation. But unfortunately, I have an appointment that cannot be altered.”

Gabby hesitated. There was nothing she could do about it, after all. She knelt down in front of Phoebe, who was clutching Mrs. Ewing’s hand. “Will you be quite all right, sweetheart?”

Phoebe nodded, her eyes solemn.

Gabby’s heart contracted, and she gave her a swift kiss. “Will you visit me?”

“Yes, but won’t you visit us?” Phoebe replied, with a hint of desperation in her tone. “Codswallop said your calling cards have been ordered. You could call on me. You haven’t met my aunt Louise.”

“I would love to call on you,” Gabby replied. She straightened and met Mrs. Ewing’s eyes. “I know it is an imposition, Mrs. Ewing, but may I visit Phoebe tomorrow? We were together every day during the voyage, and it is quite wrenching to part with her.”

Mrs. Ewing bit her lip. “Perhaps Phoebe may call on you tomorrow morning,” she said, after a brief hesitation.

Gabby rushed in before she could change her mind. “I will send the carriage for Phoebe if I may, Mrs. Ewing.”

“We would be grateful,” she replied with a dignified nod. “My sister and I do not maintain our own cattle.”

Gabby waited until they left the room and then she burst out, “Quill, I am quite sure that there is something unusual about Mrs. Ewing’s household. Perhaps I should not have allowed Phoebe to leave with her. Did you notice that she does not wish me to visit?”

“I suspect she considers her house below your notice,” Quill remarked. “I do not believe that Phoebe’s aunts are very plump in the pocket.”

“But Mrs. Ewing’s dress displayed the greatest éclat. And I wouldn’t care what sort of house she owned!” Gabby paused and her eyes grew horrified. “She is a…a proper sort of person, isn’t she?”

Quill grinned. “I can certainly tell you’ve had a lot of experience with Cyprians, Gabby. Mrs. Ewing is perfectly respectable. The Thorpes, Phoebe’s maternal family, are held in the highest estimation by the ton, for what that’s worth. I believe their family seat is in Herefordshire. But, perhaps due to her marriage, Mrs. Ewing seems to have come down in the world.”