Miss Grange lay in her bed, propped up among the white pillows, her beautiful silver hair combed down around her shoulders. Her pale hands stretched along the counterpane. The room had been swept clean and both windows stood open, so the curtains fluttered in and out of vision. My heart calmed. Of course Miss Grange was being watched over—one of the servants must come up and see to her needs. Through the window, I heard the idle slap of the line against the flagpole. Life continued to sound. I crossed into her line of vision.

She turned her face to me with difficulty, and it was with a sharp pain that I recognized the change I’d seen on Papa’s face now settled in hers: her eyes were hectic and scattered-looking, as though she had just received some dreadful news. As I read how few hours she had left to spend in this room, I took her hand in mine and brought it up against my cheek.

“So hot you are, Miss Thomas.” Her voice still thrilled, though it had slowed.

I leaned close. “Are you thirsty, Miss Grange?”

She nodded. I looked about for water, but there was none near her bed. Irritated by the serving girl’s apparent neglect, I ventured over to Miss Grange’s desk, where in the shadows I could make out a bottle and a glass. I took them both back to the bedside and slowly poured some of the dark liquid into the glass. Though I did not recognize the bitter odor, clearly it was a cordial of some kind. I held Miss Grange’s head up as I tipped the glass against her lips; she drank deeply, then swallowed and motioned for more. Again, I filled the glass with the dark drink.

“Thank you, Maisie Thomas.”

And she closed her eyes. I did not let go of her hand, but sat myself on the bed at her side, holding her hand between my own and watching the flickering of the lamp’s shadow against the wall behind her head. After a time, she opened her eyes again.

“Ah, Maisie …” But then, as if she heard someone else, she said, “Yes, yes I must. She is the one I have chosen. She shall know it all.”

I looked behind me fearfully. The soft black of the shadows in the room peered back. Miss Grange pressed my hand to bring my gaze back onto her face.

“Maisie. Stay with me tonight.”

I thought of Mama below and something of my hesitation must have spoken from my eyes, for Miss Grange whispered, “We will send down a note to her.”

I looked at her who had so little time left remaining and nodded quietly, my eyes filling with tears.

“I will stay.”