New York, Friday, Christmas Day, 1868

AS A TREAT, MARGARET AND MARION cooked Christmas dinner for Mouse and Bina, serving it early to allow the two sisters to join their own family, taking with them a hamper crammed full of food and candy.

“I feel terrible abandoning you on Christmas Day. It’s not too late to attend one of the parties you’ve been invited to, you know,” Marion said, when they had finished clearing up and returned to the parlour. “Caroline Astor would probably be insulted after you’d declined her invitation, but there are any number of other hostesses who won’t mind your turning up unexpectedly.”

“I’m sure there are, but I’m not in the mood for socialising. Honestly, Marion, I will be perfectly happy here alone, so please enjoy your last evening with Patrick. I have you all to myself tomorrow before you leave for Ireland.”

“I shall miss you terribly, my dear. I can’t help feeling as if I am abandoning you.”

“Don’t be silly. I have had a whole year of your company, and enjoyed every moment of it, but you never intended to remain here long-term. In fact, if you had not met Patrick, you would have gone home before now, wouldn’t you?”

“It’s true—Patrick has been an unexpected but delightful diversion,” Marion said with a wicked smile. “As I have been for him, it seems, since he has important business in California that he has been putting off for some time.” Her smile faded. “And as you know, my dear, I have been fretting about Julia, and was seriously considering renting a little cottage near her rather than returning to the rather tedious life I had in Twickenham, which you so kindly rescued me from.”

“But now Patrick has ridden to the rescue with his ingenious proposition.” Margaret reached across to pat her hand. “Just think, thanks to him you’re about to embark on a whole new chapter in your life.”

“I still can’t believe it, to be honest,” Marion said, a slow smile dawning. “Dear Patrick, he is aware how constraining my meagre funds are and would happily supplement them if I would let him, but he knows I would not accept charity.”

“There is still no question of marriage, I take it? I know he could never replace Alexander, but . . .”

“Oh, it is not only that. We rub along very well, Patrick and I, but we also value our independence. It is because he understands how important that is to me that he has come up with this plan of his, which will allow me to earn a decent living and enable him to do some real good in his homeland without having to be there in person,” Marion said, chuckling. “The perfect solution. Though when I think of the responsibility he has entrusted in me, I am rather daunted, to put it mildly.”