Sydney seemed somehow changed since Maggie had seen it last; it was less intimidating, less strange, and far more beautiful, with its sparkling harbor and bustling streets.

As Reeve’s carriage rattled over the macadam, bringing her back to Victoria Street, Mrs. Lavendar, and her duties, however, Maggie’s high spirits began to sag a little. During the long ride from Parramatta, Reeve had been with her, but he’d thought it better that she arrive at the Kirk house alone and had gotten out of the carriage in front of his office downtown.

Now, as the carriage came to a stop in front of Duncan Kirk’s house, Maggie was feeling a very real need to go back to Reeve and plead with him to take her in as his mistress.

She was instantly ashamed of that, and as she alighted from the carriage, her reticule in hand, Maggie kept her chin high. No one had to know, if she didn’t let on, that she was forever changed, and she wasn’t likely to confide what had happened even to Tansy, who probably knew anyway.

After a brief thank-you to the driver, Maggie went through the Kirk gate, up the walk, and around the side of the house. As one of Mrs. Lavendar’s serfs, she didn’t dare enter by any way except the rear.

Only it wasn’t Mrs. Lavendar that Maggie found in the kitchen, but Mr. Duncan Kirk himself. He was standing by the table, his hands gripping the back of a chair so tightly that his knuckles were white, his green eyes snapping.

“You came home in Reeve McKenna’s carriage,” he said in an expressionless voice that made Maggie pause and clutch her reticule in front of her like a shield.

Maggie bit her lower lip, wondering how anyone could tell one carriage from another. They all looked the same to her, except for the ones belonging to the gentry back in England, of course—they had crests on their doors. “Yes,” she finally admitted.

For a moment the green eyes assessed her, and Maggie prayed there was no way that Mr. Kirk could discern what she and Reeve had done. Then, in a clipped voice, he told her, “Get your things together. We’re leaving for Melbourne on the evening train.”

“Mel-Melbourne?” Maggie echoed, puzzled.

“I have business there, with the governor, and I may have to remain for some time. I would like you and the boys to be with me.”

Maggie didn’t want to leave Sydney, and Reeve, but neither did she truly want to live as Loretta Craig had. And she still had to earn her own living. “All right,” she said meekly, then, unable to bear Mr. Kirk’s perusal any longer, she dashed past him and up the stairs to her room.