“But I’m sure the young ladies in your circle would love to have their portraits drawn. It would give you an excuse to spend time with them.”

“Why do you think I started drawing bugs?” he asked dryly. “I’m much better at those than people. See?” He flipped a page in his notebook to show me a series of studies of dragonflies. These were more precise than his hasty sketch of us. As he flipped to another page, I glimpsed a drawing of a girl with her hair hanging loose around her shoulders, but he quickly moved past that to show me some finely detailed drawings of ants. Who could the girl be, I wondered, and then I despised myself for the surge of jealousy I felt. I had no claim to him, no hope with him. I hadn’t even realized I felt that strongly for him, but the fact that I wanted to rip that portrait out of his sketchbook and rend it to pieces told me I must. Suddenly, our easy camaraderie seemed strained, at least on my part, and I couldn’t think of anything to say to him that didn’t sound foolish. Oh, but this was most inconvenient.

In Which an Errand Takes a Dangerous Turn

IN WHICH AN ERRAND TAKES A DANGEROUS TURN

The next afternoon was too rainy for walking in the park. Henry, Rollo, Olive, and I were playing a game and Flora was practicing the piano when Mr. Chastain came to the door of the family parlor. “Lord Henry, there is a gentleman here to see you. He says it’s urgent.”

Henry blanched. “Did he say what it was regarding?”

“No, sir, just that it was essential, and he needed to speak to you privately.”

“I’ll be down in a moment.” Henry’s hands shook as he straightened his tie and shoved his glasses back up on his nose before standing.

He’d only been gone for a few minutes before Mr. Chastain returned. “Miss Newton, you’re needed as well.”

I stood and smoothed my skirts, feeling I must have gone as pale as Lord Henry had. Had they discovered the source of the rebels’ intelligence or the identity of Liberty Jones? Lord Henry and another man both rose as I entered the formal parlor downstairs. “Miss Newton, this is Detective Vincent of the city police department,” Henry said. “Detective Vincent, Miss Newton, my governess.”

“Good day, miss,” the detective grunted, then he gestured for me to sit next to Henry on the sofa. “I have a few questions for you. These are just a formality, but I have to follow all the angles, you know.”

“Yes, of course,” I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. I clutched my skirt so I wouldn’t give in to the impulse to reach for Henry’s hand.

“Now, I understand Lord Henry was with you yesterday afternoon?”