For a moment, I considered telling him I knew about him so he wouldn’t have to lie to me anymore. I allowed myself to imagine what might happen between us if we shared that enormous a secret, and then I remembered that it couldn’t really change anything. Falling for my employer was even more foolish than believing a rebel’s lies. I was through behaving like the heroine of a novel.

*   *   *

The Hercules may have left, but the airships from Governor’s Island maintained a steady patrol over the city during the following week. That meant getting Rollo’s attention was a challenge. I handed him directly over to the headmaster each morning to ensure that he went into the school instead of sneaking away to watch the ships. He probably spent the school day staring out the window, but that wasn’t my problem.

Henry was unusually social during that time. He hardly ever locked himself away in his study, and he dropped by the schoolroom several times a day. He never left the house without taking one of the children with him, and he still flinched and went pale whenever the front bell rang. Even Olive seemed to notice his tension, though that didn’t stop her from demanding he play with her or read stories to her. I occasionally heard piano music coming from the schoolroom or the family parlor that was louder and more robust than Flora’s delicate touch, and I recalled what Henry had said about playing when he needed to think. I wondered what he was thinking about.

Flora, though, seemed entirely oblivious to either the military activity or her uncle’s strange behavior. The official invitation to the ball arrived Monday, and Henry had immediately written to accept. Flora and her lady’s maid spent hours each day adding ribbon trim to the hem and flounces of her ball gown.

My initial hurt and anger about Alec’s lies had eased, and now I felt his loss keenly. I hadn’t realized how much I’d enjoyed having friends. I took my usual walks in the park, but I saw no one I knew. That convinced me that they’d lied about having come to care about me. As soon as I was no longer an asset, they’d dropped me entirely and were making no effort to mend fences.

My ball gown was ready for a fitting on Thursday. I saw to it that the girls were occupied with their music and drawing lessons before collecting my hat, coat, and gloves. When I stepped out of my room, I nearly ran into Lord Henry, who was lurking outside my door.

“I must ask another favor of you,” he said, his voice fraught with tension. “I wouldn’t impose upon you again if this weren’t so very important and if I could think of any other way.”