“Uncle Henry, we won’t be out that late,” she chided. He smiled before his eyes fluttered closed again.

As I went out with Olive, I wondered how I’d find Lizzie in such a vast space as the park. We wandered the pathways, with Olive chattering nonstop and darting off the path every so often to pick up a leaf or an acorn. Soon, her pockets were full of treasures to take home to her uncle, but I had yet to see any sign of Lizzie. We made a full circuit of the Conservatory Water, stopping to watch small boys sailing their toy boats. I couldn’t help but imagine how the Mechanics would propel such boats.

I was beginning to lose hope when I saw Alec on the other side of the pool. My heart leaped but I tried to appear calm as I took Olive’s hand and ambled casually around the pool.

As we approached him, he tipped his hat to me and said, “Miss Newton! How delightful to see you again.”

“Mr. Emfinger!” I greeted him. “How are you today?” I indicated Olive. “This is my pupil Olive. Olive, this is my friend Mr. Emfinger.”

Alec bent to shake Olive’s hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Olive.”

“Likewise,” Olive said in a perfect imitation of her older sister. She broke the illusion by bursting into giggles. “That’s what Flora always says,” she tittered. “She thinks she’s a proper lady.”

“Flora is Olive’s older sister,” I explained to Alec.

Alec smiled and said, “I thought you sounded like a proper lady. You must be quite grownup.” While Alec bantered with Olive, I desperately tried to think of a way to pass over my article.

Salvation came in the form of a balloon vendor setting up shop nearby and drawing a crowd of children by twisting long, narrow balloons into animal shapes before tying them to magical ribbon tethers that allowed them to float. Olive’s eyes went wide when she saw him, and she tugged on my skirt. “Miss Newton, may I? I have my own money.”

I tried to sound reluctant rather than gleeful when I said, “Very well, but just one.”

As soon as she joined the crowd of children, I took off my hat and removed the article, pressing it into Alec’s hand. “I wrote this from my notes,” I told him as I resecured my hat. “Can you take it to Lizzie? I still have her notebook, but I couldn’t think of a way to carry it without Olive asking questions.”

“Keep it,” he said as he slid the article into his breast pocket. “Perhaps you’ll find a chance to use it again. I’m glad you decided to write the article.” His eyes met mine with a hint of the intensity from our previous meeting in the park, and I felt a thrill to know I’d pleased him.