“Hmmm,” she said, with an enigmatic gleam in her eye.

“Uncle Henry says Miss Newton is a good example for Flora because she reads and talks about things other than clothes,” Rollo said with great relish.

“Verity, I like you already,” Elinor said. She gestured around the room at walls entirely covered in bookshelves that stretched from floor to ceiling. “You are welcome to borrow any of my books. Oh, I know! We can read the same book and then discuss it together—and you, too, Flora. I would appreciate the company.”

“That’s not necessary, Aunt Elinor—” Flora began, but Lady Elinor cut her off.

“Oh, but I insist. It will be great fun.” She waved her hand, and a book flew off a shelf to land next to her on the bed. I could detect the use of magic, but because of my shield it wasn’t strong enough to cause a visible reaction. I allowed myself a moment of triumph for having mastered that technique. She handed the book to me. “Give it to Flora once you’re home. I don’t want her accidentally leaving it in the drawing room here.” Flora flushed and glanced away, and I knew that was exactly what she’d planned to do.

“Now,” Elinor continued, “let’s set a time to discuss it. I’m sure you can read this within a week, so let’s say we’ll meet to chat a week from Thursday at four. Verity, you have read this, haven’t you?”

I glanced at the spine. It was Jane Eyre, a novel about a governess in the home of a mysterious magister. I wondered if Elinor had selected it because she thought it might make her niece more sympathetic to my situation, or if she merely thought the romance might appeal to Flora. “Yes, my lady, I have.”

“Oh, please stop the ‘my lady’ nonsense. It’s so tiresome.” I smiled at the suspicion that she and Lord Henry must get along very well.

The maid returned to the room and said, “Dinner will be served in five minutes.”

“Thank you, Mary,” Elinor said. “Please escort Flora and Rollo to the dining room. Miss Newton will dine with me.” She turned to me. “I hope you don’t mind, but I suspect you’d prefer that to dining with the housekeeper and butler. Father will want chaperones around for any mingling, but not at the dinner table.”