His earnestness disarmed me. It brought me back, putting me firmly inside my skin again.

We stood for a while watching the stars appear, one by one. With the shock of seeing Asa receding—and with the handsome young officer beside me—I remembered my objective for the night. This was a perfect chance. “Have you settled in at Judge Latimer’s?”

Duncan nodded. Under the lanterns, his hair looked like gold. “I have, though I’ve not been there very much. There’s been more to do this week than time to do it.”

My instincts prickled. “Uncle Henry has sold out of many of his medicines. He said there have been fever outbreaks amongst the men on a ship that’s newly arrived—I forget the name of it.” I hadn’t forgotten.

“The Europa? Yes—it was a bad stroke for us. A fresh reinforcement of men and they arrive deathly ill.”

“How awful. Were many affected?” Uncle Henry had estimated five hundred.

“Too many. Some three thousand, flattened. Almost to a man, if you can believe it.”

“That’s awful. I hope you were not exposed?”

“No—do not worry for me. I’m quite apart from the rank and file. Most days, I’m surrounded by paper. André’s post alone keeps me busy. He’s quite in demand.”

“So you’re his penman?”

“Yes, I scribble for him, but he’s been generous to involve me in matters of greater significance.”

“Will you save these colonies for us, Lieutenant?”

He smiled. “Without a doubt.”

My stomach muscles tightened. We would see about that.

His gaze moved past me. “Miss Coates, I have just made a shocking discovery. It appears other people exist in this world.” Our party had returned from the tour and was settling at the dinner tables. From where we stood, I could hear Asa and Major André carrying on a conversation in French, their voices lively, like birds swooping in the sky. “I suppose we should join them. What do you think?”

“Lead on, Lieutenant,” I said, though I didn’t want to leave our spot. He’d said such pretty things to me. Such useful things, too. He’d given me the kind of detailed information Townsend wanted. And I wasn’t exactly eager to see Asa Latimer-Lane again just yet.

Duncan held a chair for me as we joined the group, putting me immediately to Asa’s left. Before Duncan had even seated himself to my left, I found myself leaning toward him like a flower searching for the sun.

“Will you be staying in New York long, Mr. Latimer?” Charlotte asked across the table.

Her parents and the judge were at the other table. The Winters children had been fed and now played chase somewhere in the maze beneath our feet.

“I hadn’t planned on it,” Asa replied. “I only came to make a delivery, but my uncle insists I stay longer.”