“And this…this works well for you?” Missie sipped at her lemonade, having refused a glass of the wine, and stared at Ginny with a troubled frown. “I know it’s none of my business, and Renaldo is always telling me I must not interfere in people’s lives, but I know how you both feel about each other.”

“And you’re worried that we’ll stop?” Ginny smiled. “If we are still together after all this time, I don’t think it’s going to end overnight.”

“No. Of course not.” Missie looked slightly embarrassed as she finished her meal. Sunlight through the glass window-panes of the Menger Hotel highlighted the elegant sculpture of her face, the open honest expression appealing and attractive.

It was too easy to remember that she had once been in love with Steve, too. Ginny reached again for her wine. Was there no end to the women who had loved him? And how many of them had he loved in return?

And what of Elizabeth Cady? What of the woman who had borne him a son? Did he love her?

Like a worm, the thought burrowed deeper into her mind, tormenting her, until finally she decided to seek answers from the only other person who could give them to her—Elizabeth Cady herself.

The Prendergasts lived very close to Prayers End, where Steve had told her he had met Elizabeth. Perhaps if she went for a visit—Her cousin Pierre and Lorna Prendergast were practically engaged. It was the perfect excuse. Then the uncertainty would be behind her at last. It wouldn’t matter that Steve had not been the one to tell her. At least she would know.

“Ginny, you don’t need to travel without an escort,” Renaldo said when she told him of her intention. A frown lowered his brow, and he looked so worried that she put a hand on his arm and smiled.

“It’s not as if I have to worry about my reputation. I doubt seriously that anything more dramatic than a late train will happen. Besides, it’s not at all far from the train station to the Prendergast ranch, and Mr. Murdock has put his private coach at my disposal. Don’t worry so much, Renaldo. You drive poor Missie to distraction.”

Despite his protests, his threats to tell Steve, Renaldo had little choice but to let her go. He couldn’t hold her by force, and Murdock had put his own private Pullman coach at Ginny’s disposal. She’d be safe, but what on earth would he tell Steve?

“You’ll tell him that I decided to visit an old friend, Renaldo,” she said when he despaired. “It’s not as if Sam Murdock is only Steve’s friend. He was quite kind to me in San Francisco, and I’ve never forgotten it.”