“Who is it?” Mrs. Ellsworth said, peering fretfully at the windows from the sofa.

Jane continued to play as Melody peeked out, frowning. “I do not recognize the equipage.”

Moments later, Nancy appeared at the door of the drawing room. Jane let her song end and waited to hear who had come to call. Nancy’s face was red, and she kept looking over her shoulder. “Mr. Ellsworth, there’s a solicitor here who wants a few moments of your time.”

“A solicitor?” Mr. Ellsworth folded his paper. “Certainly, shew him in.”

“He would like to see you privately in your study, if he may.” Nancy curtsied, waiting for an answer.

The family exchanged glances, and Mr. Ellsworth harrumphed. “Well. I’ll see what the fellow has to say.” He tossed his paper on the side table, leaving them to wonder what a solicitor would be doing at Long Parkmead. Their curiosity was further raised when their father barked with laughter upon exiting the drawing room. He shut the door behind himself so they could only discern sounds of great cordiality receding into the distance, until at last the voices vanished into the study.

At a loss for what to do, Jane began playing again. Her mother pretended to read, and Melody made a few halfhearted adjustments to the thread of her fringe. Jane had barely begun the second movement when her father flung open the doors of the drawing room with such suddenness that she jerked her hands from the keys in surprize.

He was accompanied by a tall man with a crop of curly brown hair, who carried a leather binder tucked under his arm. “Mr. Sewell, this is my wife, Mrs. Ellsworth, and our daughters Jane and Melody.”

Mr. Sewell bowed appropriately to each of them, but his eyes lingered on Jane. The hair on the nape of her neck stood quite on end.

“What is it? What’s the matter?” Mrs. Ellsworth pressed her hand against her chest. “Lady FitzCameron is suing us for defaming Captain Livingston—I knew it. Jane, this is your fault.”

Melody stood abruptly. “Leave Jane alone! You know I would have run off with him if she had not stopped me.”

“Well, I never!” Tilting her small nose up in a sniff, Mrs. Ellsworth dabbed at her eyes with a square of lace. “We did not raise you to speak so to me.”

Mr. Ellsworth cleared his throat. “Be that as it may, Mr. Sewell has some things to discuss with us. Jane, may I ask you to wait in my study? This will be but a moment.”

Clammy dread gripped her. “Of course, Papa.” Her eyes stung with suppressed tears as she left the room, berating herself for bringing such trouble on her family.

Nancy stood in the hall, watching her with wondering eyes. Jane was determined not to crumble here. She entered her father’s study, grateful for the brief sanctuary she would be granted to gather herself.

Mr. Vincent stood at the window.

At her startled cry, he spun. “Miss Ellsworth. Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you.”