“You mean a letter for Richard,” Suzette corrected dryly.

Christiana ignored her and asked, “Who is it from?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t open it,” Lisa said indignantly.

“No, I can see that,” she said with exasperation. “But why was it in your bag?”

“Oh.” Lisa shrugged and took the bag from her. “It was this morning when Daniel and Robert were helping Dicky bring out his chest.”

“Richard,” Christiana murmured as Lisa paused and frowned, no doubt because the men had loaded it themselves rather than let the servants do it.

Christiana was the only one of the three of them who knew that the men had loaded it themselves because George was in it and they hadn’t wanted to risk it being dropped and its contents spilling out.

“Anyway,” Lisa continued. “The cutest little boy came running up. He asked which of the men was the Earl and I pointed out Dicky—”

“Richard,” Christiana corrected.

“—he started to go toward the men,” Lisa continued without stopping. “But I suggested he give the letter to me rather than trouble them when they were busy. I meant to give it to Dic—Richard once they were done with the chest, but then Grace came out of the house, tripped on the step and fell and I shoved the letter in my bag and went to help her up, and . . .” She shrugged. “I forgot all about it till now.”

Christiana peered down at the letter. Something about the blank face and black blob of wax gave her a very bad feeling. Besides, it must be for George, not Richard. Richard was only newly returned from over a year in America, and the only person who knew that was Daniel. Daniel would hardly send Richard a note when he had been at the house almost every waking moment since their return.

She turned the letter over in her hands and stared at the blob of wax, and then began to open it.

“What are you doing, Chrissy? That’s Dicky’s!” Lisa tried to snatch the letter from her.

“Dicky’s dead,” Christiana snapped, shifting sideways on her seat and ripping the letter open.

“What?” Lisa gasped.

Ignoring her, Christiana held the letter to the window to read it. It was growing late in the day, the sun was setting and there wasn’t much light to read from, but she managed and cursed as she did.

“What is it?” Suzette asked and snatched the letter from her.

Christiana didn’t bother to try to stop her, but waited silently as she read it. She had meant to tell them at some point. Suzette’s reading the letter was as good a way to bring up the subject as any.

“I knew it!” Suzette exclaimed suddenly.

“You knew what?” Lisa asked curiously.

“I knew there was something going on,” Suzette explained, her tone distracted as she continued to read.

“Why? What’s going on?” Lisa asked, turning narrowed eyes on Christiana.

“Dicky’s dead,” Suzette announced. “I knew he was. The man was cold as stone when we left for the ball .”