“I know. I saw.” Grace sounded amused. “He was startled but didn’t get angry.”

“No, he didn’t,” she agreed. “Dicky—George would have been furious.”

“Hmm.” Grace finished with her hair and released her. “I think I would be happy never to have to hear either of those two names again.”

Christiana nodded in agreement and sat up in the tub again.

“You’d best get out now. We have to get you dressed and downstairs. They are holding breakfast for you.”

Christiana nodded and stood up to wring out her hair. She dried off and dressed quickly, and then waited patiently as Grace brushed out her hair to dry it further. She expected her to pin it up on top of her head then, but Grace set the brush aside.

“You are not planning to go out, why do you not leave it down today and see what he says?” she suggested gently. When Christiana just stared at her uncertainly, Grace added, “And perhaps not bother with shoes today, just this once to see what he says.”

Christiana bit her lip. She was tempted, her feet always seemed to be hot and uncomfortable in shoes, and it really was more comfortable to have her hair down.

“Just this once to see if he reacts like his brother did,” Grace said quietly. “Do you not think it is better to know now than wait in an agony of worry?”

Christiana gave in with a sigh and headed for the door. It was better to know, she supposed. And really, it was more comfortable she thought, smiling slightly at the feel of the cool wood underfoot. By the time she was halfway up the hall , she was beginning to feel a little more like her old self.

“Oh, good.”

Christiana glanced over her shoulder as she reached the top of the stairs, eyebrows rising slightly when she saw Lisa coming out of the room she was occupying.

“I was worried I would be the last one downstairs this morning,” her youngest sister admitted, hurrying toward her.

“You will be,” Christiana assured her with a grin and started down the stairs. She heard Lisa squeal and the patter of her feet as she ran after her, and promptly snatched up the skirts of her gown and broke into a run as well, charging down the stairs with more speed than care. She jumped the last two steps, landed on the hardwood and whirled to hurry up the hall toward the breakfast room, her feet slipping on the polished floor. Christiana kept her balance and hurried forward, not slowing until she neared the door, but then her worries flowed back to crowd her mind and she skidded to a halt just short of the breakfast room, and took a breath to calm her heavy breathing before stepping inside.

Daniel, Suzette, Robert and Richard were all seated around the table talking over cups of tea, but every eye turned Christiana’s way as she stepped inside. So everyone was watching when Lisa burst into the room and crashed into her back.