“No, we cannot. I believe we will have to go before they arrive, but we must consult with Lord Evan. At present I cannot think where we can go.”

“And we must consult with Hester and Miss Grant too,” Julia said, a little reproachfully, as Leonard pinned on the chosen cap. She glanced at her maid. “I know I do not need to remind you, but none of this is to be discussed, even with Tully.”

“Of course, my lady,” Leonard said, clearly a little offended at the warning. “Miss Tully and I understand.”

I eyed my sister; she must be highly anxious to remind her trusted Leonard about discretion.

“I think we should wait to tell them. The prospect of Lord Alvanley and Mr. Brummell coming will be a little too much for Lady Hester after yesterday’s shock,” I said.

Julia rose from the dressing table stool. “As you wish.”

I had expected a great deal more argument from her, but there was an odd lethargy in her manner. I hesitated to ask after her health again, since it was such an unpredictably prickly subject now, but I could not help myself.

“Are you really feeling better, my dear?”

“I must admit I feel a little odd.” She shrugged her shoulders as if her gown was too tight. “Everything is a bit prickly and crawly. I think I am just in need of exercise after the long carriage journey.”

“We could walk the long gallery before breakfast.”

She nodded, allowing Leonard to place a shawl around her shoulders. I noticed she slid her hand along the dressing table edge as she rose and headed to the door, as if to keep her balance.

I thrust out my arm. “Come, let us walk arm in arm. We have not strolled so for such a long time.”

She took the offered support. I smiled, receiving a bare lift of her lips in return. She might deflect my concern at every turn, but something was very wrong with my darling sister.

•   •   •

The long gallery on the second floor stretched the whole length of the main house. It accommodated the Davenport collection of their more second-rate family portraits and overlooked a charming vista of formal garden. Julia, Charlotte, and I had spent many a rainy day walking its length for exercise, and sometimes, when all the servants had been dismissed and no one was around, playing a childish game of tag, full of shrieks and laughter.

As Julia and I slowly climbed the smaller side staircase that led to it, we heard a voice. A shrill voice.

“Oh no, that is Emelia,” Julia whispered, stopping upon the landing and therefore halting our momentum. “I cannot deal with her this morning. Let us go back. We are still out of sight.”

Then two other female voices reached us. Good God, the Ermine had cornered Lady Hester and Miss Grant. I glanced at Julia; she had recognized their voices too. And the danger.