“He did not kill Mr. Sanderson,” I said, although the point was probably irrelevant. Still, I could not have such a falsehood repeated. “He was transported for no reason.”

“Well, there is reason enough now, isn’t there?” Duffy said. “Absconding, highway robbery, abduction. Enough for the gallows.”

“And I suppose you will turn him in,” I said.

“You have placed me in an impossible situation, Augusta. You are complicit in this man’s crimes. If I turn him in, I turn you in too. And your sister as well. Yet I am a magistrate and it is my duty to arrest him.”

Right at that moment, I despised Duffy with all my heart. I turned to Evan. “It is time we parted ways again, my love. You should go. Now.”

“Love?” Duffy sputtered. “Love? Are you telling me you have compromised yourself with this man, Augusta? This convict?”

“Not as compromised as I would like,” I said.

Admittedly, it was a little vulgar, but it did achieve its aim: spitting outrage from my brother. I heard Evan snort back a stifled laugh.

“And I love Mr. Kent,” Julia said, lifting her chin. “Yes, love, Duffy!”

This apparently was the first time Mr. Kent had heard that declaration, for he looked just as shocked as Duffy.

“Julia,” Duffy said. “You cannot be serious. He is too low for you. You will be shunned by every decent—”

Evan raised his voice over my brother’s harangue. “I will go, Gus, but first I will accompany you back to Davenport Hall.”

My brother glared at him; he was not used to having his opinions interrupted, let alone talked over. “Gus? You are calling my sister Gus?”

“I agree,” Mr. Kent said, ignoring our brother’s horror at Evan’s familiarity. “We will escort you both back to Davenport Hall and then go.” His eyes were fixed upon Julia. Both of them were smiling at each other a little foolishly. So, that was what mooncalving looked like. I suspected Evan and I looked at each other in the same way. As if the whole world was contained within the beloved face of the other.

“Is there any use insisting you go now?” I asked.

“No,” both men said in unison.

“To the gate, but no farther,” Julia said to Mr. Kent. “I will not have you in any more danger.”

“Well, that is settled, then,” I said, and snapped the whip over the pair’s heads. “Get out of the way, Duffy. It has been a long night and we wish to get back to Davenport Hall.”

With as much bravado as I could muster, I drove the pair past my furious brother.