Admiral Hall inclined his head, indicating something beyond Drake. He half turned even as female voices flooded the hall. Two women, both in their late forties or early fifties, were exiting the lift, laughing. The one on the left had dark hair, dark eyes—though not so dark—and a face of utter elegance.

The other he recognized as Lady Ebba Hambro. The woman who, if all went well, would soon be the one to demand his sister get up every day and get out of the house. Come here. Do something.

Not that Dot didn’t do plenty—but nothing that would put food on her table while Drake was gone.

If Father were still alive, he would hate that it had come to this. That the shipping business once so prosperous now rested at the bottom of the Atlantic, victim to U-boats. That his daughter had to work to survive.

But it could be good for her. Would be. He’d have to cling to that.

The women paid him no particular mind. The pretty one just slid through the same doorway You Girl had first emerged from, and Lady Hambro charged right past him, her sights set on Hall. “Is Miss Elton here already?”

Hall nodded and indicated his office. He said something to the lady—too quiet for Drake’s ears to pick up—and motioned her in.

Then he met Drake’s gaze and jerked his head to the side.

Yes, sir. He followed the admiral into another room, still night-dim but for the light coming through the windows. Once Drake had shut the door behind him, his shoulders relaxed a degree. “I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you on the promotion, sir.”

Hall waved that off. “You leave again for Spain tomorrow?”

He had to force his fingers to remain loose and easy around the brim of his hat. He nodded. He ought to have left a week ago, but their aunt had been all aflutter about evacuating London, and he’d had to see to Dot. She’d refused to go with Aunt Millie. The war had already forced her from her haven once, she’d said. She’d not leave a second home for it. Which meant she had to find a way to support herself if she stayed. “Thank you for the extra time, sir.”

“You earned it. Besides, you would be distracted in the field if you were worrying after your sister.”

“I won’t be now, I assure you.” Assuming Dot got the position here. Please, God. Please. Everything else they’d tried had been a bust. “She’s a good worker. Trustworthy. I know she comes off as awkward, but with Lady Hambro’s discipline giving her incentive—”

“Easy, Elton.” Hall’s lips settled into a smile that matched his instruction. “Your sister will be given a chance. What she does with it, of course, is up to her.”