But as he watched Margot move to the door so she could open it for his sister, he knew that her answers hadn’t done a thing to squash his interest. If anything, they’d raised it. Because never in his life had he met anyone like Margot De Wilde. Never would he again, he suspected. But did that mean he ought to pursue her romantically? Would it be worth the certain headache—and likely heartache?

He was none too sure. But he had nothing but time, just now, in which to decide.

15

Why are you going this way? Not that I mind your company for a little longer.”

Margot turned the same corner as Dot, where usually she would continue straight along the street on the shortest route to her flat. They’d walk by the park if they went this way, and she needed to see if Redvers Holmes was waiting. She had the grey scarf in her bag, though today was warm enough that he wouldn’t need it. Who was to guess as to tomorrow, though? It was November, after all.

She touched a hand to the knitted belt of the cardigan Maman had made for her. It could well have been intended as a birthday gift, rather than a Christmas one. Her mother wouldn’t mind her wearing it now. Today. It had seemed like a whisper of assurance when her eighteenth birthday had dawned warm enough that she didn’t need her coat. Just this. A piece of Maman.

No numbers to say It’s all right. She wouldn’t mind. Or Save it until Christmas. No numbers other than those painted onto the thermometers. They had two, because England still used the imperial measure, but Maman couldn’t get used to Fahrenheit and had invested some of their precious funds into a centigrade thermometer too.

There were no numbers for anything these days. None to tell her whether today had been the best day to approach the admiral about her concerns. None when she’d dropped a note to the Duchess of Stafford into the post, requesting that audience to discuss Einstein. None to tell her whether today would be the day that Redvers Holmes would be waiting by the park.

“Margot?”

She darted a glance at Dot and realized she’d yet to answer her friend about her direction. “I asked a new acquaintance to see if he could discover the name of that fellow at the park, and he said he’d meet me there one evening at five-thirty to let me know what he’s discovered.” She didn’t mention that the chap had begged a few coins from her, or that she had a scarf for him in her bag. No numbers told her not to, but even so. Pride she understood without assistance.

Dot shook her head. “You always have to have answers, don’t you?”