“Come to my townhouse in Alexandria,” he said. “You asked about seeing my library. My father amassed an impressive collection of botanical observations gathered over forty years. You can have free rein, although I’ll warn you, it is a mess. Dad crammed all his papers into boxes and binders. He was also a packrat, so there’s a lot to go through.”

Her eyes widened in surprise and something else. Trepidation? He smiled. His study wasn’t that terrifying.

“You’ll really let me explore your study?” she asked, and he had the strangest feeling she hoped he would say no.

“Of course. The study will be entirely yours. I won’t need it, as I plan on taking your advice. Actually, taking my doctor’s advice. Every doctor I’ve ever consulted has recommended the same thing.”

“And what is that?”

“Bedrest. And a little quinine if I can tolerate it.” He got his feet beneath him and managed to stand. “I’ll ask the foreman to summon a carriage. You can come with me to the townhouse today if you like, or come any time this week. I’ve had enough of these attacks to know I’ll be laid low for around five days. You can have complete run of the rest of my house.”

She walked around his desk and slipped an arm around his middle. He was capable of walking without help, but he loved that she offered it.

“I’ll come home with you,” she said. “I’d like to get started today.”

He had the oddest feeling she was about to cry.

Twelve

In the end, Annabelle couldn’t do it. By the time the carriage arrived at Gray’s townhouse, there was only an hour before she needed to escort Elaine home, and she seized on the excuse to delay the inevitable task of spying.

It meant that she arrived at the Library of Congress with plenty of time to spare, so she headed upstairs to the blind reading room, where two actors were performing a reading from a Shakespeare play. She spotted Elaine, who looked entranced while listening to the actors perform the classic banter of Benedick and Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing.

Close to a hundred people, both blind and sighted, had gathered to listen to the performance. From the back of the room, Annabelle had a good view of Elaine. It had been years since she’d seen her sister look this happy. As the actors came to the end of the reading, the crowd showered them with applause, and Annabelle wended her way toward Elaine, who was taken aback by the sound of her voice.

“Annabelle! I didn’t expect you up here.”

“My work finished early.”