Elaine was strangely flustered as she adjusted the cuffs at her wrists. “Oh. Well! I’d like to introduce you to some people. This is Harry Talbot, the soldier I’ve told you so much about. And this . . .” She fumbled, and an older man grasped her hand. “This is Walter, his father. And Margaret and Sally, his sisters. The Talbots always come for the Tuesday readings. The actors are from the National Theatre company, so it’s a real treat.”

“I can see that. And it’s very nice to meet you all,” Annabelle said with a nod to the father.

Apparently the Talbots were a large family, for in addition to his daughters, Mr. Talbot introduced her to an assortment of cousins and uncles who’d also come to the performance.

“Are there always so many people?” Annabelle asked as she and Elaine settled onto the streetcar bench for the ride home.

“We’re like a family there,” Elaine said. “I thank God for the gift of being able to find meaningful work. They’ve asked me to take on another student, but I’ll keep working with Harry, because he’s made so much progress and I can’t step back. Even if I weren’t blind, I would want to work here.”

The satisfaction in her sister’s voice confirmed Annabelle’s need for a solid job in Washington, for returning to the yawning emptiness of the farm was no longer a possibility for Elaine.

Annabelle’s newfound resolve wavered as she mounted the steps to Gray’s townhouse the following morning, dreading what she was about to do. Treason was a hanging offense. If she found evidence of it, could she turn him in?

She clutched a copy of Sense and Sensibility as she stood on his front stoop, waiting to be let inside. The novel was a masterpiece of family dynamics, and Gray did remind her of Colonel Brandon, a character who had fascinated her since she first read the novel years ago. Colonel Brandon could never be guilty of treason, and in her heart, she didn’t believe Gray could either.

“How is Mr. Delacroix feeling today?” she asked when Mr. Holder opened the door and beckoned her inside.

“No better, but he’s agreed to stay in bed today. He told me you are to be granted the run of his library. I’ll fetch Otis to let you in.”

“You don’t have a key?” she asked.

Mr. Holder delicately cleared his throat, as if somewhat embarrassed. “Mr. Delacroix is very particular about who may enter the study. Only he and Otis have a key.”

For a man to be so paranoid about the security of his office did not bode well. A headache began gathering, and she just wanted this day to be over.