Still nothing. Without any better plan, she walked into the next one and repeated herself. The only answer she received was the sound of the wind curling around the outside of the house.

Two more rooms to go. She walked across the hall into the next one, tucked at the far end of the passage. It was the smallest of the four, with only one small window, even though it had two outside walls.

“Rose de Boer?” she said, her voice shaky and uneven. “My name is Alva Webster, and I want to talk with you. If you could make yourself known in some way—”

“What are you doing?” The voice came from behind her, and she screamed as she whirled around, clutching the oil lamp like a weapon.

“Calm down,” Alfred said, standing in the doorway. “You’d think you’d seen a ghost.”

In the scarce light cast by her lamp, it was as though she had. Alfred’s blond hair shone like gold, his handsome features made stronger and rougher by the casting of shadows. Her skin twitched, as if it wanted to crawl off her bones and escape.

“Alfred,” she said. “What are you doing here? Did you follow me?”

“Your … paramour … made it difficult to conduct our business,” he said, smiling. The light reflected off the smooth enamel of his teeth. “I thought we would benefit from some privacy.”

“I’m busy,” she said.

“So I see. Going a little mad, are we? I can’t say it’s a huge surprise.”

“What I’m doing is none of your business,” she said, gripping the handle of the lamp tightly. “Please leave. I’ll call upon you at your hotel later.”

“I’m afraid I really can’t wait upon your convenience, Sister mine. I must insist we settle matters immediately.”

“You must have resorted to one of the less reputable establishments, to be this desperate,” Alva said, not bothering to disguise her disgust.

“Now, now,” Alfred chided, “speaking of none of your business. It really doesn’t matter, does it? What matters is I have all the control in this situation and you have none. I don’t know why you persist in playing this childish game when nothing different can come of it.”

“Fine,” she said, resigning herself. “I suppose now is as good a time as any. You won’t be getting any more funds from me, Alfred. Do what you must.”

“Alva, dearest, I don’t think you’ve thought this through at all. What in heaven has gotten into your head?”

She shrugged. “I have a new policy against supporting blackmailers.”

“I expect you’ll find that policy quite hazardous to your health,” he said. “I’m not bluffing, you know. I’m quite prepared to go to the press with everything, even if it’s only revenge.”