“It wasn’t like it was a commodity they had lying around. It was their home. When they made the treaty, where were they supposed to go?”

“We didn’t take all their lands,” he said. “They had plenty left.”

I’d seen the maps in my studies. “Plenty” was an overly optimistic way to describe it.

“And,” he continued, “they can always move over to the western tribes’ territory.”

“Won’t that cause friction with those tribes?” I asked.

“Not our problem. We’re the conquerors.”

I opened my mouth to protest and then thought better of it. It had been this way for the last week, during which I’d had three visits with Warren—two public and one private. He wasn’t exactly offensive, but there were a number of times I’d had to bite my tongue, lest I counter his opinions. Be charming, Cedric had advised me. Give him no reason to suspect anything.

“How wonderful,” I said, switching to something less controversial. “To have all that gold.”

Warren nodded eagerly. “Yes. It’s practically just lying around, waiting for anyone to take. We’ve got too few men to help get it out, but I think once we put the call out, and I arrive with a more established presence, settlers are going to flock to it.” He regarded me meaningfully. “I’m leaving in two weeks.”

I knew that. He reminded me of it every time we were together. Putting him off this long had saved me from a wedding before his departure, but I knew he and Viola were hoping to have a marriage contract sealed before then. My friendliness this week might have bought me some time, but soon, the Doyles were going to demand more.

“Pardon me,” I said, rising from my chair. He immediately stood as well. “I must check my hair.” It was a polite way of saying one had to visit the bathroom, and it provided a guaranteed escape.

This party at the Doyle estate had lasted for three hours, and I hoped we’d be going soon. Cedric was our chaperone, and our exit was in his hands. I might normally have persuaded him to an earlier time, but he’d been watching Caroline all evening. She seemed to have ensnared a respectable landowner who wouldn’t leave her side. She’d had some difficulty with offers, and Cedric didn’t want to ruin it.

He did, however, intercept me as I turned down the hall leading to the facilities. We rounded a corner and stopped, waiting for two men grumbling about taxes to walk by us. “We need to talk,” Cedric said in a low voice.

I glanced around. “Here?”

“There’s been no other chance.” It was true. With fewer girls left, our social schedule had significantly picked up. He took my hand to pull me around a corner. “I have good news and bad news.”

“I hope the good news is that you’ve somehow acquired ten times more money than you need for the Westhaven stake and that the bad is you just don’t know how to spend the rest.”

“I’d give it to you, of course, to keep you in the lifestyle you’re accustomed to. But no, I’m afraid that’s not it.” He checked our surroundings one more time before continuing. “There’s a man here interested in the painting.”

That was good news. “How much?

“Four hundred.”

“That’s most of your stake! What’s the bad news?”

“He wants it authenticated.” Cedric shook his head. “But, as you can guess, there aren’t that many people in the colonies who are qualified to judge Myrikosi art. So, he’s willing to wait—which means we wait. Unless we can find another buyer.”

“There aren’t too many of those either.”

“Not in Denham, no. But my agent is going to send out feelers to some of the southern colonies. In the meantime . . .” His manner told me there was more news—and not necessarily good. “There’ve been some developments with Nicholas Adelton.”

“Oh?” I tried to keep my tone light, knowing I should be glad for this.

“He’s been up in Thomaston this week—helping someone settle a trade dispute. I hear he took the case pro bono.”

“Very kind of him.”

“Yes,” said Cedric. He also appeared to be struggling with an upbeat tone. “He’s a very kind man. And he’ll be back the day after tomorrow—in time for the Flower Festival, for which I’ve gotten him an invitation. I’m positive we can settle things then.”

“So I just have to string Warren along a little longer.”

We’d had no more visits from Silas Garrett, but the threat he’d presented still hung over my head. He’d looked as though he was memorizing every girl’s face, and I knew if he saw that portrait, he’d immediately identify me. I needed to secure my position quickly.

“I’m sure that won’t be hard for you,” Cedric replied. I met his eyes and wished I didn’t see such longing. This would be a lot easier to deal with if he’d been indifferent to me. “Go now—before Warren and his mother wonder what happened to you.”

“Okay. As soon as you let go of my hand.”

He looked down at our laced fingers and said nothing for several moments. Then, with great care, he brought my hand to his lips and pressed a kiss onto the back of it. I closed my eyes, wishing I could freeze that moment in time. When he released my hand, I could still feel the warmth of his lips on my skin. And neither of us moved. It took the loud laughter of a tipsy group walking down an adjacent hall to jolt us back to reality.

I returned to the main party, bracing for more of Warren’s self-important conversation. To my surprise, Mira was speaking to him, giving me a temporary reprieve. I eyed her curiously, wondering what had sparked this. She’d yet to show any particular interest in a suitor. She hadn’t even mentioned any offers, though I knew she’d entertained callers just as the rest of us had. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen her actively pursuing Warren. Was it possible she was interested in him?

I enjoyed a few precious moments of alone time, listening as Warren’s father chatted nearby with some magistrates, assuring them the rumors of Icori marching to Cape Triumph had no basis. I was curious as to what had triggered these fears but never found out. Once Warren spotted me, he hurried away from Mira and trailed me again. The slightest slip of her serene expression showed she was more frustrated than heartbroken, but distraction soon came as another young man tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to him, her smile instantly returning.

The party’s end couldn’t come too soon for me. After assuring Warren I’d be at the Flower Festival, I gratefully joined the others in heading to the carriages awaiting us outside. We only required two now to transport us. As we loaded up, I suddenly noticed something.

“Where’s Mira?” I asked. Not again, I thought. A check showed no sign of her waiting outside with us. Cedric went back into the house, and I waited by the carriage’s door, despite the driver’s offer to help me. My unease grew as Cedric remained inside for far longer than I would’ve expected. She left all the time at home, but how could Mira disappear here?

At last, I saw them come out. He helped her into my carriage, and we were on our way.

“What happened?” I asked.