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“What’s quite different?” Myrtle’s voice came from behind both of them.

Orris turned to greet her sister. “Ah, Myrtle. Perhaps you are not aware. Your husband is harboring a fugitive. He has refused to tell me where Abram has gone.”

“Is that so, Samuel? Doesn’t sound like something you would do.” Myrtle crossed the room and stood at the side of Samuel’s chair.

“Well, it is. And what’s more, he has requested that we keep this secret a gentleman’s promise, so obviously I must.”

“Samuel… I have asked twice already, but you have yet to give me an answer.”

“Wife, you and your sister are backing me into the proverbial corner. There is nothing for me to tell. He asked that I not disclose his location for fear of endangering the people of this household. Specially, this people,” he said, pointing to Orris.

“Is that so? And did not you believe ‘this people’ to be in danger when we tracked a killer last year?” Myrtle asked, pointing to herself.

Orris turned around to glare at Samuel along with her sister.

“I am not telling either of you where he is. I will, however, ensure he has all the resources at his disposal to keep himself away from any crosshairs or bastinading. Now if you both will excuse me, I have a paper to finish.”

“I hope that newspaper keeps you tonight, Husband. Come along, Orris. We will figure out this conundrum together.”

“Myrtle Fredericks, please come back here,” Samuel called out.

It was too late, however. Myrtle had grabbed her sister by the arm and was escorting her to the parlor, where Gladys and Violetta awaited.

“Men will always stick together, Orris,” Myrtle said, guiding her into the room. “You must remember that. It is some type of code we shall never understand. Now, then, let us make a list of where he might have gone. I presume he was confronted with feelings and decided it was too much for you to comprehend. Then he ran away. Am I on the right path, Sister?”

“Indeed, you are,” Orris agreed.

They sat on the couches beside Violeta and Gladys.

“What has happened?” Violetta asked. “I presumed Lord Abram left since we had not seen him all day. I wanted to have him change my hair on my miniature, but he did not return. He did not even say goodbye, and after all our hospitality.”

“Perhaps he will return.” Gladys was rapidly becoming the voice of optimism for the family.

Orris sighed. “No, he will not return. You see, he has obviously fallen in love with your sister and now has it in his mind that he cannot protect her if she is near him.”

“Oh, Orris. What have you done to the man?” Violetta asked.

“I beg your pardon? Not a thing,” Orris protested. Perhaps too much, since the three of them stared at her for a moment, a hint of disbelief in their eyes.

“And you love him too?” Violetta asked.

“No,” Orris said.

“Yes,” Myrtle said, their words crashing into one another’s.

“Goodness,” Gladys said.

“Piss,” Orris murmured under her breath.

“When do we go out to find him?” Gladys asked.

Everyone looked to Myrtle. “Tomorrow evening. During the ball. I will sneak out to find him. I have a starting point at the Dove—at least, I believe I do. Then, I shall endeavor to convince him that his best place is with us, then—”

“Is his best place with us?” Violetta frowned. “Perhaps he has a point, Myrtle. We are not safe so long as someone is out to kill him. We could be shot in our carriage. Even the queen with all her guards has had attempts of violence made on her life.”

“Vi, you have to stop reading the papers,” Orris said.

“Well, someone has to be practical,” she said.