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"I offer her intellectual diversion," Richard said.

"You offer her the spectacle of your defeat," Saye answered.

Elizabeth reached for her tea. "I hope, Colonel, that you will not abandon chess merely because your brother understands your motives so thoroughly."

"There," Richard said, pointing at her. "You see what your kindness has done, Mother? She has joined the enemy."

Lady Matlock regarded Elizabeth with a warmth that made the girl's throat tighten. "I rather think she has joined the family."

The words were spoken lightly. Elizabeth could not respond to them lightly at all.

Later that morning Lady Matlock took her into a smaller sitting room where the light fell pleasantly across an embroidered coverlet. She indicated a chair near the hearth, then placed a leather-bound notebook upon the table.

"We need to discuss a few practical matters," the countess said. "I will not do so before my husband and sons, for they are certain to turn every reasonable arrangement into an argument about who must carry your books."

"I have never required a gentleman to carry my books," Elizabeth said.

"You have not yet met their determination when they think themselves useful."

Lady Matlock explained that Elizabeth would receive a regular allowance for small expenses, that Anne would assist with her clothing, and that a governess or suitable tutors could be engaged wherever her education required them. There would be visits with approved friends and letters to Jane whenever she wished. Nothing in the arrangements was a contract of gratitude.

Elizabeth listened with growing discomfort. At last she said, "I ought not to require so much."

"Why not?"

"I have already been the cause of considerable trouble."

Lady Matlock closed the notebook. "My dear, your being placed in an unhappy position was not a fault of yours. Nor do you become an inconvenience because other people have behaved badly."

"But I have no means of making a return."

"Elizabeth," Lady Matlock said gently, "do you suppose I kept an account of the cost of Richard's shoes, or the hours Saye required in lessons, and intend to demand repayment at the altar?"

"Certainly not. They are your sons."

"And I never counted the shoes or lessons of my sons as debts to be collected later," Lady Matlock said. She reached across and took Elizabeth’s hand. "My husband wishes you safe, and I wish you happy. Pray let that be sufficient for the present. In time, I hope you will believe us."

Elizabeth looked down at their joined hands. "I have been afraid," she admitted, "that I might make some dreadful mistake and be asked to leave."

"You will undoubtedly make mistakes. So shall I. Richard makes them with astonishing frequency. But no one here shall withdraw affection because you have done something foolish."

The kindness was almost more difficult to bear than harshness. Elizabeth drew a breath and nodded.

Lady Matlock closed the notebook and set it aside, though they had not finished the practical arrangements. She could see Elizabeth was listening for a price hidden somewhere behind the generosity.

"When Richard was a boy," she said, "he came into this room carrying a broken clock. He had taken it apart to discover why it would not strike. Saye wanted to know how he proposed to restore it, and your guardian wished to know why he had touched it at all. Richard was certain he would never again be trusted with anything valuable."

"Was he?"

"For at least an hour. Then his father asked him to help mend a hinge, and the matter was over."

Elizabeth looked down at her hands. "I cannot mend clocks."

"That is fortunate. One Richard is quite sufficient." The countess waited for the answering smile. "You will certainly break something, disappoint us sometimes, and perhaps lose your temper. I expect you to be as fallible as my sons. It would be monstrously unfair to require you to be more careful merely because you came to us differently."

Elizabeth had never thought of safety as the freedom to be wrong. She regarded the notebook again and asked what she ought to do if she disagreed with an arrangement.

"Tell me," Lady Matlock said, drawing the paper toward them once more. "If it is my arrangement, you may tell me twice. I can be very obstinate."