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If he wasn’t suspicious before, he definitely was now. “It was a harmless question, and I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“You sure about that?” he pressed. “I think I’ve figured you out enough to tell when you are nervous, which you appear to be at this moment.”

She felt her stomach drop, and knew that she must come clean, even though she had been dreading the moment.

“Gregory,” she said. “I must tell you something, and you are not going to like it.”

He went very still then, “tell me.”

“I saw him.” She made herself say it plainly. “Michael Dornet. He came to St. Anthony’s while I was there. He… well….he introduced himself to me directly, and asked a great many idle questions about the children, their ages, how many, which I did not like the sound of at all.”

“And?” his tone was protective.

There was no gentle way to the rest of it, so she did not look for one.

“And I invited him to the ball.”

For a long moment Gregory did not move, and did not speak.

“I.. know… listen, I know that I went against what you told me to do. I have not forgotten a word of it but he was there, in front of me, and it was the very opportunity we had been wanting. I could not simply let it walk out the door. I watched his face when I told him that the children will be there, Gregory, and something in it changed. He wants to come… I can tell he wants to come very badly.”

Gregory was oddly silent, to a degree that she was beginning to become scared of what his reaction was going to be.

“You were told,” said Gregory, “that you were not to go near him, and to not involve yourself in this at all.”

“I did not seek him out,” she tried to defend herself, though it felt rather juvenile now. “He came to me himself, and I simply made use of the opportunity.”

“That is not the point.” He crossed the room in three strides and took her by the shoulders, gently. “Phillipa, do you understand what this man is? He left my sister to die and did not so much as send a letter. And you made polite conversation with him, and invited him into my home?”

“I was careful,” she defended herself again. “Besides, he does not know that I know who he is, so we don’t have anything to worry about.”

“That is not the comfort you believe it to be.”

She pulled back from him, stung, and some of her own fear turned, as it so often did with her, into temper.

“What would you have had me do? Turn him away and lose the only thread we have? You’ve been searching for him all over London, and I only gave you an opportunity that brings him to you.”

“By accident.”

“By accident that I was willing to use.” She lifted her chin. “Gregory, listen to me. When he asked after the children’s ages, he said it was curiosity, but I do not think it was. I think he wants to know which one is his. I think, perhaps, he has thought better of what he did. Men do, sometimes, when enough time has passed and enough regret has had time to work on them. Perhaps he wishes, now, to know his son. Perhaps that is all this is.”

She was rambling now, but Gregory’s face had hardened entirely.

“He does not get to know his son,” he said, very quietly. “Do you understand me? Whatever he wishes, whatever he has thought better of, he gave up any claim to that boy the night he left my sister. He has no right to be in his sons’ life.”

“I did not say he should have Theodore, only that perhaps he wants to see him. To know he is well,” she said.

“You do not know this man,” he said in a quiet tone.

“That much is true, but I suppose…..” Phillipa’s anger drained out of her as quickly as it had come. “I only wanted to help you finish this.”

“Then help me by staying as far from him as the house allows.” He came back to her, and this time when he took her hands his grip was not careful at all, but urgent, almost pleading. “Phillipa, I am asking you. Beg you, if I must. When he comes to that ball, you will not go near him. You will not speak to him, and Theodore will not be brought anywhere near that ballroom. Mrs. Glenn will keep him upstairs with Martha and the butler at the door, and that is the end of it. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“Say it properly.”

“I promise you, Gregory. I will not go near him.” She looked up at him, and something in her chest ached at the hollows under his eyes. “I did not do this to hurt you. I wanted you to have your answer, and your sister to have what justice can be had for her. And… I want you to live a life where… you’re not carrying all of these burdens, unresolved. I miss that man.”