day's labor."
"I beg your pardon?" Colin seemed confused by this attack.
"Well, it's plain to see that you don't hold with working. Just getting out of bed at this hour."
"As a matter of fact, I have just gotten out of bed." Colin's temper flared to match hers. "But, contrary to your opinion, Miss—I don't even know who you are."
"Edith Miller, a friend of Katie's and someone concerned for her welfare. She's fallen asleep now. Someone should stay with her tonight, unless you've better things to do, Mr. McBride."
"I'll stay," he said shortly. "And for your information, Miss Miller, though I have only recently risen, it's because I happen to work at night."
"Of course. At the gaming tables, no doubt."
"As a matter of fact, yes."
Quentin broke into what might have become an increasingly vituperative discussion.
"I would guess that Miss McBride would sleep a great deal easier if it were a trifle quieter."
They glared at each other a moment longer before Edith gathered her wrap a bit more firmly about her shoulders and swept by Colin. She paused at the door as Quentin opened it.
"Sleep is the best thing for her now. Tell her I'll be by to see her tomorrow after I've left work."
Colin stared at the door for a moment before turning to look at the curtain that blocked off his sister's bed. In the quiet, he could hear the occasional half sob that broke the rhythm of her breathing.
❧
Quentin was fastening his cuffs when someone knocked on the door of his room. Glancing up, he bade the person enter, reaching for his jacket as he spoke.
"I've just come to tidy your room, sir. If you'd prefer, I can come back later."
"No, this is fine. I was just leaving." It wasn't until he turned that he realized whom he was talking to. The stilted little voice had failed to ring a bell. "Edith. I didn't realize it was you. Did you see Katie yesterday evening? Is she well?"
"Yes, sir. I saw her." Edith's expression remained wooden, her eyes lowered to the feather duster she was whisking over a narrow table.
"And how is she? Is she rested?"
"A permanent rest is what she'll be getting," Edith said with a touch of acid in her voice.
Quentin had been reaching for his hat and walking stick. He had an appointment at his club this morning. At Edith's words, he turned to look at her, his brows raised in question.
"Permanent rest? Is she ill?"
"Not unless she's sick at the ingratitude that some persons have shown."
"Edith, pray stop talking in riddles," he said shortly. "Is there something wrong with Katie? Did she take some injury from the events of the other day?"
Edith turned to look at him, the duster clutched like a weapon in her fist. "She took an injury, all right. It's just like my brother William has always said. The rich is the rich and they make their own rules. Katie is the one who was injured, so it makes sense that Katie should be the one to be punished."
"Punished? What are you talking about?"
"She was given her walking papers yesterday. Not only from this household, but from her position at the shop."
"Where did you hear this?"
"From Katie herself. I went to see her last night, just as I'd said I would. Katie told me that Mrs. Ferriweather had let her go yesterday. Seemed she regretted it, but after Katie had made improper advances to one of the wedding guests, she had no choice in the matter. She had to protect the reputation of her shop. So there's poor Katie, booted out of her job and no one to care about it."
"I care," Quentin said quietly, his eyes cold with anger. "Thank you for telling me this, Edith."
"Well, Katie wouldn't thank me for it."
"I thank you for it." Picking up his walking stick and hat, Quentin left the room, a set look about his jaw that made Edith glad it wasn't she he was planning to talk to.
❧
"Excuse me, Mother, but I fail to understand your reason for complaining to Miss McBride's employer about her services. Are you aware that she has been fired?"
"Really, Quentin, what Miss
"I beg your pardon?" Colin seemed confused by this attack.
"Well, it's plain to see that you don't hold with working. Just getting out of bed at this hour."
"As a matter of fact, I have just gotten out of bed." Colin's temper flared to match hers. "But, contrary to your opinion, Miss—I don't even know who you are."
"Edith Miller, a friend of Katie's and someone concerned for her welfare. She's fallen asleep now. Someone should stay with her tonight, unless you've better things to do, Mr. McBride."
"I'll stay," he said shortly. "And for your information, Miss Miller, though I have only recently risen, it's because I happen to work at night."
"Of course. At the gaming tables, no doubt."
"As a matter of fact, yes."
Quentin broke into what might have become an increasingly vituperative discussion.
"I would guess that Miss McBride would sleep a great deal easier if it were a trifle quieter."
They glared at each other a moment longer before Edith gathered her wrap a bit more firmly about her shoulders and swept by Colin. She paused at the door as Quentin opened it.
"Sleep is the best thing for her now. Tell her I'll be by to see her tomorrow after I've left work."
Colin stared at the door for a moment before turning to look at the curtain that blocked off his sister's bed. In the quiet, he could hear the occasional half sob that broke the rhythm of her breathing.
❧
Quentin was fastening his cuffs when someone knocked on the door of his room. Glancing up, he bade the person enter, reaching for his jacket as he spoke.
"I've just come to tidy your room, sir. If you'd prefer, I can come back later."
"No, this is fine. I was just leaving." It wasn't until he turned that he realized whom he was talking to. The stilted little voice had failed to ring a bell. "Edith. I didn't realize it was you. Did you see Katie yesterday evening? Is she well?"
"Yes, sir. I saw her." Edith's expression remained wooden, her eyes lowered to the feather duster she was whisking over a narrow table.
"And how is she? Is she rested?"
"A permanent rest is what she'll be getting," Edith said with a touch of acid in her voice.
Quentin had been reaching for his hat and walking stick. He had an appointment at his club this morning. At Edith's words, he turned to look at her, his brows raised in question.
"Permanent rest? Is she ill?"
"Not unless she's sick at the ingratitude that some persons have shown."
"Edith, pray stop talking in riddles," he said shortly. "Is there something wrong with Katie? Did she take some injury from the events of the other day?"
Edith turned to look at him, the duster clutched like a weapon in her fist. "She took an injury, all right. It's just like my brother William has always said. The rich is the rich and they make their own rules. Katie is the one who was injured, so it makes sense that Katie should be the one to be punished."
"Punished? What are you talking about?"
"She was given her walking papers yesterday. Not only from this household, but from her position at the shop."
"Where did you hear this?"
"From Katie herself. I went to see her last night, just as I'd said I would. Katie told me that Mrs. Ferriweather had let her go yesterday. Seemed she regretted it, but after Katie had made improper advances to one of the wedding guests, she had no choice in the matter. She had to protect the reputation of her shop. So there's poor Katie, booted out of her job and no one to care about it."
"I care," Quentin said quietly, his eyes cold with anger. "Thank you for telling me this, Edith."
"Well, Katie wouldn't thank me for it."
"I thank you for it." Picking up his walking stick and hat, Quentin left the room, a set look about his jaw that made Edith glad it wasn't she he was planning to talk to.
❧
"Excuse me, Mother, but I fail to understand your reason for complaining to Miss McBride's employer about her services. Are you aware that she has been fired?"
"Really, Quentin, what Miss
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