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fell to the ice.
    After a moment he asked, “Did you learn the man’s name?”
    “Gordon Shaw,” she said without hesitation. “I was only fourteen, so I recall little else about him. But I could hardly forget the name of someone who ruined my brother’s life.”
    His response was slow in coming. “I am … sorry, Miss Campbell.”
    Meg shook her head, knowing the truth. “It was my fault too.” How she hated putting that into words! “I was the older sister, meant to watch Alan. If I’d paid closer attention … If I’d kept him off the ice …”
    She pressed her lips together, trying to stem the painful memories. Alan’s head resting on her lap, tears streaming down his cheeks. Her father’s grief.
How could you let this happen?
Her mother’s sorrow.
My boy, my poor boy
. Meg had cried herself to sleep that night and many nights thereafter. Blaming a stranger for being careless. Blaming herself as well.
    “Your brother’s injury,” the gentleman prompted her. “Was it serious?”
    “At first Alan couldn’t stand. Couldn’t move, really. A neighbor took us home in his sleigh. Dr. Bayne was summoned at once and deemed my brother stricken with paralysis.”
    For a stranger, his dismay was marked. “Your brother is bedridden, then.”
    “Not entirely. With assistance he can stand, but he cannot walk on his own.”
    Meg was reluctant to say more on the subject for fear ofsounding uncharitable. Still, over the years it seemed Alan had made the most of his affliction, seeking sympathy from every quarter. Mum waited on him hand and foot. Father showered him with presents and required nothing of him. Her brother did no work of any kind but simply sat in his favorite chair and ordered their parents about—
    Forgive me, Alan
. Her assessment, however accurate, was unkind. Even though he had been more difficult than usual today, he deserved her compassion.
    “Of course I feel sorry for my brother,” she said, “and guilty as well. Of the two of us, I am the healthy one.”
    The gentleman beside her nodded as if he grasped what she was saying. “When you’re not the one injured, that can be a burden too.”
    “Aye, it can.” Meg was so relieved to find someone who understood that she spilled out the rest. “Sadly, Alan has grown more disagreeable with each passing season. The year I turned twenty, I moved to Edinburgh to care for my aunt Jean. In all honesty, I could not escape my brother’s company quickly enough.”
    There
. She had put the awful truth into words.
    When the gentleman did not respond, Meg’s heart sank. He surely thought less of her now that she’d spoken so frankly. If he had no siblings of his own, he’d not likely comprehend how it was with Alan and her. A certain measure of love,aye, but not always loyalty or affection. At least not since his accident.
    She braved the question. “Do you have brothers or sisters?”
    “I have no family at all.” His words were void of emotion. “My parents moved south to England and died of pneumonia one cold, wet spring.”
    Meg turned to him, aghast. “Here I am, filling your ears with my troubles when you’ve suffered far more.”
    “You have no need to apologize, Miss Campbell. Not to me.”
    Looking into his eyes, she saw a well of sadness that touched her deeply. “We’ve made a grave error, you and I.” She lightly rested her hand on his forearm. “It’s time we were properly introduced. I am Miss Margaret Campbell. Might I be so bold as to ask your name, sir?”
    “My name?” His gaze no longer met hers.

Chapter Six
    I watched her face to see which way
She took the awful news.
    E MILY D ICKINSON

G ordon lifted his head, forcing himself to look at her. “I am Mr. Gordon …” His surname stuck in his throat.
Say it, man. She deserves to know
. “Mr. Gordon …”
    “Gordon?” A smile lit her countenance. “Is that so? I knew a Gordon family once. They lived near our old house on Spittal Street.” She tipped