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Cassandra, good day to you” Mrs. Upton could not have sounded more pleasant. She gestured to the many serving dishes. “Have you had a
chance to-”
    “No, only chocolate in my room.”
    “Not to worry, the luncheon dishes will be out soon. I suggest you have a hearty meal since you’ll be attending the Addisons’ ball tonight. Have you seen Miss
Lorna about?”

    “I believe she is in the rear garden with Romeo.”
    “Romeo?” The shock in the governess’ voice was
apparent as if Lorna shared company with an undesirable young man.
    “Romeo is my pet terrier.” Cassie hoped the explanation would belie any fears. “I am on my way out to
see them now.”
    “Oh, yes, of course. When you see Miss Lorna, will
you ask her to please return to the house?” Mrs. Upton
collected two clean plates and set them on the table.
    “I will be happy to relay your message”
    Moving down the hall, she heard Mrs. Upton speak
to herself. “At the break of dawn the girl nibbles on
the corner a piece of toast with a sip of tea and thinks
that’s going to keep her until the ball tonight..
    Cassie smiled but that smile faded once she thought
of continuing down the hall to the back door of the
house. Perhaps part of maintaining a peaceful association with the squire meant avoiding him. She went
out of her way to exit the house through the front door.
Cassie walked around the far side of the house to
avoid the library window and the squire who might be
gazing from it.
    The gravel path around the low box hedges ran the
width of the house, past the fountain, toward the vast
lawn where Lorna and Romeo roamed.

    “La-dy Cass-an-dra!” Lorna cried out, waving
from the expanse of lawn.
    Cassie raised her hand, letting Lorna know she
would be there directly. Lorna and Romeo approached,
meeting Cassie halfway.
    “Do not tell me you have been out here all morning” Cassie held her hand to her forehead, shielding
her eyes from the sunlight.
    “We have been having a most delightful time.”
Lorna sat on her heels, patting Romeo who seemed
to devour the attention. “He is so wonderfully attentive and has boundless energy.”
    Much like the young woman who uttered those
words. Cassie preferred the calm and sedate Romeo
who slumbered by her side as she read or did
needlework. In any case, it was Cassie’s opinion that
Romeo was a companionable canine who had a
great deal of insight into humans and their nature.
    “Mrs. Upton asked that you return to the house”
    Lorna groaned then stood. “Doesn’t she know that
I am far too excited to eat?”
    Cassie could not imagine how Lorna would remain
standing for an entire day without nourishment. “Will
your growling stomach embarrass you tonight?”
    Lorna gazed at Cassie as if she had come up with
the most brilliant observation imaginable. “You’re
absolutely right. I should have something to sustain
me, shouldn’t I?”
    “They were getting ready to serve luncheon just as I left.” Cassie felt her own empty stomach beginning
to protest.

    “Let’s be off then. I’m sure darling Romeo is famished!” Lorna motioned that they should all walk toward the house.
    “Romeo is always famished,” Cassie repeated and
fell into step beside Lorna. “He should wait at the
foot of the stairs until we have finished eating.”
    They reached the house and entered through the
back door.
    “Why?” Lorna protested. “I’d like him to sit right
next to me at the table”
    “It cannot be very pleasant for him to smell the
food in the very same room and not be allowed a bite.”
Cassie wanted to inform her that being kind to him
wasn’t really being kind at all. “I’ll wager he can still
smell the meat from where he sits.”
    “I’ll feed him tidbits from my very own plate.”
    “You’ll spoil him.” They stopped at the foot of
the staircase. “He can wait right here. You may save
whatever you like for him and when we’ve finished,
you can