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Mrs. Crozier.” It seemed the most likely response, instead of the “indeed?” that almost popped out.
    “There are four rooms on the ground floor—the kitchen, scullery, laundry room, and Wilf’s and my quarters. On the first floor are Captain Morgan’s study, a large salon, and a dining room. On the second are four bedrooms, one for the captain and the other three unoccupied. There’s also a modern bathing room. You’ll be sleeping in the attics. No one’s been up there in a while so you’d best allow yourself enough time to make a habitable space for yourself.”
    “So the only members of the household are the captain and the three servants?”
    “Oh, we have another member of the household: Mr. Quarrells. He was at sea with the captain, and he serves as his secretary, best friend, and business partner. He lives in the apartments over the stables, back in the mews. He’s a formidable man, is Mr. Quarrells, but you shouldn’t have any trouble with him as long as you do your duty and don’t ask too many questions.”
    That was a direct answer to her previous, impertinent question. If Mrs. Crozier thought she’d ended up with a complacent, well-behaved servant she was due for an unhappy surprise. Asking questions was one of Maddy’s main occupations in this dank old house, in between searching every space she could find.
    “Yes, ma’am,” she said politely. “And when is the captain planning to marry?”
    “I imagine by summer. I suppose it’s possible Miss Haviland will insist he sell this place and buy something fancier. A very pretty, very determined young woman is Miss Haviland, and she’s used to getting what she wants. They haven’t called the banns yet, so I imagine there’s still time.”
    “Time for what?”
    Mrs. Crozier eyed her grimly. “You’re just full of questions, aren’t you? That doesn’t concern you. All you need to know is I’m in charge, and you’re to keep out of the captain’s way. In fact, don’t even go into the captain’s study without me. I don’t know where the term shipshape came from, but it certainly don’t apply to Captain Morgan. He says he has his own way of organizing but many the times I’ve heard him cursing and throwing things while he searches for something. Looks like a rat’s nest to me, but he says he knows where everything is, and if I so much as dusted it would disturb his careful arrangements.”
    Clearly getting into the captain’s study should be her first order of business. “Yes, Mrs. Crozier,” she said meekly. That seemed to be the obvious response to most things. She was a servant, she reminded herself, and at the bottom of the pecking order, just one step above the boots. Which reminded her… “What are my duties?” she asked, trying to keep her voice humble.
    Mrs. Crozier bristled. All right, not humble enough. “Anything I tell you to do. You’ve been hired, against my will, I might add, as a maid of all work, which means you’ll do exactly that. All that I can think of.”
    “Against your will? Didn’t you want more help?” Another question, but this time Mrs. Crozier’s flat black eyes met hers straight on.
    “Of course I want help. Any fool would. But I’m the housekeeper here, and I prefer to hire my own staff, not have someone forced upon me by the captain’s solicitor.”
    “Beg pardon, Mrs. Crozier,” she said again. “I was that desperate for a job, and Mr. Fulton kindly offered to help. I’m sure no one meant to overstep your authority.”
    “I can imagine how desperate you were, and just how you repaid Mr. Fulton for his favor,” Mrs. Crozier said waspishly.
    “No!” Maddy said a little more sharply than she meant to, and the older woman gave her a suspicious look. “I worked for Mr. Fulton’s mother, and she asked him to find me a post away from the city.”
    “Why?”
    She’d worked this out ahead of time—she’d always had a fevered imagination. Not as impressive as Sophie or Bryony, but