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his brother’s than her mother’s. He thought of the letter in his pocket, and for a second, his temper flared.
    “Ride me twice around the barn,” she called.
    Daniel reached down and scooped the girl into the saddle ahead of him. The great antidote to any anger was his daughter, he remembered, as they flew at high speed in a circle so familiar the poor horse could likely run the path in her sleep.
    After two laps, Charlotte was content to sail off the horse into his arms, then float to the ground in a swirl of arms, legs, and braids. Again she laughed, and this time it stabbed his heart even as it made him smile.
    As was their custom, Charlotte led him around the front of the house, and then, as if she were a lady coming to call, he opened the gate for her with a sweeping bow. Any passerby would think him daft for knocking at the door of his own home, but Charlotte loved to make a grand entrance.
    The door swung open on well-oiled hinges, revealing Elias Howe, who today wore the colors of his former Confederate regiment as well as a smart cap of dark wool that covered most of his gray curls. “Fancy meeting you here, miss. Top of the evening,” he said as if he hadn’t performed this routine for Charlotte almost daily since she came to live with them.
    Had it been five years already?
    “Charmed, Mr. Howe,” the ten-year-old said with mock formality, tugging on the strap of her overalls. “Has my lady-in-waiting departed for the evening?” she asked in an awful attempt at Daniel’s British accent.
    “Indeed she has,” Elias said. “Tova’s done headed home for the night. A day of cleaning up after the likes of you has exhausted her.” Elias smiled at Daniel over Charlotte’s head. “Evenin’, Daniel.”
    Daniel responded in kind, but his attention was fully on Charlotte. He was besotted with the child, as was Elias, the old ship’s cook, who bent his creaking bones into a formal bow that would have passed as appropriate in Queen Victoria’s drawing room.
    The thought reminded him of the letter in his pocket, likely from a man duly knighted, who had taken tea in Her Majesty’s drawing room more than once.
    Daniel’s fingers worried the edge of the letter, then abruptly withdrew from his pocket. The earl would probably like nothing better than to cast a pall on his evening with Charlotte. The letter would have to wait.
    “Go wash up, Charlotte,” he said, repeating the command twice before the princess-in-training deemed it worthy of a response.
    “You know I prefer Charlie.”
    “And
I
prefer a daughter who does not speak in an unladylike manner to her father,
Charlotte.
” He paused to put on his sternest look, a difficult feat given the grin on the girl’s face. “Surely Miss McTaggart taught you the proper way to converse with your elders.”
    The face she made nearly caused him to believe the argument was over. “Miss McTaggart had too many rules,” she said, turning a perfectly sweet expression into a pout.
    “Good rules, I warrant,” he replied, “and I shall see that the new Nanny McTaggart also upholds these rules.”
    “I like Tova better.”
    Daniel sighed. “Tova is a housekeeper, Buttercup. And while she’s invaluable to us, she hasn’t the time or the ability to teach you the skills needed to be a proper lady. That’s the job of your governess.”
    “Papa, I told you I’m old enough not to—”
    “Not to argue with your father?” He paused for effect. “Indeed, you are that. Now go and prepare for dinner before I lose my patience.”
    The little charmer grinned. For all her ability to push against his authority, Charlotte certainly knew when to cut her losses and run. She hugged him, eyes wide, and kissed his cheek. “Yes, Papa,” she said as she skipped off, he hoped, toward soap and water.
    Elias took his hat and coat, chuckling. “She’s a handful, that one.”
    Daniel followed him into the dining room, where a bountiful feast had been laid. “Elias, you’ve