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ask, “Why was she fired, Your Grace?”
    â€œThe state of the typewriter should tell you about her work habits. I’m glad to see you take pride in your tools.”
    I did, and I was glad the duchess noticed.
    â€œI came down to tell you we’ve had a message from the Duke of Sussex. He and the princess are traveling by train and should arrive in about an hour. The whole household will turn out in the front hallway to greet them. We’ll use the dressing gong to signal everyone to assemble. You’ll stand after my daughter and her governess.”
    Never before had I been part of a line of household help, put on parade, ranked by their status in the house. Just thinking about it annoyed my middle-class soul.
    â€œWe’ll have luncheon as soon as the princess and her chaperone are settled into their rooms. I’ll try sometime in the afternoon to bring her down to introduce you and to tell her you’ll be her secretary as well as mine. I’ll also suggest you’d make an excellent English tutor.”
    â€œWhy can’t we just tell her I’m to be her English tutor as well as your secretary?” I asked.
    She held my gaze. “I suppose that would be for the best. I’ll make it sound as if this was already decided by our government.”
    She was a duchess, unused to middle-class independence. “Thank you. I’m going to have to rely on you to back up what I say if we’re to keep the princess safe.”
    â€œI’ll do my best.” The duchess walked to the door. With her hand on the knob, she faced me and said, “Ranleigh told me to trust you. That you are the very best person for this job.”
    My chest swelled at the praise from Blackford. “I hope I am. We don’t yet know the source of the danger or the intended target.”
    â€œI’ll pray that Ranleigh’s right about you. Otherwise, I’ve put my family and staff in danger.” She sailed out of the room on a cloud of lavender scent and self-assurance.

CHAPTER THREE

    A FTER the duchess left, I returned to my task. Sometime later, an otherworldly echo rang through the house. Deciding this must be the gong, I pulled off my apron and extra sleeves and walked to the front hallway.
    Various members of the household dashed past me to fill in lines on either side of the hall. From her mother’s painting, I recognized the young girl as the duchess’s daughter and stepped next to the young woman I guessed was her governess.
    â€œAre you the new secretary?” she asked in a murmur.
    â€œYes,” I replied and looked down into her dark eyes. “Governess?”
    â€œFor the time being.” She smiled up at me, displaying a rosebud mouth and even, white teeth.
    I sensed another person in the household who didn’t belong, and that made her someone I wanted to get to know better.
    The butler called for our attention as the duchess arrived down the stairs. As soon as she was in place, we heard the sound ofdoor chimes. The butler opened the door and the young, blond princess strolled in followed by a scowling, middle-aged dragon. There was so much bowing and curtsying going on I didn’t notice the portly man with the thinning fair hair walk in until I saw who was standing behind him.
    The Duke of Blackford.
    My heartbeat rapped harder in my chest when I saw him. His dark hair was ruler straight; his ever-vigilant eyes as black as his perfectly cut suit. His regal bearing and stern expression grabbed all of my attention.
    The governess’s as well. I heard her purr like a cat when she saw him. I wanted to tell her he was spoken for, that he was mine, but that would be an obvious lie.
    I would never be able to say he was mine. My heartbeat slowed and my stomach sank.
    The aristocrats greeted each other while the household stood silently by in case someone was needed. The princess’s Russian lady’s maid stood just inside the door, holding