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He probably doesn’t even know that his mother and grandmother are dead from that fever two years ago.”
    Maddy froze, turning to frown at her cousin. “What do you mean? He said nothing of a fiancée.”
    “Oh! Of course, you weren’t living with us then, and I wasn’t even out, but everyone heard the tale. The old one, Mr. Frazier was dead, and who should appear at the funeral but his fiancée, demanding a seat and acting just like one would expect from an actress. Clearly she was there just to find another gull because a month later she’s married to Lord Blackstone. Started increasing within the year.”
    “Oh my. Poor man.” She glanced behind her at the closed bedroom door. He had said they needed to rest, but she suspected they wanted privacy more than anything. And food. She needed to send up a tray to them immediately. So she grabbed her cousin’s arm and led her down the hallway. “But what of the younger one?”
    “Oh, I don’t think he’s related to anyone at all,” Rose answered dismissively. “But isn’t Mr. Frazier glorious? The way he handled everything!”
    Maddy nodded, pleased that Rose now saw Mr. Frazier as a romantic hero rather than a social disaster. “Now help me decide what to say to your father. He’s due back from his club any moment now.”
    “Oh,” said Rose airily with a wave, “just mention the money.” Maddy had managed to get them into the hall, but Rose abruptly stopped, her eyes going wide as she looked back into the salon. “Do you think he’s very rich? Gold and gems and the like? He doesn’t look rich, but he has just come back from God knows what hellish place.”
    “Rose! You shouldn’t say such things!”
    “What?” she said with a vague blink. “Hell? Or that he’s very rich?”
    Maddy grimaced. “Both, and well you know it.”
    “Of course I know it!” Rose giggled with an impish smile. “I just never thought to hear you criticize my language!”
    Maddy smiled fondly at her young cousin, though the expression was slightly strained. Three years ago, Maddy had indeed cursed rather colorfully and frequently. After all, she had spent all her life with just her father, who had been busy with his patients. That left her to run with whomever caught her fancy, including gypsies who had taught her the most colorful words in her vocabulary. After his death, the adjustment to polite society had not come easily. But in the ensuing years, things had changed. Maddy had learned how to go on, what to say and when to stay silent. Rose, on the other hand, never saw the change. The girl delighted in painting herself as Maddy’s older and wiser instructor, even though the girl was eight years younger.
    “Come on, Rose, you have to help me—”
    “Rose! Madeline! Where are you?” Uncle Frank’s angry voice cut through the house.
    “Oh, my,” Maddy whispered, dismayed by the fury she heard in her uncle’s voice.
    Rose bit her lip, then winked at Maddy. “We’re back in the salon, Papa!” she cried. “And don’t shout so, I have the headache.”
    Maddy shot her cousin a glare. She knew exactly what those words meant, especially since Rose was already adopting a wan pose and placing a limp wrist to her forehead. Sure enough, Uncle Frank wasted no time in heading straight for them while Rose whimpered in pretend pain.
    “Papa, I know you’re angry,” Rose said before anyone else could get a word in. “But try to understand that Maddy doesn’t know any better. They don’t teach polite things in the country. And now, I fear my head hurts abominably. I’m going to lie down for a bit.”
    Uncle Frank’s eyes narrowed on his daughter. To his credit, he wasn’t in the least bit fooled by her display. “How could you bring a violent man to this house?” he snapped. “What were you thinking?”
    Rose’s hand trembled against her forehead. “Papa, my head. Please—”
    “Let her go, Uncle Frank,” Maddy said softly. “She counseled against it, but I