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collar, and tucking her hair up into braids that wrapped around her head. She hadn’t expected to welcome the elegant older woman who followed them in. She certainly hadn’t expected that woman to step up without an introduction, lay a papery hand against Fiona’s cheek, and say, “Sanctuary.”
    They all sat now in the library, where Fiona and Mrs. Quick had pulled the extra chairs and set out tea and seed cakes. Fiona felt as if she were back in school sitting before the charity board. She sat ramrod straight, terrified her teacup would begin to rattle.
    She knew they meant well. But they didn’t understand. And she couldn’t tell them.
    “We were hoping your sister would be here,” Alex was saying, looking no more comfortable than Fiona felt.
    Fiona took a look at the mantel clock, which seemed to be ticking unnaturally loudly. “She should be in a few moments. She has been up the hill this morning.”
    “Sure that’s wise?” Chuffy asked, frowning. “Upset and all.”
    Fiona managed a weak smile. “She would be more upset if I kept her home.”
    Lady Bea nodded briskly. “Ritual. Soothing.”
    She had been speaking in that kind of incomprehensible way since she’d arrived. Fiona was used to cryptic conversations. There were days when that was the only way Mairead spoke. But Fiona was used to interpreting Mairead. She didn’t know this lady.
    “Is there really a reason to wait for her?” Chuffy asked Alex.
    Alex, looking even more uncomfortable than Fiona felt, shook his head. “I imagine not. Have you told your sister about Ian yet?”
    Fiona wasted a quick look at the smiling Lady Bea.
    Alex smiled. “We have no secrets from Lady Bea.”
    “Wouldn’t do us any good,” Chuffy agreed with a nod of the head that sent his glasses sliding down his nose. “Find out anyway.”
    Lady Bea patted Chuffy’s knee.
    “Have you told your sister?” Alex repeated.
    Fiona caught his gaze, unsure why he was making her feel so off-kilter today. It wasn’t as if he were angry or stiff. His rich brown eyes were soft and smiling, his posture easy as he sat with his own cup balanced on his fawn-stockinette-clad knee. Even so, she felt odd shivers chase down her spine, and she wanted to fidget.
    “Change comes slowly to Mairead,” she finally said, briefly looking down at her teacup. “She doesn’t like surprises. I told her, but it will take a while longer for her to admit it.”
    “But we don’t have time,” Chuffy said. “Little Season coming.”
    Inexplicably, Lady Bea was nodding and smiling again.
    “But surely your sister would want to know that your brother is alive,” Alex said. “You need to make her understand.”
    Fiona bristled. “Lord Whitmore, I appreciate your help in this matter. But you do not know my sister, and I resent your speaking as if I don’t, either.”
    “No offense meant,” Alex said, flushing a bit. “But before your sister arrives, we need to know what to expect from her.”
    “In what way?”
    “Well…” He looked over to the old woman, who nodded again.
    “Would she shy at attending a few routs, a ball maybe,” Chuffy said. “Not Almack’s—”
    Lady Bea suddenly waved a hand. “Paralyzing.”
    Chuffy nodded and shoved his glasses up his nose. “Rather play two-handed whist with the mater. But your sister…”
    Fiona was feeling more confused by the minute. “I don’t understand.”
    “How do you think she would do in a social setting?”
    Fiona’s heart clenched. She instinctively straightened, too familiar with this line of conversation. “She is not one for social functions. She is…shy.”
    Fiona saw the looks on all three faces that betrayed their skepticism over her term. She well knew Mairead’s reputation and limitations as well as she knew her own, and she refused to apologize.
    “But if your sister said yes?” Alex asked.
    Before Fiona could answer, the library door swung open to slam against the wall, and a whirlwind descended. Both men