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"The letter was from Maggie, Lady Sloan's lady's maid, if you must know," Annie said finally, as if she would face the pillory otherwise. Yet her tongue was duly loosened, and she began to chatter away as she continued pinning Petra's hair.

"It seems Lady Sloan hired away her sister Lady Elizabeth's underbutler," Annie began. "Lady Elizabeth then responded by offering two of Lady Sloan's housemaids better wages—and only days before Lady Sloan was due to host the entire sixteen-member party that is her husband's family."

"Those two are shocking," Petra said, making Annie giggle.

"Maggie also wrote that Lady Sloan hired a new gardener for their estate in Oxfordshire," Annie continued. "He is said to be quite handsome and previously improved the gardens of Sir Hugh and the late Lady Thacker. Did you know her ladyship had passed? Maggie wrote that it was said to be some sort of a miasma, possibly from traveling in late February."

"No, I had not heard this sad news," Petra said. "But I was little acquainted with Lady Thacker, though I always felt her to be a kind, gentle sort. Sir Hugh I know a bit more as he is often at the Rowley Mile races—though he rarely gambles more than a shilling on any horse. I shall remember to send him a letter of condolence on the earl's and my behalf." Removing her second glove, she said, "Have you any other news, then? Maybe some of a happier variety?"

Annie eagerly complied, recounting Maggie's story of her mistress, Lady Sloan, being gifted a new spaniel puppy who had wreaked havoc on her mistress's rugs, counterpanes, and any piece of wood the little dog could discover.

"Oh, Lady Sloan was at her wit's end! But having instantly adored the puppy, could not give it up. Then her ladyship was told of a young gentleman's daughter from Yorkshire—a Miss Reed, as I recall—who has such a way with dogs, and who was currently ensconced at her family's London home. The puppy was sent to Miss Reed, and her ladyship and Maggie both look forward to its return. Is that not diverting, my lady? A young woman who trains dogs?"

"I think it is wonderful," Petra said, handing her riding hat to Annie to pin into place.

Annie paused, not yet placing the hat on Petra's head. "Maggie wrote that it was Mr. Shawcross who recommended Miss Reed to Lady Sloan, as he has sent a puppy intended for the Duchess of Hillmorton for training."

"Duncan?" Petra said, rather too quickly. She ignored the vexing little frisson that came with hearing his name again. "Has he returned to England?"

"Last week, my lady, as I understand it," answered Annie. "In time to celebrate the wedding of his brother the marquess. Though Maggie claims she heard Mr. Shawcross say he has returned for good. That the work he has done on the Continent over the last three years in securing and improving the Duke of Hillmorton's lands is now complete, and local men have been hired to protect His Grace's interests. I expect Mr. Shawcross shall be at Her Grace's ball, too, considering he is her grandson and she dotes upon him."

"Hmph," Petra replied. "And 'I' expect he should count himself lucky that he has Her Grace's favor, considering he has not had mine for some time."

There was a silence of two heartbeats while Annie slowly began pinning the hat into place. Her voice was filled with hesitation when she spoke.

"My lady," she began. "I have been at your side since you were a girl of fourteen and I barely seventeen. I know you to be compassionate and forgiving, even when someone close to you has behaved unkindly..."

Petra arched one eyebrow, yet mild was her reply. "Though your words are appreciated, Annie, it is not like you to express unnecessary praise—especially when I am not always deserving of it. If you have something you wish to say, I would prefer that you do as normal and simply speak your mind. I daresay I find it much less disconcerting."

"Indeed I will then," Annie said, her confidence returning. "It is true you and Mr. Shawcross had a terrible row the day he left for the Continent, but so much time has passed since then. Three years, in fact. What are a few harsh words surely neither of you meant compared to the extraordinary friendship the two of you have enjoyed since almost your earliest days?"

Mulishly, Petra wished to refute these claims of a long-lasting affinity, and knew she could not. Especially now that she was here, at Buckfields. For throughout the earl's ten thousand acres, with its eighteen buildings that included expansive, Palladian-inspired stables, private gallops, and the twenty-eight-room house that had been the seat of the Earl of Holbrook since 1633, there was not one square foot where Petra and Duncan had not played together and tormented each other in equal measure. Since she was four and he a year older, to be precise, making Annie's words maddeningly true.