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Emma was not confident what Lord Orson wanted, but she did not speak of her doubts.

Instead, she said with a smile, “Mrs. Ottoway wishes to sample foods she has never tasted, but I convinced her we should also have some we know. Would you like to view the carte de jour ?” she asked with a smile as she held the evening’s menu in her hand.

“We studied it before we came down to supper, did we not, my dear?”

“It was exciting to learn how the French eat,” Mrs. Ottoway said with a bit of satisfaction.

Lord Orson replied, “I, personally, would be satisfied to permit the ladies to choose. Would you not agree, Graham?”

“Oh, you should not do that, my lord,” Mrs. Ottoway warned.

“I do not believe we have chosen wisely. Perhaps tomorrow we shall be more sensible. Instead, we permitted our curiosity to influence our decisions. There is no rhyme or reason to our selection. Lady Emma and I shall both likely be asking for a tonic for our stomachs later.”

Graham chuckled. “I must have whatever you have, Mrs. Ottoway, for you always permitted me to dirty Mrs. Imogen’s kitchen with my recipes.”

“Do you enjoy cooking, my lord?” Emma asked.

“Not well,” Lord Graham declared as Mrs. Ottoway said, “Very well,” at the same time. “In the beginning,” the housekeeper continued her tale, “Lord Graham created more than one disaster, but he soon learned not every food requires a few pinches of salt.”

“You were fortunate, my lord, to have someone with whom to share your memories,” Emma said.

“Pardon, my lords. Might you be prepared for the meal?” the hotel’s footman asked.

Lord Graham answered, “We will all have the same. That is, if it is acceptable to you, Orson.”

“I am happy for the company,” Richard responded. “The ladies wish to experience a few dishes they do not often encounter in England.”

“I understand, my lord. Such is the request of quite a few of our clients to date.” The man nodded to Emma. “Where should we begin, my lady?”

“ Bisque de momard ,” Emma declared, happier than she had been in a long time. “Followed by poisson a la deppoise , Parisienne mussels in a white wine sauce.”

“Excellent choices, my lady,” the man announced, although she noted how his lips twitched in amusement.

“Sole florentine and whitebait,” she instructed. “Two of each, rather than four preparations. We shall share. For the main entrée, salmon polonaise . For the r?tis, we shall leave the fish choices behind and have the roasted grouse, and, finally, fresh berries in crème Fra?che epaisse .”

“Interesting choices, my lady,” Lord Graham said with a smile.

“We warned you, my lord. Last chance to change your mind,” Emma said with a laugh.

“And have you think me a coward?” Graham declared boldly.

Emma enjoyed the ease which had developed between her and the man, though Lord Orson was looking daggers at his friend.

“Bring the order as Lady Emma has stated it,” Graham instructed the waiting footman, “with appropriate vegetables and choice of wine.”

“Absolutely, my lord.” The man disappeared.

“Did we learn any more of the three men you captured?” she asked softly so others in the room could not overhear.

“They swear they do not know Lord Davidson,” Lord Orson said with equal quietness.

“I was thinking,” Emma said, “we should again spend time exchanging what you know and what I have recalled. Such was our task for today,” she said with a blush.

Lord Graham said, “I agree. Yet, it is likely best if we wait until after our supper when we can speak more discreetly. For now, let us simply enjoy each other’s company.”

“Agreed,” Lord Orson added.

“Agreed.” Emma noted the return of the footman. “I believe our first course has arrived.”

Though it was dark, after the meal, they decided to take a walk across to Grosvenor Square, where they claimed a bench for the ladies while the gentlemen remained standing.

“I am assuming Lord Graham has spoken to you of my recent memories, my lord.” Emma said.

“I know of your mother’s lilies, of an as-yet-unexplained reason for your lady’s maid to disapprove of someone of your staff while you were touring the Tower of London, and of your reliving the beating you took, likely at the hands of someone you know. Is there anything else?”

Graham said, “Lady Emma also recalled sharing a meal in her kitchen with her staff.”

“Oh, my dear girl,” Mrs. Ottoway said. “You must always be the mistress of the house. Though you may wish for their friendship, there is a line which must be maintained in those situations.”

“Yes, I have been kindly reminded of my duties by Lord Graham,” Emma admitted. “Mr. Palmer was quite adamant and demanded my return above stairs.”

Mrs. Ottoway frowned. “It is not the butler’s duty to reprimand the mistress of the house, especially before the other servants.

Butlers are often called upon to assist a young man who has assumed a peerage or a wealthy gentleman with an estate, but it would seem to me that the housekeeper should have been the one who assisted you after your governess’s leave taking.

At the most, the butler should have ordered the servants to return to their duties.

He should never be reprimanding you before the rest of the servants. Did you never consider releasing him?”

“Mr. Palmer served in my mother’s family home before coming to Donoghue House.

Lady Donoghue asked him personally to set up her Town residence, though, in the end, she has never lived at Donoghue House, for my father was called up to duty to the British government before they could settle within for even one London season.

I was barely one when we left for Europe.

I have a half-sister who remains in England. ”

“Half-sister?” Lords Orson and Graham asked together.

Orson continued, “I have never heard of another child.”

“You would not,” Emma assured with a shrug indicating her embarrassment. “For many years, I was not made aware of her. My mother was married just a little over a year to an older gentleman, who died when he fell upon the steps of his home and broke his neck.”

“Was Mr. Palmer part of the household for Lady Donoghue’s parents’ home or her late husband’s home?” Orson asked with a frown.

“In truth, I do not believe anyone has ever said,” Emma admitted, “though I assumed it was for my maternal grandparents. Does it matter? As quickly as she was out of her widow’s weeds, my mother married my father.

Yet, now that I think upon it, their marriage would have come during her half mourning.

Perhaps such is why they so soon decided to travel to Europe.

Anyway, I did not take Mr. Palmer’s acquaintance until I arrived in England from the Netherlands, along with my governess. ”

“Where is this other daughter now? Have you made her acquaintance?” Lord Graham asked.

“I did so less than two years prior. Actually, in the beginning, we were often in company with other women who you have seen with me before White’s, my lords,” Emma shared. “It took her some time before she introduced herself to me and made the proper connection to our lives.”

Orson asked, “Is your sister, perhaps, Miss Babbington?”

“Yes. See you do know her,” Emma declared. “Though I do not think we appear anything alike. Did you learn her name when you learned mine?” she asked, hoping he would deny doing so. Emma did not want the man interested in another, even if it was her sister.

“Not exactly,” his lordship confessed. “On Saturday, before I traveled to Buckinghamshire, Lady Theodora and I called in at the office where your friends were printing their latest newsprint.”

“Why?” Emma asked in confusion.

“I had received Lord Graham’s message regarding the yellow lilies and had found them no longer in your garden. I thought, perhaps, your friends might know of someone who had threatened you. So, Theodora and I called upon them. I was set on seeing you restored to your former self.”

“How did you know where to find them?” Emma inquired. “They do not speak of the place to others.”

“I knew,” he said in a matter-of-fact manner. “I had previously asked after you and the other women. The local watchman knows who comes and goes at such an establishment. It is part of his duty to be well informed.”

“Then you met my sister?” she said with a smile.

“Yes, but she did not identify herself as such,” he explained in what sounded of caution. “There was an older woman and a young girl, and the one who presented her name as ‘Miss Babbington,’ though that was not provided to me until Sunday.”

“I do not understand,” Emma stated, as she looked to Lord Graham, who shook his head in denial of knowing the situation. “What occurred on Sunday?”

Lord Orson said, “Theodora and I asked them regarding who might wish to harm you. The younger girl mentioned Lord Davidson, but Miss Babbington said little. The older woman said you have, over the last few years, received multiple threatening notes. Do you recall them?”

Emma said softly. “I did not until my lady’s maid sent my clothes from Donoghue House. They were in the bottom of the cloth bag.”

Graham asked, “My lady, are they still in the bag?”

“Yes,” she said reluctantly. “In my quarters at the Mirvat. I have not looked at them; in truth, I feared them.”

“Why would someone from your home pack threatening letters in your bags?” Mrs. Ottoway said in disgust. “Had you purposely kept them? Were they to be turned over to the authorities?”

“I had asked my lady’s maid to burn them, but Mr. Palmer had prevented her from doing so.” Emma frowned before saying softly, “I recall now. My maid was angry at Mr. Palmer on our visit to the Tower of London, for he had not followed my orders.”

“Emma,” Lord Orson said as he knelt before her.

“I did not learn Miss Babbington’s name until Sunday before I set out for Buckinghamshire.

After church, I pretended I was to walk home to confuse Lord Davidson’s men, those who had been watching me since I left you on Wednesday evening.

As I walked in the direction of where my coach awaited me, I noted Miss Babbington on the street upon which Donoghue House sits.

She was exiting your house’s front gate, and so I followed her and detained her several streets removed from your house.

That is when I learned her name, though she spoke nothing of her relationship to you.

She did say she had called to learn of your safety.

She also said your butler had told her you had returned to the Continent to be with your parents. ”

Mrs. Ottoway declared, “A person cannot simply sprout wings and fly to the European continent. How would your appearance be explained next week, for example?”

Richard said, “Such was my response, but, then again, Graham and I have both considered the possibility that your attack began at Donoghue House, and such is why we have discouraged your return.”

Graham said, “With this development, I would like to read the threatening messages you have in your bag.”