Prologue

The seamstress stared in dismayed disbelief, and abruptly set down her tea cup. “Good gracious; are you quite certain, Mr. Hudson?”

The elderly steward bowed his head. “I am, unfortunately.”

“And the master doesn’t know?”

“I do not believe so.”

The two sat for a moment in glum silence, as the clock ticked on the mantelpiece and the fire burned merrily in the hearth—the day was brisk, outside. Hudson then added with some meaning, “I would like to make certain such a thing does not happen again.”

“Oh—yes; yes, of course.” With a wry mouth, the seamstress contemplated her tea cup. “We’re a bit old, you and I, to have to swing into action yet once more.”

“There’s no help for it, I’m afraid. The old sins, coming around again.”

Nodding in a practical manner, she turned her attention back to him. “We do what we must, then. What do you need from me?”

“A piece of jewelry, perhaps. Something unique, so as to be identifiable.” With a subtle show of humor, he bent his head to meet her eyes. “Please don’t get caught; there’s no one left I can trust.”

“No—the old crew is gone,” she agreed sadly. “This younger generation; not at all how we were taught.”

“No, indeed.”

She smiled slightly. “And speaking of such, how’s the little one?”

He sighed. “A redhead, I fear.”

She chuckled. “Come now, Mr. Hudson; the last redhead that came along has worked miracles.”

With an answering smile he admitted, “I cannot argue.”

“You might even say that the mistress has been lucky—despite all our fears on that head. And that’s a very good thing—we were due for a bit of luck, I think, and now we’ve another fine baby. Will there be a fête, do you think?”

With some regret, the steward admitted, “The mistress is not one for fêtes, I’m afraid.”

“This new generation,” the seamstress repeated sadly.  She then leaned forward so as to lay a hand upon his. “You mustn’t be troubled, sir; we will set everything to rights.”

“No one is to know,” he advised strictly. “We must always think of the greater good.”

“Mum’s the word,” the elderly woman agreed.  

“Thank you, ma’am. I will be in touch.”