The next morning the letter arrived. I was astonished to find Barnabus Rifkind had written to me. It was a brief request to see me alone, with no indication of the reason for it. I handed it to Susannah, who had just finished dressing.
She sat on the bed, looking up when she had read it. ‘What can he want? Has he some news of Penny? Please God he has.’
I crossed myself. ‘Why does he wish to see me alone, though? He’s very insistent.’
Her concern was now plain. ‘Will you go? Is it safe to?’
‘I think I must. How else will I find out what he wants?’
Outside on the Porch, joining Noah and Sam at breakfast they, too, showed some disquiet.
Noah looked pensive. ‘Going alone feels risky, to me. Especially when you know nothing of what he wants from you.’
Sam tilted his head, frowning. ‘We a
