My mother's mouth opened; nothing came out. A miracle.
“She has the right look for the job,” Father continued, touching on Ginevra's beauty, a must for a lady's maid in a world where beauty is the greatest of all attributes. “And I know she is well educated, and well-read.”
I bit my lip. He knew of Ginevra's education and literacy; knew I had given it to her. Our secret was safe in his keeping.
“Mr. Birch?” my father called out.
Birch stood just outside the door, always there, always listening. With but three steps, he stood in the Conservatory threshold.
“Please ask Mrs. Briggs to join us,” my father requested of him.
“Right away, Sir.” Birch bowed out of the room.
“You cannot allow thish, Orin,” Mother whined at him, her head, grown heavy, slumped into the cup of one palm. “What w
