Chapter 9
Saturday, January 15, 1887Mrs. Kroger, hobbling upon a cane and barking orders at the staff about the disposition of her luggage, left early for the train station on that cold, rainy morning, just as we were heading down to breakfast. Her goodbyes were stiff and formal, except for the quick embrace I saw her give Hattie in the foyer. She leaned in close to the girl and whispered in her ear. After that, she was gone.
I would have been quite content to stay indoors the entire day, but I had a fitting that afternoon. When I saw Jack’s carriage pull up to the curb, I gathered my coat and hat and sought out the girls. Claudine was reading in the library.
“Where’s Anna?”
She pointed to the settee behind a low bookcase. Anna was stretched out upon it, mouth slightly open, head propp
