“Is it always like this?” she whispered into my ear.

“Yes. Remember, you traveled away from London for long periods after—” I didn’t need to say anything else to the timid woman to remind her of our story covering the years she’d lived with me. And I didn’t want to mention her murderous brother and his capture ten years before.

Another carriage pulled up behind ours, and Baron von Steubfeld and Lady Bennett alighted. While a German valet and an English lady’s maid saw to the luggage, they walked over to join us. I noticed the valet was a tall, beefy man. I wondered if he could have been the one who’d threatened Gattenger.

After we went through our round of curtsies and bows, Phyllida said, “I always have to stand to the side. Otherwise, large men in a hurry knock me over.”

“The Englishman has no sense of order,” the baron replied. After Lady Bennett’s elbow discreetly hit his ribs, he added, “I hope you’ve not been injured.”

“Not today,” Phyllida replied. “Mrs. Monthalf takes good care of me.”

Blackford appeared at my side. More curtsying and bowing. Then he said, “You’re all here. Good. If you’ll follow me?”

He led us at an angle through the vast station. Past family groups escaping the heat of the city with their entire households bunched together blocking the way. Past commuters hurrying into the furnace that was London from the slightly cooler suburbs. Past tiny shops selling papers, books, tea, and meat pies. My ears ached from the sound of so many rushing footsteps, shouting voices, and the clanging metal of carts. I tried not to choke on the pungent, smoky air.

Finally, the duke led our parade of passengers and luggage through a door to a landing with a long train parked alongside. A railway official directed the porters and the maids and the baron’s valet farther along the platform. Emma gave me a nod as she passed. From where the duke stopped, we would enter the last car. Unlike a regular first-class carriage, with its row of doors along the side, this car had only one.

The duke gave me his hand, and I stepped up and inside. For an instant I froze, staring at the elegant parlor surrounding me. So this was the Duke of Northumberland’s saloon car. Then I remembered the people behind me and walked across the room to where Sir Henry Stanford and Lady Peters stood to greet us.

More curtsies and bows. I didn’t curtsy in my shop all day as much as I had that morning. “Isn’t this lovely?” Rosamond Peters said. “It was clever of the duke to borrow this carriage from his friend.”

I looked around me at the elegant furnishings. “I had no idea such rail carriages existed.”

Sir Henry said, “The Duke of Northumberland owns several railroads. He uses this car when he’s inspecting his lines, but at the moment he’s shooting in Scotland. I believe this rail coach is unique.”

I gave them both a smile. “Well, I’m certainly glad Northumberland lent the carriage to the duke. This will make travel so much more pleasant.”

After Phyllida greeted the couple, I settled her in a sturdy-looking upholstered chair facing in the direction we’d be moving. I hoped the view out the window next to her would distract her because she was already turning pale. I took the other seat of the pair, planning to sit with her while we began our journey and then leave to question our fellow passengers. When she clutched my hand, I gave her a reassuring squeeze.

“You’re certain this is necessary, Georgia?”

I frowned at the use of my real name. “You’ll be fine.”

Blackford must have seen the exchange, because he came over and knelt in front of Phyllida. “Should you feel unwell, there’s a room with a basin and towels right behind you.”

“Thank you, but with the movement of the carriage, I’m not certain I’ll be able to walk.”

“Then Mrs. Monthalf and I will assist you.” Quieter, so only Phyllida and I could hear, he added, “We need your help, Phyllida. Remember Clara.”

She lifted her chin and gave him a lovely smile. “I’ll be fine.” Glancing around the rail carriage, she said, “This is a tremendous surprise, Duke. Thank you.”

He inclined his head. “Thank you for helping us, Lady Monthalf.”

“Your Grace, has Stevens heard from Snelling?” I whispered.

He shook his head. “It was a good idea, but he was apparently more distrustful than greedy.”

“At least we know the ship won’t sink.”

“I spoke to the Admiralty official who took Gattenger another set of blueprints to redo his calculations. He said it appears to be everything he’d hoped. An engineering marvel.”

If the ship was an engineering marvel, then the ship’s plans were worth all our efforts to reclaim them. I gave Blackford a relieved smile. Actually, every time I looked at him I wanted to smile.

We kept up a steady conversation to divert Phyllida. Once we had jerked into motion and crept out of the station, Blackford left us. I walked over to where Sir Henry stood alone by a window. “Not much of a traveler, is she?” he asked.

“Lady Phyllida finds the movement of the train upsetting.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Only until she gets to her destination. Then she’s ready to have a grand time.”

“I heard you saved her from a robber yesterday.” When I replied with a dismissive gesture, he said, “Don’t be so modest. What happened?”

“Phyllida bought a new hat. It looks stunning on her. Some young thug grabbed it and ran. I ran after him, which was good because he immediately ran down a dead-end alley. A bobby came and took him away.” Well, that was what happened, more or less.

“That was very brave of you.”

“Or very stupid. I suspect the latter.”

“Remind me not to carry out any crimes around you.” He gave me a wide smile.

“Blackmail is a crime. And I suppose you’ll force me to do illegal things to keep my secret secure.” I returned a rigid smile showing teeth.

“Going through a gentleman’s desk is considered a crime by the people we’ll be visiting in Gloucestershire. Being penniless and untitled is another crime to this group. Remember, one word from me and you’ll be snubbed by everyone, including the duke. You’d probably be thrown out of the house and sent back to London.”

I couldn’t carry out my investigation if I were sent back to London in disgrace, but he definitely didn’t sound like my anonymous letter writer.

Wonderful. That meant two people in this investigation had figured out I was trying to deceive them. And I didn’t know the identity of one of them.

“Besides,” he added, “what I’ll have you do will be easy enough for your tender sensibilities.”

His scornful tone on “tender sensibilities” told me he didn’t see me as a lady. I was only middle-class, but I was still insulted. “Did you put in motion the events that led to Mrs. Gattenger’s death?”

The smile crumbled from his face, replaced by anger blazing from his eyes. “I’m deeply sorry about Mrs. Gattenger. She was your cousin, wasn’t she? But Ken Gattenger lost his nerve when I asked him about the blueprints and said I’d go to the Admiralty Board.”

“What do you think happened?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Gattenger had doubts. He panicked and, in a fit of anger or cowardice, threw the plans in the fire. Probably planned to claim a burglar took them. Buy himself more time to correct his calculations while the hunt was on for his mythical burglar. Clara saw what he was doing and tried to stop him. What came next was a terrible accident.”

I raised my eyebrows. “‘Clara’?”

Sir Henry lowered his voice. “We were friends for many years. Clara was the kindest, brightest lady of my acquaintance. A true beauty. Her death is a great loss.”

The expression on his face told me everything I needed to know. “You were in love with her.”

He took a step away from me. “I admired her. She was married. There’s nothing else to say.” Sir Henry stomped to the other side of the railroad carriage.