Tea was set out exquisitely before Lady Edgehill as she rose from her seat to welcome us again, "I trust all is well with your rooms? If you have any need just ask Clara or Adams," she smiled at Faith and myself. "I am expecting my daughter, but I was not able to find her so I sent out a servant to bring her in."

            We all took our seats, Patience begging for the seat beside Lady Edgehill, "Has your daughter made her debut?" she inquired.

            "Leah is only fourteen, she will not debut until next year," Lady Edgehill explained as she poured the tea, "she still has a bit of maturing to do before she is ready for Society."

            "Do you only have two children?" Faith asked as she received her cup of tea. I saw Lady Edgehill flinch a moment before she nodded with a deceptive smile.

            "Will Lord Edgehill not be joining us?" I asked quickly to change the subject.

            "Not presently," she answered, "he decided to go into town to inquire after a new hunting dog." She sighed, "I cannot pretend to understand what goes through a man's mind sometimes."

            "It has been my experience that when a thought occurs to them, it must be dealt with immediately else it will fester until they can think of nothing but," I smiled sipping my tea.

            "That is quite astute, Miss Woodbridge," Lady Edgehill looked at me appreciatively over her tea cup.

            "I apologize, it is just I grew up with three older brothers, it became second nature for me learn to think like they did, otherwise I would have no playmates," I shrugged and tried desperately not to look at anyone. I could feel Patience holding her breath in hopes that I haven't offended our hostess.

            "That is perhaps the best explanation I have ever heard regarding a man's mind," Lady Edgehill smiled. "You will no doubt make a satisfactory wi . . . oh, Leah, finally!" We all turned to see the newest arrival to the room. A bright young girl had entered, she looked remarkably like her mother although her hair was lighter. I could only imagine the success that her debut would be . . . possibly even a marriage proposal before the end of the night. "What kept you, my dear?"

            "I am sorry, Mother," she said kissing Lady Edgehill's cheek, "I was among friends and we had lost track of time."

            "I must have words with the mothers of these friends, if they had their way, I would hardly ever see you," she teased as Leah took the remaining seat, "Let me introduce you to our guests, this is Mrs. Woodbridge, Miss Stanhope and Miss Woodbridge. Ladies, I am pleased to present my daughter, Leah."

            Leah smiled uneasily as she started to sweeten her tea, she glanced up and looked at me but quickly averted her eyes when I smiled in return. The majority of conversation happened between Lady Edgehill and Patience. Both Faith and I attempted to join, but aside from us answering a question here or there, our voices were not heard. As we finished Leah was the first to stand, ready to escape the monotony of social company, "Leah, why don't you show our guests around?"

            "Yes, Mother," she sighed, "if you would follow me," she said shyly. Leah was well practiced in showing the rooms, it sounded as if she had memorized descriptions when she said "this is our gathering room used for formal parties with an Italian marble floor and vaulted ceiling . . . " I tried not to snicker for fear of making her uncomfortable, but I was unable to contain it.

            "I am sorry, Leah," I smiled as I gently touched her elbow, "but we are not matronly friends of your mother's, why don't you show us around like you would a friend?" She looked into my face and then turned to Faith who also smiled warmly at her.

            "Okay," she whispered, "come with me" and she tiptoed down the hall and entered the kitchen, "Grace keeps a plateful of cookies and cakes for me," she smiled, "sometimes a sandwich or some fruit but I usually cut through here on my way out . . . or if I'm going to hide."

            "Why would you hide?" Faith chuckled.

            "When your mother is set on settling your brother down by getting him engaged or telling you that you are too immature and unladylike to enter into Society, then you may ask me again." I had to smile at Leah's frankness and quickly followed her as she darted through the kitchen, "This is my father's study," she said as she fell into the chair behind the desk.

            "Should we be in here?" I asked looking at the shelves filled with volumes of legal reference.

            "As long as Father isn't in here working . . . " she shrugged taking a bite of the cookie she grabbed in the kitchen, "but this is one of my favorite places to hide. Mother never comes in here and it's quiet."

            "It is splendid," I said to Faith nodding to the family painting that hung behind the desk.

            "Where else do you like to hide?" Faith asked as she moved about the room.

            "Hmm," Leah was thoughtful for a moment, "my room is good but Mother has no qualms about coming in. The library or the music room can be good unless she's in a mood, then this room is the best. There's another room . . . "

            "What room is that?" I asked intrigued by the vagueness.

            "I shouldn't . . . " Leah said as she got up, "Mother says it's haunted." She looked at us as we turned to each other unaware of her meaning.  She opened the heavy paneled door and peered out, "Okay, come with me!" she whispered and darted out into the hall again, this time rushing for the stairs.

            "Where are we going?" Faith asked as quietly as she could and still be heard by our leader.

            "Practice hall," Leah whispered as she took a corner made her way down a darkened hallway, "It's the safest hiding spot and more room." I'm not sure what I expected but when we slid behind the door, this was not it. There was fencing equipment hanging on one of the walls, an easel full of drawings next to the window along with boxes covered with sheets everywhere. "No one uses this room that much, so it's my sanctuary."

            "Thank you for sharing it with us," I smiled and started my tour taking in the treasures.

            "What do you do here, Leah?" Faith asked noting the heavy dust.

            "Read or draw," she shrugged hopping up on one of the covered boxes, "whatever I want. It's my time when I'm in here." She was proud of her hideaway and I think she felt happy to have us there . . . until Faith started to sneeze.

            "I'm sorry," she said in between sneezes, "the dust. I have to leave." Quickly she exited and made her way to our room.

            "I suppose I should follow her to help," I took another look around the room, "this has great promise, Leah. Everyone needs a place to hide."

            "Margaret?" she asked as I opened the door. "I like you so do be careful, things are not always as they seem . . . and that includes people."

            "Whatever do you mean?" I asked, the tone of her voice made me all the more curious.

            "Don't let my mother guide you where you do not want to go . . . " the sound of a door closing interrupted us and I looked down the all to see who was coming, but there was no one and when I turned back Leah had disappeared as well. Figuring that I would not be able to find her unless she wanted me to, I went to check on Faith who had retired to our room to get a control of her sneezing.

            "Are you all right?" I asked noting the copious amount of tissues on the dressing table, Faith sneezed again.

            "I need to be," she said sounding stuffy, "I cannot have a red nose while we are here."

            "I am sorry," I could tell that she had a dilemma. I could only imagine what Patience would say if she found out we were running after Leah and finding all of her hiding places, "You won't say anything though, right? I don't want Leah to get in trouble."

            "What about my nose?!" she shrieked.

            "Open the window and breathe in some fresh air," I said, "I will have Clara bring some hot water and a cloth . . . "

            "What will that do?"

            "The steam will help and we'll try everything I can think of to keep your nose from turning red."

            "It's already red, Margaret, look!" She turned to look at me and grab more tissues.

            "Perhaps if you stop rubbing your nose with those, the redness will subside?"

            "What am I supposed to use?"

            "Here," I said giving her the handkerchief from my pocket, "use this, I will find Clara." Since I have not had a chance to acquaint myself with the house, I was happy that I found Clara coming up the stairs. I asked her for the few things I wanted and then returned to Faith. She was sitting in a chair beside the opened window, "Are you feeling better?"

            "Margaret, this is Percy's," she said holding the linen handkerchief, "did he give it to you?"

            "Faith . . . "

            "No, I want to know how you came by this. I told you about Philip!"

            "He gave it to me the day he left . . . " I sighed, "it was wrapped around something."

            Faith's eyes grew large, "will you tell me?" I verified that the door was closed and went to my trunk to find my favorite reticule. She watched quietly as I pulled out the cameo and placed it in her hand. "Percival gave you this?"

            "He placed it in my hand as he left," I breathed, "he said nothing . . . it was just there and then he was gone."

            "Oh Margaret . . . " her smile softened, "he is more than smitten . . . " I looked up from my hands and felt a small catch of my breath as I noted the happiness in her face.

            "He is not for me," I sighed, "I believe Patience wants to be sure I know that."

            "Hang Patience!" Faith stood and placed the cameo gently back into my hand, "our mother has one almost identical. Our father gave it to her before he proposed."