Though Catherine hated to admit it, her eyes were sore from looking at the computer screen. She closed the laptop and called for a servant to bring her a cold compress for her stinging eyes and throbbing forehead. The servant returned several minutes later with a washcloth soaked in lavender water, and Catherine placed the cool cloth over her eyes and stretched out on the sofa.

“You have a guest, Mrs. Blair,” the servant said. “But I’ll tell her you’re resting.”

Catherine sat bolt ...