The old matron exhaled heavily, her fingers massaging her temples. “I’m exhausted. I’ll be staying here for the next month, so don’t go stirring up trouble.”

Julian murmured an acknowledgment, then summoned Hank that same evening to arrange for a few obedient staff members to be sent over.

When he returned to the master bedroom, Dakota was just stepping out. A doctor with an easygoing temperament, Dakota looked at him and said, “I’ll head off now. She ...