Soon, there was a knock at the door. The maid’s voice came through, careful and formal. “Ma’am, Madam Hale is here. She brought luggage.”

Francesca had already guessed it.

She answered calmly, “I know. I’ll come downstairs in a minute.”

She eased herself out of Julian’s arms and spoke softly to him. “Go wash up. We’ll eat breakfast in a bit.”

She took him with her to wash up, squeezing toothpaste onto his brush ...