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wishes, and then return home as unencumbered as when I left.”
    Abby clapped her hands. “Splendid. Jackson will be relieved. I told him last night as we prepared for bed that he was worried for nothing. I’m so glad we had this little chat.” She patted Amanda’s arm affectionately.
    Amanda found little pleasure in placating her sister. Even though she and Nathaniel were merely friends, putting her intentions as to her future into words felt oddly disloyal to him.
    â€œExcuse me, Mrs. Henthorne. I have a telegram for Miss Dunn.”
    â€œWhat?” Both sisters spoke simultaneously.
    â€œThe boy from the telegraph office said it’s for Miss Dunn, in care of you, Mrs. Henthorne, at this address.” Amos waited with the sealed envelope on a silver tray.
    â€œVery well. Give it to her.” Abby sounded harsh.
    Amanda felt uneasy as she read the envelope. “This came from an office in Baltimore.”
    â€œBaltimore? Do you know someone living there?”
    â€œNo.” Amanda extracted the short message and read it twice, her breath coming in gasps, her throat constricting painfully. “It’s Papa.” She lifted her gaze. “He died soon after I left Manchester. Mama and Mr. Pelton sent word on the next clipper leaving port, headed to Baltimore. A contact of Mr. Pelton’s telegraphed as soon as he received word.” The sheet of paper slipped from her fingers.
    â€œPapa—he’s dead?” Abby sounded weak and childlike.
    â€œI’m afraid so, dear heart.”
    â€œBut you told Jackson his illness wasn’t serious and that he would soon recover.”
    â€œThat was the impression I had when I left home.”
    â€œBut I haven’t seen Papa in five years. I had no chance to say goodbye…or to make amends. What if I’m carrying a child?” Her hands settled on her flat belly. “He will never see his first grandchild.” Tears ran down her pale cheeks.
    â€œSend word to Mr. Henthorne’s office.” Amanda said to Amos, who stood silently beside his mistress. “Ask him to come home.” Then she rose from her chair and enveloped Abigail in her arms. “I suspect Papa knew you loved him, but the love of a good man took you across the sea.”
    Helpless to hold back her own tears, Amanda began to sob too. She cried for Abby, estranged forever from her father, and she cried for herself. Now he would never be proud of whatever she accomplished in America. For several minutes, the sisters sat immobile, lost in their grief.
    Then another troubling thought came to mind, far more weighty than a woman not pleasing her father. What about Mama and her father’s employees? Those families depended on their pay envelopes for their very existence. Her mother had never written a cheque or taken care of even a modicum of responsibility. What would happen to her mother and Dunn Mills now?
    After her sister’s sobs diminished to soft mewing sounds, Amanda helped her to the master suite of rooms. Once Abigail was reclining on the daybed with a cool cloth on her forehead and Estella fanning her with ostrich feathers, Amanda walked down the gallery steps to the garden. Hidden by saw palmetto blades, she allowed her grief to wash over her anew. When she had no more tears to cry, Amanda dried her face, blew her nose, and lifted her face toward heaven. I’ll make you proud of me, Papa. No matter what I need to do.

Four

    May
    M ay I ride with you downtown, Jackson?”
    His sister-in-law’s voice cut through his thoughts of cards and cigars at the club that night. Jackson looked up to see Amanda, fully dressed and leaning over the gallery balustrade.
    â€œIt’s not even nine o’clock, Miss Dunn, and you’re already eager to go shopping?” He tugged on his gloves as Thomas led the horse from the stable to the carriage.
    â€œNot shopping. I thought I would call on your father to see if