Heavy but careful footsteps came up the stairs, intruding upon the solitude of Mrs. Montefort. Her face betrayed a momentary sneer of resentment at the imposition before she regained her high-bred composure.

“Mrs. Montefort, I’m…”

“I know who you are,” she cut in coldly.

“I just wanted to…”

“Give me false promises? Reassure me more than my own innate motherly sense can do?”

The large man sighed, “Something like that.” At least he knew his place, she thought.

In a flash her ire burned brightly, and she turned on him, her gauzy nightgown twirling, “Let me tell you something about mothers. If something were amiss, I would know, and I would tell you. I alone am the lady of this house. I am the queen here, and my rule is absolute. There is nothing outside my notice, and nothing is amiss. Nothing.”

He merely gave a grave nod and backed away, retreating down the stairs. Miriam sneered appreciatively at his acquiescence. And with that, her calm returned, blithely and completely.