I walked slowly along the entire length of the Serpentine, all the while watching for signs of being followed. There were none. I continued on, turning into Kensington Gardens, where I sat on a bench in the most secluded spot I could find. There I waited for three quarters of an hour, going over the facts of the case, making lists of questions whose answers I needed to discover, and checking, at far too frequent intervals, the gold watch pinned to my bodice. Finally I gave up, stood, and surveyed the scene before me. It was getting late, and there were few people in the garden. None, in fact, that I could see, but I was certain that Sebastian was there, lurking somewhere out of sight.

"Sebastian?" I called. "I know you're here. Won't you come talk to me?" Leaves rustled in the wind, and I heard the sound of a dog barking far off in the distance, but my admirer did not present himself. "Please! I need your help! Sebastian!" I stamped my foot in frustration and dropped back onto the bench.

"You really shouldn't lose your composure like that, Kallista darling." He came, seemingly from nowhere, and sat next to me.

"Why do you insist upon skulking about like this? It's infuriating."

"You are lovely when you're in a temper."

"Answer the question."

"I'm merely keeping an eye on you. Do you think it's safe to trot about, unescorted, after all that's been happening to you?"

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"Are you? I could do anything I like to you right now. Take you prisoner; carry you off to my den of iniquity. There's no one to see or stop me."

"If I screamed, someone would come. And I imagine that your den is far enough away that it would be difficult to get me there with no one noticing."

He shrugged. "Perhaps. Fear not, though. You're in no danger with me." For the first time, I could see his face. His eyes, as I remembered, were a shocking blue, but the remainder of his features were unremarkable. Although I wouldn't have described him as handsome, there was a vibrancy about him that was most appealing.

"I've lost your mother's Bible. I'm very sorry."

"It's of no consequence to me. If I had wanted it, I would have taken it when she offered it to me."

"I believe that Charles Berry has it."

"Well, I hope it amuses him."

"How can you be so cavalier about all this? Don't you want to stop him?"

"Berry? He's a bloody boor. Why would I care to involve myself with him?"

"He's stealing your heritage." This brought a hearty laugh from my companion.

"Darling, I do adore you. Such drama! Such enthusiasm!



"I might be able to sight-read, but I'm afraid that my verbal skills are woefully lacking. Translation?"