It was teatime. She had been gone all day. He did not understand. He was impatient, even somewhat worried. Blake had already questioned the servants, hours ago, but no one had the slightest idea of where she had been off to. And to make matters more confusing, she had left in a hired hansom, instead of in one of his vehicles. But she would certainly be home at any moment, and he intended to give her a good setdown for her thoughtless behavior. Yet Violette, he knew, was not a thoughtless woman. The day wore on. Blake worked from his home. He found it hard to concentrate. Simple sums refused to add up correctly, to multiply or divide. Violette did not return. Where was she? And why in God’s name hadn’t she taken one of his coaches? It made no sense. Blake gave up trying to work. He paced and stared out of the windows and glimpsed a hired hansom approaching from down the street. He swiftly moved closer to the window, straining to see. He was certain it was Violette, finally returning home.
