—The Holy Bible, Corinthians 15:54 It was all the fault of Miss Emma Rigby’s scientific mind. She had determined to discover what it was that caused a young man to forsake all good sense and pursue a silly idiot of a girl: the sillier and the more idiotic, the better. It was a frivolous experiment, but it passed the time—and who knew? It might lead to useful conclusions. Emma’s father had raised her in unorthodox and remarkably eclectic ways, first in Constantinople and thereafter in India and China where the manners and morals of England were as exotic as the far side of the moon. But he had died two years past, and his estate had vanished in a cloud of solicitors and creditors, leaving his daughter to make her way as she could. She had found a haven of sorts as a lady’s companion. Lady Windermere was wise, gentle, and generous. Emma knew she was fortunate. But her life had closed in upon her, and it was becoming progressively harder to breathe.
