It was a ginger-haired gentleman of about Daniel’s age, with a decidedly Roman nose and so many freckles it would be difficult to put a pin between them. He was leaning over the banister, grinning broadly.Daniel responded with delighted incredulity. “Good God, Chris Nansloe, as I live and breathe!”Then it was Judith’s turn to be astonished, for there, on the staircase with Daniel’s friend, was Rachel Woolridge. “Rachel!” she cried, and catching up her skirts, she pushed her way through the crowd.Rachel hastened down the staircase in a flurry of strawberry silk. “Judith! Oh, what a wonderful coincidence!”The two old friends hugged each other tightly as they reached the bottom of the staircase at exactly the same moment. Rachel was diminutive and dainty, with straw-colored hair and large hazel eyes that filled with easy tears as she was reunited with Judith for the first time in more years than either of them cared to remember. She was clad in a navy blue spencer and strawberry silk gown.
