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Randolph gazed into her eyes. “I agree. The wrongs must be made right.”

The driver opened Leah’s door. “I hope you can rest well tonight.”

“Let me walk you in.”

Leah shook her head and put her hand on his arm. “I can make it just fine. You stay here and keep warm. I will speak to you later.”

She exited the car without waiting for him to respond. It was clear that he was too focused on whatever he’d heard from Mr. Aubert.

Leah was glad to find the door to the house unlocked. Mrs. Astor must be up waiting for her return. The downstairs entryway lights were still on, as were those of the stairs and upstairs hall. She pulled off her gloves, relishing the warmth of the house. Grandfather had suggested keeping it a little warmer than usual for the sake of the expectant mothers.

How different her life was with this new responsibility. She concerned herself with the furnace temperature and the purity of the water. She found herself doing what she could to learn all about what a mother-to-be needed to eat. And still she felt so inadequate. It didn’t help matters that Erik Sjolander saw her that way as well.

She put aside her gloves on the foyer table and was removing her coat when Mrs. Astor appeared in her robe.

“I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t hear the door. We’ve had a little bit of excitement here this evening.” She took Leah’s things. “Miss Brigette had some trouble.”

“Brigette? Is she all right?”

Just then Erik Sjolander started down the stairs. Leah hurried toward him. “What’s happened? Is Brigette all right?”

“She’s fine,” he said, raising his hands as if to hold her back. “It was just a little bleeding.”

“Bleeding? Did she lose the baby?”

“No.” Erik reached the bottom. “She just overdid. A few spots of blood, that’s all. She told me she’d been quite busy today, and I’ve advised her to take it much easier.”

“Should she be put to bed?”

“No. Not at all. She explained to me that she’d been carrying buckets of water and helping to hang draperies. I told her she needed to put an end to all of that.”

“I instructed her not to worry about helping with anything.” Leah gave a relieved sigh. “She’s just so used to her position that changing to a lady of leisure is hard for her.”

“I think she better understands now what she needs to do in order to keep it from happening again.”

“Is Grandfather still here?”

Erik frowned. “He didn’t come.”

“Why not?”

“Mrs. Astor called the office, and I was the one available. I could have called him, but it was late, and I had nothing else to worry with.”

“I was out for the evening,” she said as if needing to explain.

“Yes, I know.”

She stifled the need to go into details. It wasn’t any of his business that she’d been out with Randolph. “I’ll make sure to have Mrs. Astor call Grandfather at his house next time.”

“No, you needn’t do that. It was late, and the roads are icy. There was no need to bring him in from all that way when I was close at hand. I’ve promised him that I would take the calls when they come at night. Seems silly to have him travel from the edge of town and cross the river and all.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Leah said, trying to make sense of it all.

Mrs. Astor came with Erik’s coat and hat. “If there won’t be anything else, I will go to bed, Miss Leah.”

“Of course, Mrs. Astor. Please do.” Leah took the coat and hat. “Get some rest. I’ll handle this matter.”

The woman nodded and padded off down the hall. Leah looked to Erik. “Is there anything I should do for Brigette?”