Etienne flinched and turned. A middle-aged woman with a troubled expression was scurrying toward them from an inner room, a bundle of dry cloth clutched in her arms. “Oh, my heavens. My apologies, sirs. Our young lady… Here, please use these to dry yourselves.” A young lady bringing home two strange young men at dusk—no servant would be pleased. But Ezekiel accepted the cloth graciously. “You have nothing to apologize for, madam. Thank you.” “I should have stopped her when she said she was going alone…” The woman introduced herself as Mrs. Babin, Iris’s former wet nurse and current housekeeper. She watched the boys with an expression of acute embarrassment before turning away. “How did you two end up here