"It is entirely up to you," Elizabeth said. "If you don't mind—"

Hannah clapped her hands with pleasure, and turned to Samuel Hench. "I've never been to a wedding so I don't know what will happen there, but will you come to the school party? Jed will play his fiddle, and there's doughnuts, and singing, and poems."

"I would very much like to hear thee sing," he replied solemnly. "But I'm afraid my business will take me away tomorrow."

"Why, that's not any visit at all," Hannah said. "You haven't even come to Lake in the Clouds."

Elizabeth squeezed Hannah's hand under the table and leaned in closer. "I'm sure that Cousin Samuel would stay longer if he could."

"I would, indeed," Samuel agreed.

"Cousin," she said quietly. "I hope you haven't taken offense at my father's sudden departure."

But his answer was interrupted by a knock at the door; the kind of knock that did not mean friends come to call. The laughter in the room fell away into an awkward silence and Galileo rose with a puzzled expression and went into the hall. Beside Elizabeth, Nathaniel tensed.

The man who appeared in the doorway was not especially large, but he had a great expanse of gray beard, a halo of bright white hair, and a forcefulness of purpose in his stance.

"The name's O'Brien," he announced. "Treasury agent. Here on business. The Indians on the mountain said I might find Nathaniel Bonner at Judge Middleton's." His eyes, ice—blue, hesitated at Samuel Hench and then moved on to Nathaniel. "I guess that's you. I'll have a word, now."

Elizabeth was on her feet, her hands clenched at her sides. "You are unwelcome here, Mr. O'Brien. This is a family party. If you care to call again in the morning—”

“A family party?" He smiled, exposing a scattering of sharp teeth in raw gums. "Strange family, I'd say. Where is the judge, anyhow?" This last question was shot at Galileo, who provided a brief explanation.

"If you would be so kind, Mr. O'Brien—" Elizabeth tried again.

"It's not my business to be kind when I'm on a job. Who're you?"

Nathaniel's hand on Elizabeth's wrist pulled her up short. In a long and easy movement, he stood. "She's my wife. She happens to be the judge's daughter, as well, but you can call her Mrs. Bonner. I'll come out and talk to you, if you'll leave these people in peace."

He leaned over to talk quietly into her ear. "The treasury was bound to show up sooner or later. Sit tight, Boots." Then he winked at Hannah, spoke a quiet word to Galileo, and disappeared into the hall.

The crackling of the fire in the hearth was all the sound in the room for a long moment, and then Curiosity let out a great sigh. "Come on, now, there's food here too good for the pigs. Manny, hand your plate down here, sugar, and let me give you some of this beef. You won't get this good once you start working down to the mill, let me promise you that."

Slowly, the conversation turned back to the wedding and the upcoming school recital. Elizabeth gave her cousin a grim smile.

"I see that thy life in Paradise is not dull," he said. "Perhaps I should not be surprised that thy brother does not wish to leave."

Once again Elizabeth put down her fork. "Julian? Leave? Why should he?"

Samuel shrugged. "I thought that perhaps I could convince thy brother to come home with me, for I could use an assistant. But I'm afraid the life of a merchant does not entice Julian."

"I am surprised to hear of your offer," she said. "But more, I am disappointed that he did not consent to join you. I think it would have done him much good to get away from here."

Samuel nodded thoughtfully, and then gestured toward Joshua and Daisy, who were picking at their plates while they talked. "Dost thou know the proverb about the two things that cannot be hid?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Love, and a cough. I see the first here in evidence, but what has that to do with my brother?"

"The proverb was once longer, I believe: "Foure things cannot be kept close, love, the cough, fyre and sorrow." I would say that thy brother burns not with love, but with jealousy. Perhaps given hard work, and a purpose, he could be saved."

"You are a missionary at heart," Elizabeth said ruefully. "I only wish there were some hope of success in this case."

"There is always hope," Cousin Samuel said.

* * *

When she finally went in search of Nathaniel, Elizabeth found him leaning against the wall of the house staring at the night sky. She followed the line of his gaze, leaning against his hard shoulder.

His arm came up around her and she moved in closer, for it was truly cold.

"The maples are turning," Nathaniel said.

She let out a small laugh of surprise. "Can you see that, in the dark? Or do you hear it?"

In response he took her hand and pulled her down to the trees that stood on the far side of the barn. In the dark, he reached up and pulled a leaf, which he stroked across her cheek and then pressed into her hand. "Go have a look," he said. "If you don't believe me."

"Oh, I believe you," she said, pulling her shawl more tightly around her. Even in the moonlight, she could see the set of his jaw, and the lines around his mouth.

"Are you worried about the winter?"

He sighed, chafing her arms with his hands. "There's enough sign that it will be a hard one, but no, I ain't especially worried about the winter."