He settled a long, skeptical side-eye on her.

“Sometimes, fate takes us down unexpected routes. Nettie,” he said, pretending to reminisce about her when in fact he was just spinning more lies, “has told me all about her plans. To settle down in Whitby, bring even more of her family here – to find a nice home, with a nice garden, and continue her long walks on the beach with me.”

He had half a mind to have the maid kidnapped just to give Nisa a sampling of his own grief.

“And what if your maid is not as loyal as you think? They never have lasted long.”