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round.”
    â€œOh, thank you, Briggs,” said Caroline, “but I am accustomed to walking. I am a country girl, you know.”
    â€œBut miss . . .”
    â€œYes, Briggs?”
    â€œAs you are new to London, I hope you won’t take it amiss if I warn you to be on your guard. There are many out there who’d be happy to take advantage of your tender age.”
    â€œYou needn’t worry, Briggs. I’ll be careful.” (Oh, Lord, she thought. I’ve traded Cousin Aurelia for Briggs!)
    After Caroline had finished her breakfast she picked up her reticule and her guidebook and set out to see London. It was a glorious spring day and there were so many places she wanted to see: the Tower, with its seven hundred years of history, starting with the Conqueror; Westminster Abbey; St. Paul’s and its famous Whispering Gallery; the new gaslights in Pall Mall; the British Museum with the famed Elgin Marbles; Bond Street; St. James’s were all a jumble in her mind. In true Caroline fashion, however, she was off to the British Museum first. The stories about the Elgin Marbles had piqued her curiosity and she wanted to see what had excited so much comment. After that, she would go to St. Paul’s in the middle of the city.
    Feeling just a bit guilty at having left Aurelia behind, but savoring her freedom, Caroline walked toward the Museum, gazing about her as she went. There were so many carriages and people about. So many houses, too, in such a small space. No one had any land. Despite the greenery of the square, Caroline thought she would miss the country if she had to stay in London permanently.
    After a short walk, Caroline saw the outlines of the Museum in Great Russell Street. She was anxious to see the Egyptian antiquities as well as the Elgin Marbles. The latter had recently been acquired by the nation from Lord Elgin, who had brought them back from the Parthenon when he was British Ambassador to Turkey.
    Caroline found the room with the marbles and discovered them to be a collection of bas-reliefs, a frieze, and some statuary from the Parthenon which dealt with the goddess Minerva. She stood there looking at them, somewhat nonplussed.
    â€œNot quite what you expected?” asked a quiet voice from behind. She turned around. The speaker, a gentleman of some thirty years, was tall and quite thin. He was dressed in a coat of super-fine navy wool which seemed a bit large, and doe-colored trousers. His shirt was of the finest linen; his collar points and cravat were neat yet fashionable. In his hands he carried a beaver hat and a gold-handled ebony cane. While he was by no means a Dandy, there was a quiet elegance about his person. Caroline liked what she saw.
    â€œWell,” she said doubtfully, “I am certain they are of great worth, and their antiquity must make them of interest to us.”
    â€œBut you expected them to have all their arms?” said the man, with a smile.
    â€œThey are a bit of a disappointment,” replied Caroline, returning the smile. “But indeed, London is not! There is so much to see, I am certain I could not see it all if I stayed a year!”
    â€œYou are a visitor to London, then?” asked the gentleman.
    â€œYes, I am here for a few months. But though I may not be from London, I do know that it is not at all the thing for me to be speaking to you when we have not been properly introduced.”
    The gentleman looked around the room. “There is no one here with whom I am acquainted,” he said. “I shall be obliged to introduce myself. I am Giles Kendal. I am on Lord Walsingham’s staff and have recently come from the Continent, where I was foolish enough to contract a most annoying illness. I am finding my convalescence a dead bore, and am reduced to visiting museums for excitement. I should very much like to present myself to you, but unfortunately, I do not know your name.”
    Caroline laughed. “I am Caroline