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town that’s operating now. Would you be wanting me to send Laddie to find the Master’s whereabouts?”
    Katie leaned forward, setting her cup and saucer on the little table. “Can he go without Sir Julien knowing?”
    â€œOh, surely, miss.” She grinned. “You know Laddie. He can do most anything and not get himself caught.”
    â€œWell, yes, I do not doubt that. Then I wish to write a letter to my cousin and have your nephew deliver it tonight.”
    Inga nodded gravely. “I’ll see it taken care of, Miss Katie. I’ll be bringing tea to the others, then I’ll come back for your letter.”
    When Inga left, Katie drank her hot tea and poured a second cup, adding even more sugar and milk. She carried the cup and saucer to her desk, sat down, and drained the cup. When her nerves began to settle, she removed a piece of linen stationery and dipped the pen in the inkwell. She wrote hurriedly, folded the sheet, and sealed it in the envelope. On the outside she scrawled
Master Henry Chantry.
Then she went back to her chair and waited for Inga.
    An hour later, the nanny came back into the room. Katie handed her the envelope. “Do not let Laddie tell anyone what he is about.”
    Inga nodded. “No one, Miss Katie. You rest easy. Laddie will find the Master.”

C HAPTER T WO

    Katie awoke with a start. She must have dozed off. She was still sitting in the chair, the empty teacup and saucer on her lap. She realized what had awakened her. Sir Julien’s impatient voice rang through the open bedroom window.
    Had Cousin Henry dared to return?
    She set the cup on the tea tray and went to the window, looking down to the front lawn.
    A tall young African in knee pants and a long yellow cotton shirt was leading a horse toward Sir Julien, who stood tapping his foot. Dressed for riding, he yelled something in Zulu to Dumaka, who was head groom. Dumaka trotted alongside the gelding, bringing the handsome golden horse to Sir Julien.
    Julien mounted, took hold of the reins, and sent the horse galloping toward the gate.
    Where was he going? It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that with him gone, the task in the library would now be much easier to accomplish.
    A soft tap sounded on Katie’s door. She hurried to it. A moment later it opened, and Inga’s light blue eyes shone.
    â€œLaddie found Master Henry. He’s in a room at the wharf. He sent a message to you, Miss Katie.” After glancing both ways, she removed an envelope from behind her apron.
    Katie read the brief wording from Cousin Henry:
I will meet you in the stables a few minutes after midnight. H. C.
    â€œGood news, miss? You’re smiling pertlike.”
    Katie clutched the letter to her chest. “Yes! Leave the back kitchen door unlocked tonight. I will come down fifteen minutes before the stroke of twelve.”
    â€œThen the master will bring you to Isandlwana?”
    â€œI shall do everything in my power to see that he does. This is my chance to get away, to have my daughter … and a new start in America.”
    Inga nodded. “With a guardian like Master Julien, it is best to leave if you can, miss. He’s ridden to the harbor to meet someone from London. He didn’t say who it was, but I don’t suspect he’ll be back soon. Luck, Miss Katie, is on your side, so it seems. Jendaya, too, has come back to her hut. She didn’t leave as I had thought, but was selling vegetables at the open market.”
    Katie clasped her hands together. “Speak to her about having a four-horse carriage ready for me tonight. If Cousin Henry agrees, Jendaya can bring me as far as Natal. Afterward I can ride horseback with Henry toward Isandlwana.” The ride would be rough and not without risk, but Katie would not turn back in fear, no matter how many rumors spread of the Zulus preparing for the first “washing of their spears.”
    Katie spent the rest of