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nothing else happened anywhere in the world.”
    “Maybe so, Beck. Maybe so, but something’s always happening. We just need to start finding out what before the Herald does.”
    “We will, boss.”
    “That’s right, Father,” Adriane put in. “You’re always on top of whatever’s happening in the political arena.”
    “That’s true.” Wade Darcy’s frown eased back. “And that’s the real news. Did we get anything in from Colonel Storey for tomorrow’s issue?”
    Adriane turned back to her desk and picked up a letter. “As a matter of fact, we did. As usual, he doesn’t completely agree with your views.”
    “That’s fine. A little controversy is good for circulation.” He folded the Herald and smacked it in his palm.
    “You want me to get rid of that?” Adriane asked.
    “No. I want to read over Garrett’s editorials. It’s always best to keep abreast of what the enemy is up to.”
    “Have you met him, Father?” Adriane couldn’t help but be curious about this man who was making such an impact on the town’s newspaper business even though he’d only arrived in Louisville a few months ago. It was common knowledge he’d worked for a big daily up in New York City. Another reason for Adriane’s curiosity. Why would he leave a New York paper for one here in Louisville? So far she hadn’t heard the first bit of reliable information about that.
    “Of course I’ve met him. If he wasn’t such a young pup, I’d call him out.” Her father twisted the paper as though he might rip it in two.
    “Father!” Adriane’s eyes popped open wide. “We’ve been campaigning for an end to duels.”
    “Don’t look so shocked, Adriane.” Her father waved the rumpled paper at her. “I didn’t mean it. The only way I’ll shoot him is if he shoots at me first on the street.”
    “Oh, Father, go write your editorial. Just gun him down with words.”
    “You want to save some space for the murder in tomorrow’s paper?” Beck asked before her father moved away toward his office.
    He hesitated as though wanting to say no, but there was only one answer. “I suppose we’ll have to,” he said with a sigh. “Garrett’s headlines will convince even our readers that it’s news. I’ll get a report from Chief Trabue before we go to press.”
    “I don’t think the police are doing much about any of it,” Adriane said.
    “I wouldn’t wonder, the kind of girls they were. Decent young ladies shouldn’t even be reading about such things.” A new frown furrowed her father’s brow. “Young ladies like you.”
    Adriane quickly changed the subject. “We could try to find out if any of the steamboats are trying to make a record run to New Orleans and back. I hear Captain Overstreet on The Belle of Paradise has been tying down his valves.”
    Her father’s eyes narrowed on her. “Where did you hear that?”
    “I don’t know. Around,” she said vaguely.
    Her father’s frown lines deepened as he said, “You hear entirely too much for a lady, Adriane. You must be more circumspect about appearances now that you’re to marry Stanley.”
    “I don’t care about appearances, Father,” Adriane said.
    “Of course you do, dear. All young ladies care about appearances.” Her father’s frown was replaced by an indulgent smile. “By the way, Lucilla is sending her dressmaker over with a special gown for you to wear tonight. She had her woman make it as a surprise for just such an occasion.”
    “I have dresses.”
    “Not proper ones, according to Lucilla, and I’m sure Lucilla knows best about such things.”
    “Yes, Father.” Adriane had little choice but to give in gracefully.
    So when Lucilla’s dressmaker, Nora, showed up with the boxed dress, Adriane left the pressroom, scrubbed the ink off her hands, and submitted to the fitting. As Nora fussed over her, admiring her hair and her figure, and praising Mrs. Elmore’s fashion sense that had made her pick the perfect deep blue for the dress, Adriane