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name he never remembered.
    Olivia knew all of the people who worked for them, she knew their names, their histories, their parents, their sisters, their children.
    She knew their foibles and their strengths, and whatever mischief they occasionally got into. She was indeed the Mistress of Henderson Manor, perhaps even more than her own mother would have been, had she lived.
    In some ways, Olivia suspected that their mother had been far more like her sister.
    "Is John bringing someone with him? " Olivia looked surprised.
    Her father's attorney usually came alone, except when there was some problem at the mill, and she had heard nothing about it this time if there was.
    Usually, their father shared that kind of information with them.
    All of that would be theirs one day, although more than likely, the girls would sell the mills, unless they married men who were capable of running them, but Edward considered that less than likely.
    Her father sighed over his cigar in answer to her question.
    "Unfortunately, my dear, John is bringing someone today. I'm afraid I've come too far in this world. I've outlived two wives, a son, my doctor last year, most of my friends in the last decade, and now John Watson tells me he's thinking of retiring. He's bringing along a man who's recently joined his firm, and whom he seems to think quite a lot of."
    "But John's not that old, " Olivia looked surprised, and almost as disturbed as her father, "and neither are you, so stop talking like that." She knew he had begun to feel ancient since he'd been unwell, and even more so since he'd retired.
    "I am ancient. You have no idea what it's like when everyone IMMORTALS around you starts disappearing, " he said, scowling and thinking of the new attorney he didn't want to meet that afternoon.
    "No one is going anywhere, and neither is John for the moment, I'm sure, " she said reassuringly, as she poured him a small glass of sherry and handed it to him, with the plate of fresh ginger cookies.
    He took one, and looked extremely pleased as he looked at her.
    "Perhaps he won't go after all, after he tastes these cookies.
    I must say, Olivia, you get them to make miracles in that kitchen."
    "Thank you." She leaned over and kissed him, and he looked up at her with all the pleasure he felt each time he saw her. She looked remarkably comfortable and cool on such a hot day, and she took one of the gingersnaps herself and sat down next to him as they waited for John Watson. "So who's the new man? " she asked curiously after a few minutes.
    She knew that Watson was a year or two younger than her father, but it still seemed young to retire, to her, and he had always seemed very youthful. But perhaps he was wise, bringing someone new into their affairs sooner rather than later. "Have you met him before? "
    "Not yet. This will be the first time. John says he's extremely good at what he does, mostly business affairs, and he's done some estate matters for some of the Astors. He came to John's office from an excellent firm, with a very good recommendation."
    "Why did he change?
    " she asked, intrigued. She liked hearing about her father's business.
    Victoria did too, but she was far more hotheaded in her opinions.
    Sometimes the three of them had rare go-arounds about some issues of politics or point of business, but all three of them thoroughly enjoyed it. Perhaps because he had no son, Edward Henderson loved discussing intelligent matters with his daughters.
    "According to John, the new man, Dawson, had a hard blow last year.
    Actually, it made me feel sorry for him, and I think that's why I let John bring him .. . it's the sort of thing I'm afraid I understand rather too well." He smiled sadly at her. "He lost his wife last year on the Titanic. She was a daughter of Lord Arnsborough's, and I think she'd gone home to visit her sister. Damn shame she came back on the Titanic.
    Nearly lost his boy too. Apparently, they got him off in one of the last lifeboats. It was already