“OH God! That is Oswald!” Orlanda rasped out, her voice caught somewhere between disbelief and terror as she backed away from the window, turning sharply to Winifred with eyes wide, wild and accusing.

Winifred recoiled at once, hands up like a startled cat.

“I didn’t— Orlanda, I swear to God, I didn’t do that!” she stammered, voice cracking in panic. She grabbed Orlanda’s wrist, shaking her head furiously as if to shake the suspicion right out of her friend’s mind. “I didn’t tell anyone anything, I wouldn’t! I swear on my mother’s life, I didn’t—”

But Orlanda was barely hearing her. Her heart was roaring in her ears like a...