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shall get richer with my newspapers, but I bought the New York newspaper with some of the proceeds.’ He hesitated, then said, lowering his voice, ‘I want to raise castle, and someone showed me a perfect place. As an American citizen I was able to buy the land, and then I discovered what I believe to be a gold lode there.’
    ‘A gold lode?’ she whispered back. ‘What is that?’
    ‘It’s gold that is buried in rock. It has to be crushed out of the rock which means using expensive machinery. We’ve staked a claim and are setting up right now.’
    ‘We? You have a partner?’
    ‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘John Charlesworth. He has agreed to put capital into the scheme. The one problem is his wife. If she should hear of it it will be all over New York and we’ll have every gold miner in America trailing us.’
    ‘But why are you telling me, Mr Dreumel?’ she asked, perturbed by this confidence. ‘You don’t know me. I could tell everyone too. How do you know I can keep a secret?’
    He shrugged. ‘I don’t know. But I can guess. I can generally tell if someone is honest and trustworthy.’ He smiled his dimpled smile. ‘I don’t really know why I told you, but sometimes it is good to confide, to share. Besides,’ he added, ‘I haven’t told you where the land is and if I did you wouldn’t be able to find it. Being only a woman,’ he said slyly.
    ‘Ah,’ she said gaily. ‘I thought there would be a reason. So who is looking after this land?’ she asked. ‘Shouldn’t you be there guarding it?’
    ‘Normally, yes,’ he said. ‘But I have found a fellow who has been in the mining business – an Englishman, who is there now supervising the machinery which is being assembled. I’m expecting him this week, as a matter of fact. He’s travelling to New York to tell us of the work in progress.’
    After they had finished eating, Georgiana spoke to the desk clerk and asked to see the rooms. They were smaller than at the other hotel but comfortably furnished and decorated in warm colours. They had two free so she booked them for an indefinite stay. Wilhelm Dreumel kept out of earshot as she negotiated a price, and she was glad that he did not try to interfere or recommend.
    They strolled back to the Portland. The evening was cool but dry and there was a salty smell of the sea which made her feel nostalgic for home, but she also felt buoyed up by the fact that she was making progress in her life. I have made a friend, she thought, who has confided in me, and I have made a decision about moving hotels and I have not yet been here one week.
    ‘It has been most pleasant, Miss Gregory,’ Dreumel said as he escorted her into the Portland foyer. ‘Very pleasant indeed, and I hope that perhaps we can repeat the evening, only perhaps you would be my guest next time?’
    ‘That would be lovely.’ She extended her hand to his. ‘Where are you staying, Mr Dreumel?’ she asked. ‘Here at the Portland?’
    ‘No, at the Marius. I prefer the simplicity. So I will hope to see you again soon. Tomorrow if my man turns up as promised I shall be in discussion with him. Perhaps,’ he said, raising a finger as if it had just occurred to him. ‘Perhaps you would care to meet him. He is from northern England, as you are.’
    ‘Oh, yes! It would be good to hear how a fellow English person is surviving in this new country.’
    He smiled. ‘It doesn’t seem so very new to me as I have lived here all my life, but yes, I do understand what you mean.’
    ‘What is his name?’ Georgiana asked. ‘I may know of him or his family.’
    ‘Newmarch,’ he replied. ‘Edward Newmarch.’
    She stared blankly for a moment, then said faintly, ‘I do know the Newmarches, but I think not the same family. They are not in mining.’
    She took her leave of him and walked unsteadily up the stairs to her room. It isn’t possible, she thought. It must be sheer coincidence.
    Edward Newmarch, her cousin May’s husband, had sailed for