“May I ask your name?”

“I’m Lorinda Rhett.”

“Hamilton Rhett’s daughter!”

“Stepdaughter,” the girl corrected.

“You’re just the person I want to see!” exclaimed Penny, overjoyed at her good fortune. “Your stepfather—”

“I’ll answer no questions about him,” the girl interrupted. “You may as well spare your breath. Mother and I want no reporters here.”

“So you know who I am?”

“How could one help knowing? You nearly broke our door down with your pounding, and I heard you talking to Antón.”

“Your servant?”

“My stepfather’s,” Lorinda corrected with a slight inflection which suggested that she did not entirely approve of Antón. “Now will you stop asking questions and go away?”