Kitty sat twisting her hands in her lap and did not answer. Johnny made a pitiful noise of dismay and turned reluctantly toward the staircase.
“Where’s Gran?” asked Kitty.
Tom smiled widely. “With Sally Rose,” he said. “Likely to stay there awhile, wouldn’t you think so?”
“Oh, of course. She wouldn’t leave Sally Rose like that—and with Johnny. I—I—” she stopped again.
“What’s on your mind, Kitty? Something, I can tell.”
“Yes. Yes, there is. I don’t know—maybe I should—or maybe I should wait and tell Sally Rose first. But maybe you’re the one.”
“You better tell me,” he said, trying to put strength into his voice, and a little tenderness, but not too much. He didn’t want her breaking down.
“Yes,” she said after a moment, lifting her head and looking straight into his eyes. “Yes, I think I should probably tell you, for you’ll know what to do about it. If you’re going back to camp—it ought to be made known to the officers there.”
“I aim to go tonight, not tomorrow morning,” he said. “Say what’s got to be said, Kitty.”
“Well then, I will.” She was not looking at him now. She fixed her eyes on a candle burning in a sconce across the room. “Tonight I went out to meet—a man—who was expecting Sally Rose. You can see why she couldn’t go.”