Sonnet to a Dead Contessa by Gilbert Morris

mind was like a machine, in a way, taking facts in, never forgetting them, and in some way putting them together in a way that made sense to him. “I think you’re going to have to do a little more romancing, Kenzie.”
    “How’s that, sir?”
    “We need to know the name, or names perhaps, of any men that Lady Welles was seeing.”
    “I’ll do my best, sir.”
    “Perhaps you need to take Miss Alice some flowers or some small gift like that.”
    “Oh, that would not be at all in keeping . . .”
    “Then tell her she has pretty eyes. With a ladies’ man like you, Kenzie, I certainly don’t need to give you any advice.”
    “I’ll do my best, sir.”
    “Too bad he’s a Presbyterian,” Grant said as soon as Kenzie left. “He needs a little bit more deceit in him than a good Presbyterian is supposed to have.”

    David’s eyes glowed with excitement, and he came running up to grab his mother by the hand. “Mum, can I take some of my toys with me?” The morning sun slanted through the window, illuminating his face and emphasizing the eagerness in his bright blue eyes.
    “No, indeed, I’m sure Lady Margaret’s children will have all the toys you need.”
    “How long are we going to stay?” David demanded. He had been excited when his mother told him they
were going for a visit to Lady Margaret’s house, and had piled questions on her.
    “Just until late afternoon. They’ll be coming to spend the weekend with us next week.”
    “Lady Trent, the carriage is waiting,” Louisa Toft, Serafina’s maid, came to say.
    “Oh, tell them we’ll be right there, Louisa.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Come along, David. We don’t want to keep Miss Margaret waiting.”
    The two had made all preparations, and Peter Grimes helped them into the carriage, saying, “Have a good visit, Lady Trent.”
    “Thank you, Peter. You keep an eye on things while I’m gone.”
    “Oh yes, ma’am, I surely will.”
    David talked steadily all the way to the Acton town house, and as soon as the carriage stopped, he was greeted by the Acton children, Charles and Roger. They pulled him off at once, and Margaret laughed. “We won’t be troubled with entertaining them, I think. Come inside, Serafina. I’m dying for tea.”
    The two entered the house and soon were being served tea by a pretty maid. The room was pleasant, furnished in cool greens and filled with sunshine. There was a large fireplace of polished marble, and on the walls were Dutch pastoral scenes with cows. The two women talked as they sipped their tea and nibbled at tiny fairy cakes. Serafina felt comfortable in the room and with Margaret’s company as she did no other place outside her own home.
    Margaret said, “I thought we might go by Lorenzo’s. I’ve collected some clothes that I thought he and Gyp might find some use for.”
    Serafina smiled. “I’m sure that’s a fine idea. I have done the same in the past. They are always helping women among the poor classes.”
    “They are really very interesting men. Were they really criminals?”
    “Dylan says they were. Gyp was the best safecracker in England, he said, and Lorenzo, he won’t even speak about his wrongdoing. But that’s all over now. Come along. We’ll pay them a visit.”
    They left the children in the charge of Irene, Margaret’s sister, and soon arrived at Lorenzo and Gyp’s door. As usual, Lorenzo’s voice was booming, and he was full of all sorts of Christian greetings. “Well, bless the Lord, O my soul!” he said with a broad grin. “Glory be to God and the Lamb forever! Good to see you two ladies.”
    He ushered them inside, and Gyp was cooking something on the stove. “Hello, Gyp,” Serafina said.
    “Good day, Lady Trent, and to you, Lady Margaret.”
    “I brought some clothing that I thought someone might be able to use,” Lady Margaret said.
    “It’s very kind of you to think of the poor,” Lorenzo said sonorously. “I’m sure the ladies will be most grateful.”
    “I