William had taken over their father's study to conduct the business of the bank. A new chairman of the Board had been chosen to replace their father for the duration of what the siblings had reported as his "illness," but William had taken his seat at that table. Despite his youth he was still deferred to in nearly everything. After all, he held the purse strings that were the very foundation of the bank. But somehow he still hoped to balance out his obligations to the bank and his aspirations towards architecture. Even with all of the obstacles that had recently presented themselves, William was determined to find the time.

His sister would have mocked him, but she was equally resolute about her own ambitions. William had taken over Henry's study, so Tamara had ensconced herself within their grandfather's chambers. So much had happened in those rooms since the start of the year, things both tragic and remarkable. Yet she felt safe here, close to him, surrounded by the trappings of his forays into stage magic and his travels to exotic locales. It was as if Ludlow could watch over her here, though she knew that his spirit had moved on.