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“Yes.”
And we’ve been sitting here since two o’clock, going over and over the same things we’ve discussed for ten days.

Jacquie pushed the chair back and stood. “I have to go. Mother will be worried.”

Fear coursed through Tessa. “You don’t think she’ll come looking for you, do you?”

“No.” Jacquie shook her head. “She thinks I’m with my best friend, having tea.” She offered a smile and reached out to take Tessa by the hand. “Then again, I am having tea with a dear friend. You’ve become like a sister to me, Tessa. I’m truly going to miss you when you’re gone. I really mean that.”

“And I you.” A lump rose in Tessa’s throat. She would miss Jacquie. A little. But she would miss Peter even more. And Countess, of course.

Jacquie scurried toward the door. “I wish we had more time together, but I have to get back now. We’re going out tonight—to the opera.”

Tessa tried to imagine what that would be like. Perhaps it would be a bit like the novels she read in secret, a fanciful world where problems did not exist.

“I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.” Jacquie’s nose wrinkled. “I hope I’m not bored to tears sitting next to Roland. At least he got good seats. We’re up front near the orchestra, so close that I can see the performers without binoculars.” A sigh followed. “I love
La Bohème
. It’s a heart-wrenching love story, one filled with delights of every kind.” Her smile faded as quickly as it had arisen. “But
such a tragic ending. Poor Mimi dies before she experiences all that love has to offer.” Jacquie released a little sigh then waved her good-byes and disappeared out the door.

Left alone in the little cottage, Tessa thought about the opera house and wondered what it might be like to go to such a grand place. To hear the orchestra play, their majestic harmonies filling the air. To see the costumes in all their glorious, vibrant colors. To hear the tremor of the singers’ voices as they shared their woeful tales.

Oh well. Right now she had a greater drama to play out. This one involved a very real heroine setting out on an adventure across the seas. Tessa only prayed the ending of her story was not as tragic as the one in
La Bohème
. Dying before one had a chance to experience love was highly overrated, after all.

As Jacquie ran along the cobblestone path toward the manor, her thoughts tumbled madly. She spent a moment or two fretting over Tessa and whispered up a prayer that all would go well once the young woman boarded the ship.

Not that the Almighty was in the business of helping people deceive others, but perhaps He would make an exception in this case. Surely the Lord cared deeply that she and Peter were so desperately in love. Wasn’t he the Author of love, after all? Of course. The reverend had said as much in his sermon just last Sunday. If the Lord instigated love, surely He would approve of going to such lengths to make it possible. She hoped.

Jacquie ran across the little bridge, over the creek, and through the maze of beautifully sculpted bushes. When she arrived at the
house, she paused to catch her breath. No point in making Mother worry about what she had been up to.

Finally convinced that she had control of herself, Jacquie fussed with her hair and then entered the house. Iris met her in the foyer and pursed her lips then whispered, “She’s looking for you.”

“I guessed as much. I will tell her that I got held up at Melinda’s house.”

“You’d better go up now.”

Jacquie climbed the stairs, holding tightly to the polished railing as she tried to steady her breathing. Along the way, she contemplated the letter she still needed to write to Grandmother, the one Tessa would carry with her aboard
Titanic
. Coming up with just the right words would be critical. Surely Gran would not put Tessa out on the street—would she? Jacquie pushed aside her concerns as she crafted the letter in her head. Tonight she would pen it, her words carefully chosen. Until then, she must remain focused.

Seconds later she rapped on the door of the master suite, and her mother’s “Come in” rang out. Forcing a smile, Jacquie entered the room with shoulders squared and smile in place.

“There you are.” Her mother took several quick steps in her direction. “It’s after four. We have to leave at five thirty.”

“Yes, I’m sorry. Melinda and I were caught up in a lovely chat. I’m going to miss her so much when I leave.”

The look in her mother’s eyes spoke of suspicion. “I have a feeling you were not with Melinda at all.”

“O–oh?”

“You’ve been slipping away to spend time with Peter, haven’t you?”

A wave of relief washed over Jacquie. “Mother, I can assure you, I was not with Peter.”
Not this time, anyway.

“Well, good.” A smile turned up the edges of Mother’s lips. “I was afraid you were still pining for him, and that troubled me. I would hate to see you hurt in any way.” She gave Jacquie’s hand a squeeze. “Let me remind you that you are young. There are many wonderful young men out there.”

“That’s true.”
And most are horrible bores.

Mama winked. “Who knows? You might meet one on the ship. More likely, in New York, once you settle in with your grandmother.” Her eyes sparkled with obvious delight. “Perhaps this whole lovely journey is part of some larger adventure to bring about your happiness.”

Jacquie couldn’t have put it any better herself. Still, she knew better than to say so. “I will keep my eyes open for the ideal candidate,” she managed and then smiled, knowing that none fit the bill any better than the young man who kissed away her concerns every day when no one else was looking. He alone held the answers to any problems life might bring, and she would spend her life making him happy.

Mama’s lashes grew damp. “Keep your eyes open for someone who can give you the world, sweet girl. You deserve it.”

A rush of guilt swept over Jacquie at her mother’s proclamation. She did not deserve it, and yet she longed for it above all else.

“And in the meantime, I suppose we will have to be agreeable with Mr. Palmer tonight. But look on the bright side, dear. This could very well be the last time you have to put up with him.”

A strange twinge caught Jacquie off guard. “I don’t find him disagreeable, only dull. But this evening will give me ample opportunity to appear publicly with him before I leave.”

“I can hardly believe our plan is all going so smoothly.”
Jacquie’s mother chuckled. “I feel as if we’ve pulled off a bank heist. Such a covert operation, this. And to think, you even got a new wardrobe out of it.” Her smile faded. “But it’s the strangest thing. I’d hoped you could wear the new pink satin this evening, and it’s turned up missing.”

“Oh.” Jacquie fought to come up with a reason. “I asked Iris to take it back to Mrs. O’Shea to be taken in at the waist. With all that’s going on, I’ve dropped a few pounds.”

“Lovely dilemma.” Her mother smiled. “One’s waist can never be too small.”

“Yes.” Jacquie found herself in need of a change in the conversation. “Speaking of my wardrobe, did you manage to convince Father about going to Paris on the morning of the tenth?”

“Yes, he doesn’t suspect a thing, thank goodness. He even advanced me a delightful amount of money to purchase specialty items for your trousseau while we’re there. For all of his flaws, your father is a very generous man.”

Jacquie hated to comment, in part because she had never really focused on her father’s flaws and didn’t care to do so now. A wave of guilt passed over her as she thought about how she had deceived her father to get those new gowns, gowns she would never get to wear. Her guilt was magnified as she pondered the fact that Mama would eventually catch her in her game, as well. What would happen once her parents realized she had run off to marry Peter? Nausea gripped her suddenly, and she wondered if, perhaps, she could actually go through with this. The whole thing seemed strangely impossible at the moment. How complicated and twisted this had all become.

“Are you unwell, Jacquie? You look a bit pale.”

She glanced into her mother’s concerned eyes and swallowed hard. “Oh. Yes, I, um…”

“You’re going to miss me, aren’t you, baby girl?” Mama swept her into her arms and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “It’s breaking my heart too. You’re not even gone yet and I miss you already.”

“Miss her already?” Father’s voice rang out from behind them and Jacquie flinched. How long had he been standing there?

Mama’s grasp loosened and they both turned to face him.

“Jacquie, don’t fret. The Willingham estate is just a few miles away. You can come back to visit your mother any time you like after you and Roland are married.”

Pain shot through her chest as she pondered the fact that she could not come to visit Mama whenever she liked. Once she and Peter ran off to get married, there would be no coming and going from Abingdon Manor. No, once the deed was done, the parents she’d known and loved would embrace her no more.

Oh, how she hoped it would all be worth it.

Nathan settled into his seat at the theater, his gaze shifting from the stage to the balconies and then to the people alongside them. His breath caught in his throat when he noticed a beautiful young woman about his same age just a few seats down. Her exquisite blue dress brought out the color in her sapphire eyes, which held him spellbound. She caught his gaze and offered a nod then turned her attentions to the gentleman next to her. Nathan felt his cheeks grow warm as he turned to face the closed curtains at the front of the stage.

As the orchestra tuned their instruments, the house lights flickered, signaling audience members to take their seats. Clearly oblivious, his mother lit into a conversation with James, who, to Nathan’s way of thinking, paid her far too much attention.

Mother rambled about the beautiful theater, speaking at length above the din of the instruments. “This is the loveliest opera house I’ve ever seen.” A giggle followed. “But I’m sure the ship will be equally as nice. I hear the first-class quarters are beyond all sense of expectation. I can hardly wait to see them firsthand.”

To their right, a fellow in a formal black tailcoat jacket turned to face them with a smile as he took his seat. “Are you, perchance, speaking of the
Titanic
, madam?”

“I am.” Mother clasped her hands together. “We’re traveling out of Southampton on the tenth. Will you be boarding, as well?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” The fellow shook his head. “I hail from New York, but my business, at least for now, is here. In England.” A smile followed as he gestured to the beautiful woman with the mesmerizing eyes. “This lovely lady has agreed to be my bride. I’m the luckiest man in all of London. Our impending marriage offers me all the enticement I need to stay on awhile in England.”

The young woman offered a faint smile, and her eyelashes fluttered.

“Well then! Congratulations are in order.” Mama’s voice rang out a bit too loud as the tuning of the instruments winded down.

The gentleman’s smile spoke of true happiness. “I am a blessed man, to be sure. She has won my heart. So, where she stays, I will stay. And for now, that’s in London.”

Mama didn’t seem content with this answer. She sat on the edge of her chair, now speaking with her hands. “Oh, you should really consider marrying right away and honeymooning onboard the
Titanic
. Now wouldn’t that be the best way to start off your life together?” She began a lengthy conversation about the possibilities, offering advice far too intrusive to be considered helpful. Nathan cringed and wished she would stop.

“Perhaps.” The man turned to give his bride-to-be a smile when Mother finally paused for breath. “But I daresay, even my beautiful bride-to-be could never manage a wedding that fast.”

“True.” Mother fussed with her gloves, finally pulling them off and handing them to James, who seemed at a loss to know what to do with them. “These things take time, I suppose.” Off she went on another tangent, sharing about how much time and effort went into the planning of her own wedding.

Nathan couldn’t help but smile as he watched the man slip his arms over his fiancée’s shoulders. Clearly, the fellow was smitten. The sparkle in his eyes spoke as much. The same could not be said about the young woman seated beside him, perhaps. Her expression could only be described as pained. And was it Nathan’s imagination, or had she flinched when Mother mentioned the
Titanic
? Very odd. She must have some sort of aversion to sea travel. Or maybe all of that chatter about marrying quickly had given her cause to fret. Regardless, she looked a bit unsettled.