Amalie steps out, wearing a pretty blue pelisse and a white bonnet, Mrs.Linet standing behind her, looking exceedingly put together already.
“MissPine,” she greets.
Catherine and MissTeit curtsy. “Good morning, Mrs.Linet. Thank you for allowing MissLinet to walk with me.”
“Of course,” she says. She and Amalie have the same green eyes and wide smile. “And please extend my congratulations to your mother on your impending engagement. Are you excited?”
Catherine forces herself to smile brightly. Dear God, she hopes she can make this work. “Rather nervous, really.”
Mrs. Linet grins. “Of course. The anticipation can be unsettling. But I think soon enough you’ll be filled with joy.”
“Thank you,” Catherine says, hoping she sounds sincere and not simply terrified.
“Shall we?” Amalie prompts.
“Yes. We’ll have her back by eleven,” Catherine promises Mrs.Linet.
“There is no rush. Have fun.”
Amalie takes Catherine’s arm and steers her off the stoop and back down the alley, MissTeit following behind at a leisurely stroll.
Once they’ve stepped back onto the broad, damp, empty street and turned to head toward the gardens, Amalie squeezes her arm. “So, what’s the matter?”
She promised herself she could do this. She could reach out and try, for herself, for Rosalie, and the hazy dream of a someday future. She just has to summon the words.
“Can’t a girl just want to take a walk with a friend?” Catherine asks.
“Not before nine in the morning. What’s so urgent you had to interrupt my breakfast?”
Catherine swallows against her discomfort. Amalie is her friend. “I need your help.”
“That’s obvious. Withwhat?” Amalie asks.
Catherine glances back at MissTeit, who’s following them at truly discreet distance. Not that she thinks she needs to hide from MissTeit, but she wants to tell her in her own way, on her own.
“I need you to set up a walk with Christopher.”
Amalie stares at her as they walk for a moment. “. . . Okay.”
“And invite Rosalie along.”
“...Okay,” she repeats.
“We have things to discuss, but my mother doesn’t want me writing to Christopher anymore, and I need to—”
“All right,” Amalie says easily.
Catherine opens her mouth. That was too easy.
“What, did you expect me tonotwant to go on a walk with Christopher?” Amalie asks. Catherine hesitates. “Did you really need to get me out of the house to ask for this? You could have written a note.”
Catherine winces. “Well, I, um, just wanted—”
“Unless there’s more to this request than you’re telling me.”
Catherine stumbles and Amalie catches her. “Like what?” she asks, heart thumping loudly as they stand still on the gray stone sidewalk.
Amalie gives her a shrewd look. “Like maybe whatever you and Rosalie have to discuss is a little more covert than you’re letting on?”
