“Yes, she is often quite busy of late,” Penny grumbled.
Eva ground her teeth. Of all the impertinence.
“I shall see you at dinner, Miss Penny.” Gathering her hem, Mrs. Mortimer strolled over to Eva and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I spoke to her about the school for the blind. Please rethink your stance, for I believe she is willing to give it a try.” Then louder, “Until later, ladies.”
The woman swept from the room, leaving Eva with every muscle clenched. Truly, she shouldn’t be so annoyed at Mrs. Mortimer’s offer, and yet for whatever reason, it just did not sit well.
She crossed over to Penny and sank onto the bench’s velvet cushion. Though the evening had barely begun, she was weary of it. Regardless, she reached for her sister’s hand and forced a pleasant tone. “I understand you are cross with me, sister.”
“I am.” Penny pulled away her hand. “It seems every time I turn around, you’re off somewhere with the professor.”
That stung. It wasn’t as if she’d chosen to break up a fight between two brawling men. She shoved her fingers into her pocket and ran her thumb over the smoothness of Bram’s rock. “Your words are patently untrue, and I think you know it. I am not trying to get rid of you in order to spend time with Professor Webb.”
“I know, but it sure feels like it sometimes.” Penny scuffed her toe along the carpet. “You’ve been so occupied these past few months, I hardly think I matter anymore.”
“That is not true either. You mean the world to me.” She pulled her sister into a sideways hug. “I have you here with me now, do I not? We are sisters. Nothing will ever change that.”
“No, but as Mrs. Mortimer says, things do change, and she thinks I’m ready to go off to school. Even the professors have told me what a quick mind I own and that I ought to think about school as well. You know, spread my wings and all that. Maybe itistime for something different for me, something more than just being your sister.”
Eva scrunched her brow. “What are you saying?”
“I shall be thirteen in a couple of months. Perhaps it is time I grew up.”
“Not too quickly, I hope. Though it may seem otherwise to you, I am not ready to let you go into the world.” She pressed a kiss to the crown of Penny’s head.
For a moment, Penny leaned against her just like old times, then pulled away and rose to her feet. “Well, I know what I am ready for. The samples I tasted were good, but I am hungry for more. Shall we go to dinner now?”
“Brilliant idea.” Though she used a pleasant tone as she looped her arm through Penny’s, Eva’s heart weighed heavy. No harsh words had been exchanged, and yet something had shifted in their relationship—or more like had been shifting ever since Bram and the team had arrived. But did the blame for that really land at his feet? Penny was no young girl anymore. These growing pains were only natural, and Eva had no idea how to navigate them. There was one thing she did know, however. Change was on the horizon.
A change she wasn’t sure she’d like.
23
After two cups ofverystout black tea, Eva still couldn’t contain a yawn the size of all Cambridgeshire. She should be glad for being the sole occupant of the dining room this quiet Sunday morn, but Penny really ought to be down here by now.
Oh,Penny.
She poured a third cup, inhaling the fragrant steam as it flowed from the spout. No doubt her sister was a bit sluggish after being out so late last evening. The gala had gone surprisingly well after the rough start. Leastwise Mrs. Quibble seemed to be pleased when Eva had wished her good night. Hopefully the relief society’s funds would be replenished to cover the whole of next year.
Setting down the teapot with a gentle clink, Eva pressed her fingertips against her tired eyes. She wouldn’t be quite so tired if she’d actually slept the few hours between arriving home and sunrise. Instead, she’d wrestled with the bedsheets, reliving the two times Bram had nearly kissed her last night. She’d wanted him to—which frightened her to no end. She’d never entertained feelings so powerful for a man before. What was she to do with all these unexpected pangs and desires? Andthere was no one to ask. Lottie was as inexperienced as she. Dixon—having never been married—would blush herself into oblivion. It wasn’t something she could—or would—discuss with the reverend, and Mrs. Mortimer was far too flamboyant to have a serious discussion ... though apparently the woman had held a thoughtful conversation with Penny.
Dropping her hand, Eva blew on her hot tea. Was she being stubborn in refusing Mrs. Mortimer’s offer to sponsor her sister for that school in London? Penny hadn’t said anything about it on the drive home, though to be fair, the girl had not said much of anything, for she’d been far too exhausted.
Eva sipped her scalding drink.She’dpromised to care for her little sister, not some hired instructors at an academic establishment in a big city so far from home. But Penny wasn’t so little anymore. Was the girl really turning thirteen in February? Perhaps letting her get the schooling she so desired was the best way to care for her.
Eva rattled her teacup against the saucer. How had the past half hour gone by so quickly? They ought to be leaving for church soon, and her sister had yet to eat.
Striding from the room, she wound her way upstairs to her sister’s bedroom and rapped on the door. “Penny?”
No answer.
“Poppet, are you in there?” Eva tried the knob, which gave. She swung open the door to morning sunshine streaming into the room through open draperies, casting light on a very rumpled—and empty—bed. The counterpane was completely missing.
And so was Penny.
“Oh, sister, where have you gone?”
She whirled, then paused, something shiny catching at the corner of her eye. Turning back around, she crossed the few steps to the washstand and fished out a pendant caught between the stand and the baseboard. She held it up to the sunlight,then gasped. A brooch.Thebrooch. The one that had gone missing from the Roman collection. What in the world was it doing here?
