Victoria blinked at the phone. "Why would I hang up on you?"
"Because I'm about to ask you for money." Sophie's voice was bright with the sort of determined cheerfulness that suggested she'd been practicing this conversation. "For my kitten sanctuary. Well, it's going to be a proper cat rescue eventually, but right now it's mostly just eight increasingly large cats and a lot of ambitious planning."
Despite everything, Victoria felt herself smile. "A cat rescue. At fifteen."
"Technically, the cats are already sixteen weeks old, so it's not like I'm starting from scratch, they’re not complete kittens, not anymore," Sophie's enthusiasm was palpable even through the phone. "I've got the old stable block set up, and Father's hiring someone to help with the day-to-day care, and Mother's been amazing about organizing fundraising, but I still need donations for the veterinary costs and—"
"How much do you need?" Victoria interrupted.
"Well, the initial setup is about five thousand, but ongoing costs—"
"Send me the details. I'll transfer ten."
Silence on the other end. Then, quietly: "Really?"
"Really." Victoria pulled up her banking app. "Though I have to ask, Sophie, are you sure about this? You're fifteen. Shouldn't you be worrying about exams and university applications, not running a bloody animal rescue?"
"Should you be worrying about spreadsheets instead of being happy?" Sophie shot back, then immediately softened. "Sorry, that was rude. But Vic, when you want something badly enough, nothing else matters. And I want this. I'm doing it whether anyone thinks I'm too young or too inexperienced or completely mental."
Victoria felt something twist in her chest. When you want something badly enough. "Right. Well. Send me the details."
"Thank you. Seriously, thank you so much." Sophie paused. "Are you alright? You sound a bit… flat."
"I'm fine. Just tired. New job and all that."
"Mmm." Sophie's tone suggested she wasn't buying it, but mercifully she didn't push. "Right then. I'll let you get back to being a terrifyingly successful banker. Love you."
"Love you too, Soph."
Victoria ended the call and sat staring at her phone. When you want something badly enough. The words echoed uncomfortably, forcing her to acknowledge what she'd been carefully avoiding all day.
She didn't want this. Any of this. The corner office, the important meetings, the endless emails about urgent matters that would be completely forgotten by next quarter. She wanted dirt under her fingernails and Sasha's laugh and the particular quality of light in her father's greenhouse.
Which was completely impractical and utterly ridiculous.
She closed her laptop with decisive force and headed home, despite the fact that it was barely eight o’clock yet.
THE FLAT WAS exactly as she'd left it that morning: spotless, expensive, and soul-crushingly empty. But then, it wasn’t like there was anyone else in it to make a mess. To, say, leave a stray pair of pajamas over the back of the couch, or a hairbrush in the sink. She'd lived here for three years and it still looked like a hotel room. No personal touches, no clutter, nothing that suggested an actual human being resided within these pristine walls.
Victoria dropped her bag by the door and was contemplating whether opening wine at close to nine counted as acceptable stress management when her phone rang again.
"Darling!" Her mother's voice was bright with maternal enthusiasm. "How's the new job? Settling in well?"
"It's fine. Good. Very… professional."
"That's wonderful. Listen, I wanted to tell you the most marvelous news. Archie and Cathy are officially together. He finally worked up the courage to actually ask her properly, and honestly, I've never seen him so happy. They came for lunch yesterday, and it was absolutely lovely."
"That's brilliant," Victoria said, and meant it. "I'm glad he finally sorted himself out."
"Mmm, and Ambrose is bringing Lukas to dinner next weekend. Your father's already planning which orchids he wants at the table to show off. It's all very sweet." Her mother paused meaningfully. "Of course, we'd love to have you as well. Perhaps you could bring someone?"
"Mother…"
"I'm not pushing, darling. Just observing that you work very hard and perhaps deserve some happiness too. You have so much to offer, if only you could see it."
Victoria felt her throat tighten. "I'm perfectly happy."
"Are you?" Lady Charlotte's voice was gentle. "Because you don't sound it. You sound like someone going through the motions."
