A stone path meandered through the flower beds. I started to follow it, and Luc joined me, his hands behind his back. Neither of us spoke, and I was comfortable with the silence. There was peace in knowing that we didn’t need to fill the space.
But there were things I wanted to say—and things I wanted to hear, though I didn’t know what he would tell me.
“Thank you, again, for coming,” I told him. “I wasn’t sure if you would.”
He was quiet for another heartbeat and then said, “Hope was very special to me.” He paused, and I stopped to search his face. His grief was just as strong as his guilt.Hadhe loved her? “There is much I’d like to say.” He took a deep breath. “But I must apologize first. I should have tested the Blériot for her before she took up a passenger. She wasn’t familiar enough with it to handle it properly.”
“It’s not your fault—”
“I was her instructor.”
“She was done with her lessons.”
“But I knew better than she did. She was not used to flying with a passenger. I should have taken her up first to let her get a feel for the differences. I was too preoccupied with—” He paused and shook his head, looking away from me.
What had been preoccupying his mind that last day?
I put my hand on his forearm, drawing his gaze back. “It was not your fault, Luc.”
He stared at me for a heartbeat, as if looking for the truth in my words.
“No one blames you—least of all Hope.” I desperately wanted to tell him that Hope was still alive in 1692 and that she had not accused him of being at fault. But I couldn’t. He wouldn’t understand—and perhaps he wouldn’t believe me. He’d think it was grief talking.
“I wish I knew that for certain,” he said, swallowing his emotions as he looked down at my hand. “Because the guilt is eating me alive. She was too young and—” He paused as his gaze lifted to mine. “I cannot comprehend the loss you must feel. Your twin sister. There was no one she loved as much as she loved you. My heart breaks for you just as much as it does for her.”
Grief threatened to consume me as I felt the weight of his compassion and removed my hand. Yet I wanted to ease his guilt. “Hope knew exactly what she was doing when she made that flight. It was an accident. Pilots are killed all the time. If you fly, you know it’s a matter of time before something goes wrong. Hope knew that, too.”
“You seem very sure of yourself.”
Tears pooled in my eyes, and I had to blink them away. “She died doing something she loved. You should take comfort in that.”
We walked again, both in our own thoughts. Finally, Luc took a deep breath and said, “I have something to tell you. I wasn’t sure if I should wait, but there’s not much time.”
I paused, afraid of what it might be.
“Armour and Company contacted me yesterday afternoon with a proposition,” he said. “They wanted me to convey their condolences to you and your family—and make you an offer.”
“Me?” I turned to him, my skirt brushing the edge of a rose bush, sending a cascade of water across the dark fabric. “What kind of offer?”
“Everything is ready for Hope’s flight in September—everything but a pilot. They have asked if you would consider making the flight in Hope’s place.”
My mouth slipped open as I studied him to see if he was teasing. “Me?”
“You are almost as famous as your sister,” he said. “With your articles and with your photograph alongside Hope inCalais. Hope’s death has grieved the world, and Armour and Company believe that you will bring healing to everyone if you complete her trip.”
“It’s a ridiculous idea.” I shook my head, not even contemplating the proposition.
“It’s not ridiculous,” he said, slowly. “Perhaps a little unexpected—but anyone can learn to fly.”
“Yes, but you mustwantto fly first. Besides, the trip starts in eight weeks. I could never be prepared to fly across the country in such a short amount of time.”
“You could if you let me teach you.”
I crossed my arms and began to walk again, shaking my head. “It can’t be done.”
“Armour and Company has not only guaranteed that you’ll get the prize money if you complete the trip in thirty days,” he said as he stayed where we had been standing, “but they are willing to pay you ten thousand dollars even if it takes you longer than thirty days.”
I stopped and turned to him. “Even if I don’t make it to California in thirty days?”
