A hush fell over me.
People had libraries in their homes?
“If I hadn’t had a life laid out for me,” Alec said quietly, “I would become a scholar and perhaps a professor and spend all my time in a library.”
He had an intelligent light in his eyes—I had noticed it right away. He’d been to Harvard. His father was a minister. He ran a large company and wanted to be a professor. His apparent brilliance was yet another thing that intimidated me and enthralled me all at the same time.
I, on the other hand, had only been educated by mission workers who had come to Five Points to teach the children basic letters and numbers. I knew enough to get by—but had never read a whole book.
Alec walked a few feet, looking at the books, and then turned to me and said, “What about you? If you weren’t going to be a duchess.” He smiled—but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “What did you hope to be, Keira?”
I felt vulnerable under his blue-eyed gaze, in an unfamiliar gown, in a room I had not even realized some people owned. How could I explain to him that I had never had the luxury of hoping to be something I wasn’t—yet dreams had beckoned me, nonetheless?
I’d never shared my dream with anyone, for fear they’d laugh at me and steal the only joy I possessed. Somehow, I sensed—hoped—Alec wouldn’t laugh.
“I dream of going west,” I said quietly.
“West?”
“Beyond the Mississippi.” I wasn’t sure what was beyond the Mississippi—only freedom. “All I want is a cabin somewhere, near a stream and far away from New York City. With one enormous chair, where I can sit and sew to get by. It would be lovely.”
He studied me for a moment, in that quiet way of his, and my heart felt like it quit beating. Would he laugh at me?
“I could see you in a cabin, by a stream, sewing.”
“Could you?” My heart fluttered to life again. He was the first person who had envisioned it with me—and somehow that made it feel more real—more attainable.
“Would there be a library in your cabin?” he asked.
I smiled. Before now, I had never dreamed of a library in my cabin—but I nodded. “Aye.”
“I like your dream, Keira.”
“And I like yours, Mr.—”
“Alec.”
Both of us were silent and I felt shy again, so I turned to the books and ran my fingers along the spines.
For the first time in years, my nails were clean.
A clock chimed somewhere in the house and Alec looked toward the door. “I should get to the office. They’ll wonder what’s keeping me.”
I hated that our time together was at an end.
He walked across the room and joined me.
“Well?” I asked, lifting my chin, acting bolder than I felt. “How did me first lesson in flirtin’ go?”
He grinned. “I think you’re a natural.” He offered me his arm to leave the library. “You’re one of the most charming young women I’ve ever met and if it was up to me, I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”
I looked up at him, to see if he was serious—but I saw the hint of teasing in his gaze and knew he was only practicing with me again.
But I had no idea what to say.
The dressmaker stayed for hours and brought with her dozens of readymade dresses that were fitted for me. I hardly said a word as Aunt Maude made several selections. I lost count of how many gowns were left and how many were being ordered. There would be custom-made undergarments, shawls, hats, and more. Aunt Maude said we would go shopping for reticules, shoes, umbrellas, and ribbons.
And all of it would be mine.
