“You looked a little besieged,” Prudence observed, her arm still through Eleanor’s.
The sun was bright through the clouds, warming her cheeks despite the chill in the air. “Oh, shouldn’t we get our bonnets?”
Prudence shrugged. “I think our sanity is worth more than a pale forehead at this point, don’t you think?”
Eleanor smiled. “Of course. But this might be the first time I’ve been outside without a hat in ages.”
Prudence gave her a little shove with her shoulder. “We’re living dangerously.”
The clutching sensation in Eleanor’s stomach eased. The pebbled dirt crunched under her feet, and a sense of normalcy returned. “I’m not used to so much... talking.”
Prudence smiled. “I grew up with my mother and her sister together in the house, so there was always chatter. I don’t mind it, but I’m like you—sometimes I prefer my solitude. Especially if I need to think.”
Eleanor let out a shaky breath. “Perhaps that’s my difficulty. I don’t need to think. I am feeling far too much to think.”
“Also a very reasonable course of action.”
They walked in silence amidst the thorny stalks of would-be roses. It was impossible to tell now what all the garden held. The clouds covered the sun, cooling the air even further. Eleanor began to wish for a hat again.
“It’s only that—” Eleanor’s voice cracked. She was grateful that Prudence didn’t urge her onward, but rather waited for Eleanor to collect herself before she continued. “It’s only that I got my hopes up.”
Prudence let the words sit in the air before commenting. Eleanor liked that she had space to breathe when she spoke with Prudence. Things felt less... anxious, with her around.
“Hopes for what exactly? For marriage? Or for Tristan in particular?”
It was time for Eleanor to employ the casual gesture the Americans seemed to favor, and she shrugged. “I’m not sure. Perhaps him. Perhaps it was because I felt like he really knew me. Understood that I needed to be a part of something like this expedition. And then when he tried to take it away from me, it felt like a—a—” Eleanor faltered, tears threatening again. She blinked them back.
“Like a betrayal?” Prudence suggested.
“Precisely,” Eleanor said. “Like he hadn’t known me at all. For if he had, he would have realized that these few months with the Ladies’ Alpine Society have changed me irrevocably. I’m working so very hard to be worthy of the trip, to be capable like Ophelia. To be strong like you and Justine.”
Prudence tugged Eleanor closer. “Do you know, I feel the same way? That I have to work so very hard to be seen as worthy? I haven’t the knowledge of knots like you do. I haven’t the experience like Ophelia. I haven’t the sheer willpower of Justine. I’m just little old me, Prudence, from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Not that I would recognize it. I haven’t been there in years.”
“But you are extraordinary, Prudence. Me? I’m just no one. From London. Do you know how many people are from London? Millions. I haven’t been anywhere as interesting sounding as Minneapolis.” The word stumbled on her tongue, but she likedsaying it. The place sounded strange and wonderful and full of possibilities.
“Then, Eleanor Piper, you are one in a million. Or possibly more. I haven’t the slightest idea of the population of London.” Prudence’s soft smile bolstered Eleanor.
Eleanor sighed. “How can you be so wise and motherly when you are my age? I wish I could be like that.”
“You don’t. Not really, anyway. I had to grow up far too fast and far too soon. But I wouldn’t trade it. I’m twenty-five with a widow’s freedom. What could be better?”
Eleanor nodded. Soon, she would be considered on the shelf. And she would have the freedom of a lifelong spinster, as long as her parents agreed to it. But she hated being at the behest of others. Prudence had no one to answer to but herself.
“Listen,” Prudence continued. “We have a few more days here in the country to relax and prepare without anyone saying, ‘Where are your corsets?’ or ‘Why are you running?’ so we ought to enjoy it while we can. Maybe we can even sneak some extra desserts while we’re at it.”
Eleanor laughed. Tristan frowned at them all when they ate scones. He wanted less weight—less weight on the packs, less weight on their persons. He explained that it was all the physics of going up the mountain. The less to carry, the easier it would be on all of them. Eleanor understood the point. But now she wanted to be like Justine and eat an extra scone while staring Tristan down, if only to spite him.
“I would eat three scones every day if I could manage it. If only to see the look on Tristan’s face when I slathered cream on them,” Eleanor confessed.
“That’s my girl!” Prudence said with a laugh. “But for now, what would you like to do? We have some time before Ophelia and Justine are free.”
“Would you mind if I taught you some knots? It’s oddly relaxing for me.” Eleanor knew she was a strange person, and that might put Prudence off. But instead, Prudence accepted with a nod.
“I would love to know more. Let’s get our practice ropes and order some tea. All will be right with the world.”
*
London was miserable.Certainly, there were Tristan’s usual haunts and games. But he hadn’t the focus for cards or gambling. Even Jacobs took his money one night. He drank too much, and his morning runs were nothing but the smell of spirits coming up through his pores.
