Justine stopped short. “Excuse me? But everyone here is Catholic. The church—”
“I am not from here, Justine.” Karl sighed and gestured for her to keep walking. “You say that I do not know you, but you do not know me. I pay very close attention to you. I know you do not like the sweet white wine. I know that you prefer berries to apples. I know that you prefer cheese instead of cake after a meal.”
Justine’s mouth dropped open. “But—”
“You favor your right side to your left. You believe you can do anything, even if you don’t know anything about it. This one is perhaps the most concerning, for I fear you do not understand your own limits, but given how you were raised, I am not surprised.”
Her hackles went up and instead of stopping, she sped up. “You don’t know anything of how I was raised.”
“No,” he agreed, which was more infuriating than if he’d argued. “But I know you are the youngest sibling, and that you have rebelled.”
“I don’t know what Francis has told you—”
“Francis has told me nothing,” Karl said, but it was him who stopped this time. He grabbed her arm to stop her, and his touch melted through her sleeve. She loved bickering with him on these nature walks. It made her forget to worry about the Matterhorn tomorrow. It made her forget that Francis was being an arse and would likely bring down the full force of hermother onto her head when they returned to Zermatt. “You are not wanting to be trapped. I am saying I would not trap you.”
She couldn’t bear shaking off his grip, so she stayed stock still. “Said the hunter to the rabbit.”
He sighed, let her go, and continued walking. It was a disappointing feeling, like he’d given up. She knew, of course she knew, that if she pushed him far enough, he’d stop pursuing. Because that was the point, wasn’t it? But it seemed that if he didn’t want to marry her, then he wouldn’t want to talk to her either. And she would lose the teasing friendship they’d built.
But she didn’t want to think about that. She ran after him, catching up easily.
“How do I know this isn’t a ploy to get my family’s money?” she challenged him.
Again, he laughed. “I do not want your money.”
“Everybody wants money,” she said.
He gestured to the mountains and trees and the absolutely stunning mountains that surrounded them. “This doesn’t need money. And this is what I love.”
Justine sighed. “Me too.”
“Then . . .” Karl blew out a disgusted breath. “I do not want to talk about this any further.”
“You don’t want to talk about this? So we aren’t getting married anymore?” She was teasing, but as the words came out, she saw the emotions flit across Karl’s face. He was done. She’d pushed too far.
“I will not make you do something you do not wish to. Consider this my sincere apology.” He sped up, outpacing her faster than he’d ever done before.
She tried to keep up at first, out of anger, but then realized she didn’t want to talk anymore either. Embarrassment flooded her. He had every right to be upset, but didn’t she aswell? She’d been informed by her brother that she was engaged. This whole thing had been Karl’s fault. His mistake.
But she hadn’t let him make it gracefully. She'd teased and shamed and blown up at him. It was not well done of her. Not at all. And this felt worse than any other time a man had walked away from her. She let him get far out of range, knowing there were no turns or ways to get lost on along the way to the church. She walked alone on the ridge, the looming slopes of the mountains comforting her, as if they were her confidantes.
**
Chapter Ten
Justine could hear the rest of the expedition before she could see them. She remained perched on an exposed rock face outside of the squat, white-washed walls of the church, not wanting to go inside where Karl was, chatting with whoever was in there. The slate-roofed building was modest—not near what she pictured when Ophelia marked it as a waypoint on their journey. The lake in front of the church was crystal clear, reflecting the rocks and grass and blue, blue sky. The illusion was so complete, one could easily wander into the lake, believing it to be a continuation of the trail.
The rest of the team arrived: the Ladies’ Alpine Society, Luc, and the pack donkey, with Lady Rascomb riding primly sidesaddle on another creature, her cane tucked across her lap. After them came a crowd, with Francis sulking in the back of the group. Even Frau and Herr Brunner came to wish them luck. She enjoyed them so very much during the months they’d stayed there. Herr Brunner’s brötli-offering kindness would forever lodge in her heart.
The crowd felt almost like a party. Karl emerged from the church, his face bland and expressionless. Was this a Bavarian sort of thing, or was this only Karl, keeping himself bottled upso she couldn’t read him this way or that? She wondered if he would tell Francis about retracting his proposal.
Mr. Moon shook Karl’s hand. Lord Rascomb helped his wife off the donkey. Tristan and Eleanor untied the ropes lashing the cargo to the donkey. Luc smiled at everyone, seeming happy to be amongst them.
Their spirits buoyed Justine. She wouldn’t let Karl take this from her. No, she couldn’t think of it like that—he wasn’t taking anything from her. She was letting her feelings interfere with what would be an accomplishment of a lifetime. Something that would put them in history books and newspapers worldwide. They even might help the burgeoning women’s rights movements, the push for suffrage. The Ladies’ Alpine Society would prove to the world that women were capable of so much more than Queen Victoria believed.
The sunshine was warm on her face, and she closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun. This was her path. Her earth-shattering, world-shaking path. Ophelia’s telltale purposeful steps approached, and Justine didn’t bother opening her eyes. Her friend sat down on the rock next to her and threaded her arm through Justine’s. This was right. This was true. She and Ophelia would take over the world.
“All is well?” Ophelia asked, her voice low so the others wouldn’t overhear.
