Page 10 of Air Affair

As the march circled back to City Hall, she chanted until her voice grew hoarse, praying that their words didn’t fall on deaf ears. But whether they changed any minds or not, the march stiffened her resolve to fight on. For another hour, they sang and chanted in the heat, and Rory lost herself in the energy of the crowd, letting it inspire her and ignoring her aching feet and raw throat.

She thought about Hank’s daring landing earlier today and the way the cadets celebrated his safe return. Nothing worth having was without risk. If he could face down death, then surely, she could fight on with these amazing women around her. The struggle made her feel alive and connected to others in a way that nothing else did, even if the progress of the suffrage movement was agonizingly slow.

As Aunt Alva gave the call to disperse, and the women around her went their separate ways, Evelyn caught her arm. “You look like a woman in need of tea.”

Rory knew “tea” meant Manhattans and dancing at a secret club they both frequented. It sounded like heaven. “I wish I could, but I’m afraid I can’t. I’m supposed to accompany Edward to the opera.”

It was a grim prospect after the exhilaration of the march. How was one supposed to go back to playing the socialite after the elation of freedom, even if it was only for a few hours? And yet that was exactly what she would have to do. After touching the sky, she had to set foot on the mundane ground once again.

“Too bad. Next time?” asked Evelyn.

“Definitely.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Aunt Alva, who had just finished announcing the details of the next march to a small group crowded around her. “Come now, Rory, my dear.” She gestured toward the car.

Rory kissed Evelyn on the cheek and said her goodbyes, then joined her aunt for the drive home.

When the car rolled up to the curb outside her mansion, Rory’s stomach clenched as she looked up at the gray stone.

Aunt Alva reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’ll be out of that house and away from your father soon enough, my dear.”

If only that gave her comfort.

Rory put on a smile and squeezed her aunt’s hand. “See you soon, Aunt Alva.”

Hurrying through the door, she was stopped by the butler. “Edward is in the drawing room, Miss, and wishes to see you.”

With a little sigh, she headed down the hall to see her fiancé. The last thing she wanted at that moment was to spend time with him.

Her father was talking in low tones with Edward as she entered the wood-paneled room, padding along the thick, hunter-green rug.

“There you are at last, Aurora,” Edward said, looking up from his conversation with her father with a pinched smile. “I’ve been waiting a rather long time.” The edge in his voice made Rory want to turn around and walk back out of the room.

She let out her breath slowly, forcing herself to smile. He was in a mood. That didn’t bode well for the rest of the evening.

“I only just got back. I need time to change into my dress for this evening,” she said, sweeping in and kissing him chastely on the cheek.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” her father said, looking between them with narrowed eyes and a touch of a smile. “Think about what I said, Edward. I’m counting on your vote to stop this nonsense,” he added as he left the room.

“You can count on me,” Edward called out as the door shut. “I wanted to speak to you, Aurora.”

She looked her fiancé up and down, trying to remind herself of all the reasons she had agreed to marry him. From the outside, they looked like a match made in heaven. He was handsome. She would give him that. The man had an athletic build and thick silver hair, and he filled out his finely tailored suit rather well. She might have found him attractive if only he were better behaved. But this was hardly a love match. She was marrying him for practical reasons, and he was doing likewise. Still, it rankled that he couldn’t be bothered to remember her preferred name.

“We’re engaged. Please call me Rory.”

He rolled his eyes. “Rory, Aurora—I really don’t care. I need you to come to Washington, D.C. tomorrow. There’s a fundraiser at the Wilkinson’s that I need you to accompany me to.”

“I have plans already.” Did he really expect her to drop everything and head to D.C. on no notice?

“Then cancel them.”

Apparently, he did. How could she get out of this? “Don’t you think it’s a bit improper for me to travel alone to D.C. and attend events with you before we’re wed?”

It was a stretch, but maybe it would work.

“What are you worried about? It’s not as if you have a reputation to protect.”

Her jaw dropped as fifty retorts spun through her head. Would he dare say such a thing in front of Papa? Not to mention the hypocrisy, given his own behavior. She forced herself to take a deep breath. Now, now. Be a practical girl, Rory. It’s not as if you don’t know exactly where you stand with him.