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“The modiste was able to hem your skirt. Thankfully, they’ll all be ready for the ball the day after tomorrow. I hope your headache doesn’t return before then.”

“I believe I should be fine. It’s just a momentary illness, nothing to worry yourself over.”

Gladys and Violetta came to sit opposite them on the other couch. The maid brought tea and a tray of sweets and cakes. Myrtle walked over and propped herself up on the chair beside them.

Orris extracted herself from her mother’s arms so her mother could pour the tea, then leaned over to Myrtle. “I should like to discuss something with you when you have a moment.”

“Well, we can speak now.” Myrtle looked at her, then her brows lowered, obviously sensing Orris wanted to speak to her about something private. “We can talk about it later.”

“Yes, if you are accompanying us to promenade, we can discuss it then?”

“Certainly.”

Violetta clapped her hands before her, a wide smile on her lips as the ladies passed the filled teacups around. “Orris, you simply must see my dress. It is the most delightful lilac you have ever seen. I’m so glad it will be ready for the first ball of the season. I just know this will be my year. No more sitting around waiting for life to begin.”

Orris hoped so, for her sister’s sake. She wanted more than anything to be wed. “Sister, you will be the belle of the ball.”

“Well, I am simply afraid that I shall not be able to participate in the marriage mart this season at all,” Gladys said. It was evident she was having second thoughts about her decision to remain in London without her father’s approval. There was no way to know what he might say about her, what he might do to her. The worst thing would likely be forcing her to return to Chicago. If anyone were to find out that she had run off, any member of the Black 400, the wealthiest families of the race in America, even—no, especially her father, who was included in the elite society, could banish her.

Orris was sure her uncle knew that. Wayward women who ran off would not be considered viable matches for any wealthy, eligible bachelor. “I’m sure it will be fine, Cousin,” she said, though she was not sure at all.

“Of course it will be fine. Your father, he’s a reasonable man. Do not fret.” Mama picked up her cup of tea from the table and took a sip, then looked back to Gladys, offering her a nod with a slight smile.

In her way, she seemed to hint that she would see to Gladys’s well-being. Mama had never failed at any task she set out to complete.

Once they’d finished their tea, the ladies donned their coats, hats, and reticules, then headed for Hyde Park. Orris grabbed Myrtle by the arm, steering her ahead of the rest of their party. Once they were out of earshot of everyone else, she slowed their pace.

“What is this about, Sister?” Myrtle patted Orris’s hand, looped through her forearm.

“I was wondering, how do you know when you’re in love?”

Myrtle chuckled before releasing a deep sigh. Orris looked over at her and found she held a dreamy expression, her lips slightly pursed, and her eyes taking on the same faraway look she affected whenever speaking about Samuel.

“I suppose you know you’re in love when you cannot imagine another day without your beloved. You know you’re in love when even the most irritating things they do make you smile. You fear you may stop breathing if you’re forced to be apart. They are the most intense feelings I have ever had.”

Orris pondered what her sister had said. And why she did not think she was quite there yet with Abram. “Oh.”

“Do you think you are in love? With Lord Abram?”

Orris wanted to pull away from her sister, but Myrtle held tight to her hands.

“Don’t run away, Orris. I can see how you two look at each other. It is evident when you two are near one another.”

“I am not sure that I am in love with him. I do know that I want to get to know him better. It’s all so confusing.”

“Well, you don’t have to do anything now. And it’s not as if he can court you properly when someone has threatened to kill him. It would be dangerous for both of you. He should focus on finding out who is intent on harming him. And that is the only way you two would be free to be with one another. Heaven forbid Mama find out that there is a scandal afoot. She would have a fit.”

“Oh, I am aware, Sister. I guess I shall have to wait and see what happens. And thank you, for your candor and for your discretion. I did not know whom else to turn to. You are the only married lady in my life now. And even if Vi were married, I don’t think I would ask her advice.” The two laughed for a moment.

“Yes, well, our sister will find love too. She takes a more practical approach is all.”

By then, Orris had turned around to find Violetta and Gladys closing and on them. They slowed their pace so that the two could catch up. Mama brought up the rear, as usual. She spent most of the time waving to all of the families passing by.

Orris spent the rest of their walk thinking about what Myrtle had shared with her. What she felt for Abram may not have been love—yet. Though she dreaded to think of him gone from her life, she was not sure she would stop breathing if something did befall him, or even if he just had to return home. She now knew that her preoccupation with him had nothing to do with what was in his heart. Her interest was pure folly, and she would have to make sure that neither of them acted on it.

*

That evening, Orris took the servants’ stairs up to the third floor. She rapped once again at Abram’s door and waited for him to invite her in.