PROLOGUE
“I was full of courage and the highest hopes.”
~Earl Douglass
SATURDAY, JULY23, 1904•PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
Life would be so much easier if there weren’t so many rules.
Eliza Mills trudged through the tall grass. At fifteen, she was almost grown up. And the past couple years had been filled with not only her studies but with Grandmama insisting on more and more rules.
“It’s not polite for you toinsert yourself into adult conversations, dear.”
“Ladies do notwear pants out in public, no matter the job to be done.”
“Must you insist on digging in thedirt right before a society party?”
She mimicked her grandmother under her breath, made faces, and took even longer strides—yes, in her pants—to the surprise that awaited.
“Where are you taking methistime?” Devin Schmitt—her best friend, confidante, and classmate—dragged the heavy bagof tools, foodstuffs, and assorted paraphernalia along the dirt path as he followed her.
Devin’s grumbling broke through her own negative thoughts, and a chuckle escaped her lips. His presence made everything better. Grandmama couldn’t insist upon more rules out here. They were out in the glorious, not-a-cloud-in-the-blue-sky weather to enjoy the day.Andher surprise. She lifted her face to the warm sunshine. “You’ll see.” Her voice floated on the breeze as she tossed the words over her shoulder. Oh, how she loved to tease him.
For six years, he’d traipsed along with her and helped her with whatever grand idea she had. Once his dad said they were old enough to venture out on their own, of course. As her private tutor, Mr. Schmitt was in charge. Grandmama and Grandfather paid him a handsome sum to not only educate Eliza but to ensure she was kept out from underfoot.
When she and Devin were younger, that meant exploring the world together through books and studies, tucked away in the east wing of Mills Manor. Mr. Schmitt often took them outside for their lessons as they studied bugs, birds, trees, and vegetation.
But as they grew older, dear Mr. Schmitt understood they needed to stretch their legs and enjoy the fresh air on their own, especially since he’d hurt his knee and couldn’t keep up with them.
It was her only escape from all the ridiculous lady training her grandmother insisted upon these days.
“You do love to torture me, Eliza.” Devin’s voice carried to her on the breeze.
She turned and glanced back at him, wiggling her eyebrows then venturing forward once again.
His groan floated up to her along with the birds chirping and the swishing of the grass against his summer coat. “How much farther?”
She stopped in her tracks and swung her long, red braid over her shoulder as she swirled to face him. Narrowing her eyes, she placed her hands on her hips. “You should know better than to ask that question.”
“As the one toting all your stuff,again, I think it’s perfectly within my rights to ask just such a question.” He set the bag down and mimicked her posture. “That bag gets heavier every time we go anywhere. I’m beginning to think you do it on purpose.”
“A gentleman always carries a lady’s things.” Her chin lifted with the taunt.
“Which I have done and will continue to do, but what did you put in there? An anvil?”
Her lips parted ever-so-slightly as she did her best to suppress her grin. His annoyance wasn’t real. “I have no need for an anvil, Devin Schmitt, so why would I do such a thing?” She clasped her hands in front of her and put on her most innocent look.
His eyebrows raised and he stared her down. The challenge in his eyes was as plain as the grassy knoll underneath her feet.
“Fine.” She broke eye contact, lifted her hands upward, and let out an unladylike grunt. Good thing Grandmama wasn’t present to hear that. “You just have to spoil the surprise, don’t you? We’re almost there.” With that, she turned on her heel, knowing full well that he would pick up the bag and follow.
He always did.
Their path took an incline up a rocky hill, and she focused on her steps so she wouldn’t trip and fall back into Devin. Making him take a tumble backward with her bag of goodies wouldn’t be a nice thing to do, and he might refuse to come with her next time.
Huffing and puffing at the top of the hill, she waited for him to join her and then grabbed his hand. “You’re going to love this. Just wait.” Thrills zipped up and down her spine asshe imagined his face when they accomplished their task. This was what made her feel alive. Even if she was about to have them knee-deep in muck.
As she dragged him toward her surprise, she swallowed back the sorrow that threatened to overwhelm her every time her thoughts went to the future. He’d be off to university before too long, and these days of dashing off together to explore would come to an end.
