two
EDITH, MOTHER, MARIANNE, and Perry walked to the inland port in awkward silence.
Mother stared at Edith as if asking what had happened with the brother of an earl. Marianne shot furtive glances at him, who, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, hummed a tune under his breath. Life had to be cheerful for Lord Peregrine.
The Rosherville Pleasure Gardens were emptying themselves of the crowd of tourists and promenading people, and soon the inland port was full.
“How is His Lordship, my lord?” Mother asked as they waited to embark onPrincess Alice.
“Albert is incredibly busy. He spends more time reading documents in his study than sleeping.” He gave Edith a pointed look. “Surely, too much time spent reading and working can’t be good for the soul.”
“I agree with you, my lord,” Mother said. “I always say the same thing to Edith. It’s good to have a dream and work hard to realise it, but everyone needs a respite. Work and leisure time should both be present in the life of a young woman or man.”
Edith would have plenty of time to enjoy herself once she passed the admission test. Well, not likely. If she was admittedto medical school, she’d face years of hard, intense studying, and she wouldn’t complain. She was looking forward to studying hard.
The steamship was so crowded that she had to squeeze herself between Marianne and Perry, and she was scandalously pressed against him. He didn’t seem to mind the closeness, though.
The thick, oily smell of the burnt coal mingled with the putrid one from the Thames. Her stomach churned. If she didn’t find a spot where the breeze blew some fresh air, she’d faint. The Thames was indeed an open sewer, as some physicians claimed.
She made her way through the crowd, wincing as anonymous elbows sank into her stomach or back. Finally, they reached a less crowded spot on the back of the ship, right next to the handrail.
“So many people,” she said, standing next to Perry. His clean pine tree scent was literally a breath of fresh air.
“If we hadn’t wasted an hour searching for Edith, we would have taken the previous and less crowded steamship,” Marianne said.
“I said I was sorry.” Edith jolted asPrincess Alicelet out a loud whistle before sailing along the river.
“It’s not the first time you’ve vanished,” Marianne said.
“Girls, please.” Mother’s expression turned stern.
Darkness fell quickly, and only the lamps on the ship shed some light around Edith. Not that there was much to see aside from the passengers’ faces and Perry’s elegant profile.
He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you ladies would enjoy an afternoon stroll to the park next week. Albert and I often promenade in the park in autumn, or used to before he became overwhelmed with work. The colours of the trees are beautiful.”
“Next week I have my admission exam for the London School of Medicine for Women.” Edith patted her precious book.
“When is the test?” he asked.
“On Friday.”
“We’ll take a walk on Saturday. Would you come?”
“Of course she would,” Mother said, touching her arm.
“Edith needs to go outside more and be in contact with nature as I do,” Marianne added unhelpfully. “That was the whole point of today’s trip.”
Edith raised her eyebrows at her sister. “Contact with nature? Your idea of contact with nature is to open the window of the carriage as you go shopping on Oxford Street.”
“To each their own.” Marianne tugged at the velvet ribbon of her hat. “You, on the other hand, spend so much time at home that you don’t even know what Hyde Park looks like in autumn. Besides, you should get ready for your Season.”
The Season. If she passed the test, she wouldn’t have time for a Season.
Perry leant over the rail. A deep frown marred his brow. “We’ve changed course.”
“What?” Edith asked, glad to change the subject.
“I’ve takenPrincess Alicea few times, but this is the first time she’s changed course. She should sail on the other side of the river. This is a busy time on the Thames. Changing routes is dangerous.” He bent further over the rail. “Another steamship is coming. I can see her lights. She’s going to hit us.”
