Minnie parted her lips, showing her teeth.
“And look at the result!” The dowager threw a hand up. “You must learn?—”
“I have had enough!” Minnie raised her voice. “I did everything to please you and Mama. I have six suitors, yet you aren’t happy. Nothing is good enough for you.”
Mother pulled a face, but Esther felt nothing but understanding for Minnie.
“From now on,” Minnie continued, “I’ll be myself, whether you like it or not. And I’m starting right now.” She headed for the stairs but paused. “Esther, thank you for opening my eyes, and I apologise for having been a terrible friend.”
“Where are you going?” the dowager asked.
Mother and Esther turned their heads towards Minnie.
“Out,” Minnie said. “To listen to the music you said was indecent, read the books you said weren’t appropriate for me, and eat something that will ruin my complexion.”
“Yes!” Esther raised a fist in celebration, but she lowered it when the dowager pinned her with a glare.
Mother sported a smile of triumph. “See, Josephine, life is like a game of whist. Either you win or you learn something.”
“Like what?” The dowager didn’t soften.
“Like my daughter is going to be a duchess.” Mother hugged Esther again.
That night in her bedroom, Esther couldn’t sleep. Between her deliciously sore body and her worry about Alexander's foil, she kept tossing and turning.
She left the bedroom and pulled the curtains. The full moon shed its silver light over the sea and Alexander’s house. His window was lit with a warm glow. No wonder he couldn’t sleep, either. Tomorrow, he would face a competition without his precious foil.
He appeared at the window, wearing an unbuttoned shirt. Their gazes found each other as their hearts did. She lifted a hand, and he replied.
Why couldn’t she remember where the foil was? She desperately wanted to make him happy.
He disappeared for a moment and returned holding a red rose. He made the gesture of offering it to her. Her cheeks warmed. How romantic. He kissed the rose. She blew him a kiss.
The rose was truly a stunning flower, but she didn’t remember having seen the bushes in his garden. But the roses were too beautiful… She stilled. A vision flashed through her mind. There were the red roses, large and velvety, and the statue of a swordsman with his sword drawn out. She was wielding the foil and paused at the statue. The red petals looked like drops of blood.
She waved frantically at Alexander and rushed to change. After hastily putting on an afternoon gown, she went down the stairs, startling a maid.
“My lady, is something the matter?”
“I need to leave. I’ll be back soon.” She didn’t wait for someone to let her out and flung the door open.
The salty air filled her lungs as she ran towards Alexander’s house. The fact he was running towards her along the drive was a testament to how deeply he understood her.
“Esther.” He hugged her, shivering. “What is it?”
“I know where the foil is!”
She led him to the garden and stopped next to the statue. It was exactly like in her vision—the swordsman, the drawn sword, and the roses.
“Esther?” Alexander searched her face.
“I remember that statue.” She ran to the statue and studied it.
The swordsman had a determined expression, as if he were ready for a battle. She’d thought the same thing that night. In fact, she’d wielded the foil…
“What is it?” he asked.
She walked around the statue. “I tried to fence with the statue when I returned here to give you the foil back.”
