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Lenora widened her eyes and pursed her lips.

“Oh, stop glaring,” Eliza scoffed. “We all know about your tendre. Like Emily, I find it baffling that you aren't vibrating with anticipation. This visit is the perfect opportunity to spend more time with him.”

“But” Nettie chimed in, “she and Asquith already—”

Lenora nudged Nettie with her leg.

“Ow!“ Nettie leaned down and rubbed her thigh. “I think that bandbox bit me.”

“Nettie, what did you mean, already?” Cassie asked with a lift of her brow.

“She means,” Emily said, “that the three of us already had permission to go through the attics at Asquith House. Every time we go, there's a possibility Asquith could join our explorations.”

“What are you looking for, anyway?” Eliza asked.

Emily and Nettie exchanged a glance.

“I thought we might come across something of mother’s,” Nettie replied.

Eliza frowned. “I’ve known no one less interested in talking about the past than Asquith. If he had felt even a little curious about his family’s stored possessions, I imagine he would have gone through them by now.”

“But the possibility of an accidental meeting existed,” Emily insisted.

“True.” Eliza turned back to Lenora. “In any case, you must make the best of this opportunity, Nora. Chin up,” she said. “Carpe diem.”

“Gather the rosebuds while ye may,” Cassie quoted a similar message. She searched Lenora’s face and then looked back at her twin. “She’s scared, Eliza.”

Blast Cassie. Lenora’s lower lip wobbled.

“It’s natural to be frightened,” Eliza responded. “The exciting unknown looms. Fear is wonderful. Fear makes you stronger. Fear is the impetus of courage!”

“Courage is the opposite of fear,” Millie countered.

“On the contrary, the opposite of fear is...” Eliza thought for a moment. “Ennui.”

Emily tilted her head. “Wouldn’t the antithesis of fear be something similarly potent, but beneficial? Like happiness?” She grinned at Lenora. “Or love?”

Lenora shot her another warning look.

Emily shrugged. “Or confidence.”

Millie’s lips turned down. “If fear is confronting a change and not knowing what is going to happen, what’s the opposite of that?”

“Complacency?” Cassie offered.

“Teatime,” Nettie said, grinning. “With cake.”

“Actually,” Eliza said. “teatime is an apt suggestion. When a tea tray arrives, everyone knows exactly what will happen next. Hence, taking tea doesn't require courage.”

Lenora scowled. “I don’t see how you can say fear is wonderful. I haven’t been able to eat for...” she squinted. When had she forced those few spoonfuls of white soup down? Yesterday evening? “At least a day.”

Just the mention of tea and cake made Lenora ill. She wrapped her arms around her empty belly.

“Oh, dearest.” Cassie rubbed Lenora’s back as she and Eliza exchanged identical worried expressions.

Eliza placed her hand on Lenora’s arm. "Take heart. Fear is simply a natural reaction to uncertainty. What truly matters is how you respond. But avoiding challenge is an act of cowardice.”

“Lenora accepted the invitation, didn’t she?” Millie pointed out. “That’s not cowardice.”