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Anger pushed tears into her eyes. “I’m more than your sister, David!”
“I don’t understand.”
“How could you? When we speak of what’s happening in your life, it’s factories, ships, decisions—even fires. When you ask me of my life, it’s…what do we have to talk about? Whether an evening concert is held or canceled? What my allowance should be next month? I’m not complaining of being your sister. It’s the life of a lady, and it’s…strangling me.”
After being afraid of admitting such things to herself, voicing them aloud was even more frightening—yetfreeing.
Clara wanted to take a deep breath to try to calm her rapid heartbeat. Corseted as she was, however, small gasps had to suffice.
David steepled his hands under his chin; he gazed up at the green leaves as if lost in thought. When he dropped his hands, he looked upon her with a mix of curiosity and fear—and love.
“You said you found your own way.”
Her eyes widened. Yes, she’d shared that, hadn’t she?
“Clara, all those years, you had Violet to care for. After she was gone, you were searching. When you took lessons with that Frenchman, Chopin, was it? I was grateful you found something that lifted your spirits. I’m notcompletelyoblivious. You’ve been upset, but I’ve seen you…happy of late. You’ve found something, haven’t you?”
She nodded slowly.
“Some new lessons?”
“Not lessons.”
You’ve found something, haven’t you?
Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth, thinking of all she’d found this year.
She knew the colors of the Sultan Hammam’s star. The fragrance and warmth of a lantern-lit orangery.
I found what it is to be embraced for my peculiarities. To be adored when my hair falls from its pins.
She’d found profound admiration for the staff and tenants at Violet House, for their strength. Her deepened friendship with Stella. And in truth, she was proud of her own accomplishments with the LLS.
I’ve found so much.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I’ve been wanting to tell you, David.”
He went completely still.
The story of Violet House poured out—meeting Stella, losing Violet and Mary, creating the LLS, purchasing and operating the boardinghouse.
By the time she finished speaking, David looked almost relieved as he searched her eyes.
“Thisis what you’ve been hiding from me?” Only a hint of suspicion lurked in his face.
Clara swallowed. So far, David hadn’t been too shocked, though she hadn’t revealed Stella’s profession.
“Yes.” An incomplete truth, but the truth. “I’ve done my best to mind our reputation. I…I take my carriage to the circulating library and tell the footman to stay with the driver. Then I hire a hansom carriage to Soho.”
David leaned back against the bench, looking skyward. “Clara!”
“I know. But it’s very safe.”
“Safe from what? What if you’re seen?”
“I’m careful. But yes, I know there are risks. I accept them because I deem the cause worthy. I know you worry, but please understand. I need to dosomething.”
“Can you not fund the charity without going into that neighborhood and into a house with such women?”
