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STILL AT LARGE
AUDREY ROSE’S ROOMS
FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY
6 FEBRUARY 1889
I sat perfectly still, my tea untouched, as Liza and Daciana worked my hair into perfection. My wedding gown was covered with a large blanket to keep anything from spilling on it, though a few layers of the pale blush and white skirts managed to sneak out.
Made of silk and tulle, the long-sleeved dress was exquisite—something straight out of a fairy tale, with glittering gemstones sewn both into the bodice and at different intervals in my skirts. When I walked, it looked like stars were winking in and out of the sunlight, too excited to wait until nightfall to remain hidden. Tiny blush petals were also clustered around the edge of my modest neckline, with more tendrils reaching for the floor, marrying the two colors of tulle expertly. It was extravagant, but elegant. A shining beacon of wonder.
Unlike my darkening mood.
No matter how much I wished otherwise, the glow I’d felt when Thomas left this morning had been replaced by a shadow. Its talons scraped against my good mood. Between the nightmare and the news I’d just learned, I could not settle my racing thoughts.
Even on the morning of my wedding, Jack the Ripper haunted me. I’d requested the newspaper along with my breakfast tray to be served in my room. I don’t know why I hadn’t considered the latest sensation making front-page news. I regretted not tossing it in the fireplace immediately. I wanted one day free from death. I longed to think only of life as we celebrated our union. Now I could hardly think of anything else with the article glaring at me.
NOT CAUGHT YET.
Many Arrests, but the New York Ripper Is Still at Large.
“See?” Daciana fluffed my hair over one shoulder. “Partially down is a bit softer. It matches the feeling of the gown. So ethereal.” She tugged one of my braids, drawing my attention up. She raised her brows. “You appear as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
I tried offering a smile but worried it was closer to a grimace instead. Judging from the slight narrowing of Daciana’s eyes, she didn’t believe my poor acting. “Liza?” she asked, her tone especially sweet. “I forgot the strand of pearls in my room. Would you mind getting them? They’ll look exquisite tucked into her hair, don’t you think?”
“Oh!” Liza clapped her hands. Her dress was a flowing blush that matched the petals sewn into my many layers. “What a wonderful idea!”
She dashed out the door, intent on embellishing every inch of me until I sparkled more than all the diamonds and jewels woven into my ensemble. I sighed. And here I thought Daciana was on my—I leaned forward, noticing the pearls on the vanity, and flicked my gaze up. “You lied.”
“As did you.” She gave me a conspiratorial smile. “Now, tell me, what’s got you looking so dreadfully pale?”
“It’s nothing. It’s…” I scrambled for one of my worries. I didn’t want to open up a discussion about the Ripper murders; that would lead to too many other inquiries. And I didn’t want to share the details of my silly nightmare. Which left one inquiry I’d had for her anyway. “I received an odd letter or two that hadn’t been signed. I was just remembering it now.”
“A letter?” she asked, adding a few pearls to my braids. “Do you mean the note I sent along to you?” She laughed. “Apologies, dear sister. Ileana and I were in such a rush, I barely had time to scratch a note out to let you know we were coming.”
“But it mentioned having something Thomas needed.”
She picked my hand up, turning it about so the crimson diamond caught the light. “I wanted him to propose with Mother’s ring. He’s so sentimental, though he never lets it show. I knew how much it would mean to him, having her letters and blessing. I adore you and I love my brother immensely. I didn’t mean to cause any strife.”
I let my breath out in a whoosh. At least that was one less thing to worry over. My gaze slid to the newspaper before I tore it away again. Now if I could only stop allowing Jack the Ripper to step from my nightmares into reality, I’d be fine.
Liza huffed back into the room, her face flushed. “Are you certain the pearls were in there? I couldn’t find them.”
Daciana held the strand up, a sheepish look on her face. I studied the way she bit her lip and crinkled her eyes. She was quite convincing. “I must have brought them in and forgot I’d set them on the vanity already.”
Ileana slipped into my chamber, eyes glistening when she saw me fully dressed. “You look so beautiful!” She hugged me close. “I wanted to give you somet
hing. Well, it’s actually from Thomas,” she amended, grinning at my confusion. “Here. He had these made.”
I opened the box she held, pulling a stunning pair of robin’s-egg-blue shoes from tissue paper. Diamonds were sewn across them, shimmering like stars in a cloudless sky. I clasped my hand over my mouth, trying to not cry off the kohl Liza had so carefully put on.
“They’re incredible.”
“Something blue and new,” Daciana murmured. “Your ring is something old.”
“Oh!” Liza rushed about the room, nearly tripping over her skirts. “I almost forgot!” She held up a diamond necklace with a solitary stone that was the size of an eyeball plucked from someone’s head—a charming image for a wedding day. “This is from Mother. She said you may borrow it for the ceremony.”
Daciana lifted my hair and fastened it. “You’re all set.”
