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It wasn’t until they had all settled down and Mr. Dunn had left them to find a servant to bring champagne that Jenny voiced her concern. “I understand that you love each other very much, but…and forgive me…but I don’t see how this marriage will solve any problems.”

Ah, that made sense. Jenny always had to think ahead.

Her life had been led by her ambitions to become a singer.

It wasn’t an easy path, and she’d had to plan strategically in advance to make things work out for her.

Jenny had taken it upon herself to write to Mrs. Wilson in Paris to arrange her studies there.

Jenny would need to know the details had all been arranged before she could be happy.

“Perhaps I can explain,” Simon said. Then he launched into how he could never return to London. Instead, they would go to San Francisco. He mentioned what he’d heard about the opportunities there and his confidence in being able to find a suitable position at a club.

This was followed up by the questions Eliza expected from her family, questions that Simon himself had asked. Mr. Dunn had come back by this time. He listened patiently without asking a single question.

Finally, Jenny asked, “But how will you pay for the passage and your rent until you’re settled?”

“I have some savings,” Simon said. “Don’t worry, Jenny, I promise I’ll take very good care of your sister.”

The conversation went on for a bit, but eventually Jenny excused herself and Eliza followed her. Something was wrong and she needed to know what it was. It didn’t feel right that Jenny would be upset by something that made Eliza so happy.

They had barely made it into the hallway before Jenny turned and said, “Can’t you wait until Cora returns before you leave?”

“I’d like to, but it seems that time is of the essence. Brody will be looking for Simon, and we can’t wait around until he finds him.”

“But you won’t see her again for God knows how long.” A look of desperation came over Jenny’s face. “You’re leaving and that was never part of the plan and you can’t even return to visit. You must know that once you align yourself with him publicly, you will be marked, too?”

Eliza hadn’t quite considered that, but it made sense. “Yes, I suppose you’re right, but what choice do I have, Jenny? He’s leaving and I don’t want to lose him or this. He’s special to me.”

“I thought your family was special to you.”

“That isn’t fair. Of course I love you and Mama and Cora. I want to see you more, but Simon will be my husband, and Daisy will be my niece, though more like my own daughter. One day, we’ll have our own family.”

“A family we will never know. Is that what you want?”

“No, it isn’t, but we don’t always get things exactly as we want them.”

“But you don’t even know him that well. Eliza, you’ll be moving halfway across the world.”

Eliza held up her hands. “Look, Jenny, I understand that things didn’t work out with you and the man you loved in Paris, but Simon isn’t like that. This isn’t like that. Simon actually wants to marry me and spend his life with me.”

Jenny gasped and Eliza felt bad that she had said those mean words. She didn’t know very much about Jenny’s past love. Their affair had taken place in Paris in the years Jenny had lived there with Mrs. Wilson. She only knew that Jenny had fallen into despair over it for weeks or maybe even months.

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair to you,” Eliza said. “I didn’t mean to bring that into this.”

Her sister still looked stricken, her face taut, but she said, “I think that you need to think very hard about this. This path will be more difficult than you imagine.”

Emotion caused her voice to waver. “I know my own mind on this, and I want to be with Simon. I wish our future could be in London, but I’ll take what I’m given.”

Jenny pondered this for a moment and asked, “Then you would stay, if given another option? If somehow, miraculously, everything could be worked out and Simon could return to Montague Club?”

Eliza smiled. “That would be a dream come true. I’d live there with him and finally get to see the inside of that place properly. Then I’d go and enroll myself in Bedford College.”

“I think we should ask Mr. Hathaway about this,” Jenny said. “See if he’ll relent and give you your inheritance.”

Eliza couldn’t help but scoff. “He’ll be angry that I’ve ended things with Mainwaring. He won’t agree to Simon.”

Jenny was quiet again, something about her face calculating. “It couldn’t hurt to ask, and we do need to speak with him about your decision regarding Mainwaring.”

Eliza reluctantly agreed. “Fine, but I think it will cause much frustration and do nothing to help.”

“You’re right, I’m sure, but let’s have a telegram sent to him anyway.

You’ll make your case about Mainwaring and I’ll appeal to his decency.

He should be back in London now since he was anticipating your wedding later this summer.

” Her expression clearing, she added, “Let’s go back tomorrow and arrange to meet with him.

If he says no, and I’m sure you’re right about that, then I’ll support what you want to do, whatever that may be. ”

Eliza nearly squealed in happiness as she drew her sister into a hug. “Thank you, Jenny. Thank you so much for being a very good sister.”

Jenny hugged her back and tried to smile but failed miserably. “Don’t thank me. I don’t know that I would have helped you this summer had I known it would take you away from me.”

Eliza laughed even though tears burned the backs of her eyes. “I love you so much, Jenny.”

“Don’t cry. I refuse to cry,” Jenny said through a sheen of tears. “Go back. I’ll be there soon.”

Eliza hugged her and returned to the impromptu gathering as a footman arrived with champagne.

Jenny came back a little while later. She drank champagne and toasted them, but something still didn’t seem right with her.

Eliza figured that it would take some time for her to come around to the idea of Eliza moving.

She couldn’t blame her for worrying about it.

Eliza knew that it wouldn’t be easy, but she was ready for whatever the future brought them, because she and Simon would face it together.