Perilous Passages: The Wellington Mysteries, Vol. 2 by Edale Lane

Author:Edale Lane [Lane, Edale]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Past and Prologue Press
Published: 2022-06-19T16:00:00+00:00

Stetson arrived at her hotel room before Evelyn returned from their performance. She washed up in the sink, changed into a nightgown, and towel-dried her hair. Sitting at the little writing desk, she repeated various scenarios in her mind. If I had given her more money, Schmidt wouldn’t have crippled her… or would he, just to be cruel? But if I had moved faster, not stopped to talk to Charlie, I would have already been to the alcove. I could have carried her to safety… or the cavern could have fallen on my head too, and we would all be dead. Evelyn would not forgive me for that. I wish I had never gone in the basement… no, I’m glad the gang has been taken into custody. But then again, there’ll be another gang.

“Good night, everyone.” Stetson heard Evelyn’s cheerful voice in the hallway and braced herself. What would she say?

Evelyn locked the door behind her and sashayed across the floor. “Here you are!” she proclaimed with joy, but no sooner than she got a good look at Stetson, her entire demeanour changed. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

Stetson pushed up from the desk, enfolded the woman she loved in a tight embrace, and rested there, drawing comfort from her nearness. She felt the rise and fall of Evelyn’s chest pressed to hers as she breathed and sensed each heartbeat play in its life-sustaining rhythm. Inhaling, she relaxed in Evelyn’s scent. This was home—not a city, not a building, not a career. Home lay in Evelyn’s arms.

“Too often I complain because women are not taken seriously, because we are not granted the same opportunities as men, nor do we receive equal compensation for our work. I become discontent because society allows no place for women who love other women, or men who love other men, for that matter. Since arriving here, I have entertained thoughts of envy because I don’t have running water or a toilet in my flat and still must collect water in a bucket and use an outdoor privy when there are so many new convenient inventions. How small I am,” she allowed with regret. “How little I comprehend. The truth, my love, is we are so marvelously blessed! We have our freedom, and whether frowned upon or not, whether in the open or in secret, we are pursuing the careers and lives of our dreams. Who is as fortunate as you and I? Here we are, travelling and seeing the world, when so many never venture more than ten miles from the spot they were born. We have plenty to eat, warm, dry places to sleep, and no master forcing us into servitude. What I witnessed today put that into perspective more powerfully than anything has in the past. I just want to say how grateful I am, to God, to the Universe, to my mother, to you, to every step along the path that brought me to the place I am now, the only place I ever wish to be—holding you.

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