The Pursuit of Lucy Banning,A Novel (Avenue of Dreams) by Olivia Newport

Author:Olivia Newport
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Architects—Fiction, FIC027050, Upper class women—Fiction, FIC042030, Chicago (Ill.)—History—19th century—Fiction, FIC042040
Publisher: Baker Book Group
Published: 2012-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

18

Miss Lucy, your book!” Charlotte pulled the art history textbook out of its hiding place in the bookcase and handed it to Lucy.

“I don’t know where my brain is.” Lucy sighed. “This class is almost finished. I can’t go batty now. Where did I leave my satchel?”

“The closet, behind the green gown.” Charlotte stepped quickly across the room and opened the closet door.

Lucy smoothed the skirt of her beige dress. The placket in the bodice had a subtle yellow check and the buttons were brown, but otherwise the dress had no ornamentation and only modest drape, nothing extravagant. Charlotte had styled her hair in the plainest manner possible under a tan hat featuring only a simple ribbon. Nothing about her appearance should attract attention, which was just the effect she hoped for.

Charlotte handed her the satchel and hung a wool cape around Lucy’s shoulders. “Paddy will be around the corner with the carriage by now.”

“I know, I’m late.” Lucy blew out her breath. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Outside Lucy’s suite, Charlotte turned to the narrow back stairs, and Lucy continued down the marble front stairs. Lucy resisted the impulse of habit to glance in the parlor on her way out—why invite conversation if her mother should be in the room? She stepped out the front door, closed it securely behind her, walked down the steps, and turned to the right. Paddy would be waiting for her around the next corner, parked headed toward Michigan Avenue, as he was on most Tuesday afternoons.

Finding Aunt Violet sitting inside the carriage was a pleasant surprise.

“Step right up!” Aunt Violet said.

Lucy chuckled as Paddy closed the carriage door behind her. “Where are you off to?”

“Ladies auxiliary at the church,” Violet answered. “Paddy’s going to drop me there, then take you to school. I hope that won’t make you late.”

“I’ll manage.” She would have to move swiftly when she got to campus, but it was worth a few minutes with Violet.

“Have you recovered from Daniel’s outrageous behavior at the party?” Violet asked.

Lucy smiled. “Leave it to you to get right to the point.”

“It’s only a few blocks to the church. I don’t have time to dillydally.”

Lucy sighed heavily. “I’m glad neither my parents nor his parents witnessed that scene. It would have spoiled the whole evening for them.”

“Is he still insisting on using his room at the house?”

“Yes, but less frequently. In the last two weeks, he’s only been there for dinner twice. In the mornings, if I know he’s there I have a tray brought up to my rooms so I don’t see him.”

“Wise solution. Sooner or later he’s going to have to accept how you feel.”

“I’m sorry to have hurt him.”

“Daniel is a likeable enough young man when he wants to be,” Violet observed. “He’s doing well at the bank. Many young women would welcome his attention, as I’m sure he will discover soon enough.”

“I know. Just not me.”

“No, not you. Will’s the one for you.”

“Aunt Violet!”

“Don’t be coy with me, Lucy Banning.

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