A cool evening breeze blew against Caroline's cheeks, a calming beautiful early summer breeze that reminded her of home. Home. She hadn't been home in so long that she almost wondered if she ever would be. If she'd ever hear the fishmongers in Boston or the cadence of an American accent the same way. She'd wanted a grand adventure and she'd found one, but now it almost seemed as if it might be coming to an end.

The news her mother had hinted at for months and finally surfaced in the plain pen strokes of her father's candid letter. He had entered conversation with a gentleman about a marriage for Caroline. The marriage of love that Caroline had hoped for was slipping through her fingers faster than she would have liked.

Inside the women of the dinner party chattered as they waited for the men to come through, but Caroline had needed a moment to gather herself, to steel herself for when they did. She had hoped to see Mr. Darrow this evening, their letters had only gained in speed in the past few months, but when she had she found herself obsessing over her father's letter. They hadn't had much of a chance to talk at dinner, but she wanted to put on a bright face for him when she did. Which is why she had excused herself for a moment with the mumbled excuse of how warm the room was.

Now, standing beside the banister looking out of the well groomed gardens she almost felt she had been sleep the past few months, even years, lost in an unobtainable dream that would never come about.

Evander Darrow