The Daring Exploits of a Runaway Heiress by Victoria Alexander

aren’t completely absurd, I intend to honor my great-aunt’s life by doing those things she never did. I suppose if I were to make my own list now, it would simply be to accomplish something in my life. To have some sort of purpose.” Lucy shook her head. “I keep thinking how dreadful it would be to reach the end of your days with so much undone.”
    â€œBut when it comes right down to it”—Clara snapped the journal closed—“these are not your adventures. Nor are they your regrets.”
    â€œNo, but if I don’t accomplish them, they will be.”
    Clara studied her for a long moment. “You aren’t really a puppy, are you?”
    â€œGood Lord.” Lucy laughed. “I certainly hope not.”
    Clara glanced back at the book in her hand. “This is why you didn’t want a watchdog.”
    Lucy nodded.
    â€œAnd why you intended to discharge a companion as soon as possible.”
    Again Lucy nodded.
    â€œAnd . . .” Clara drew the word out slowly. “Why you were so pleased that I had never been a companion before.”
    â€œExactly. A real companion, or rather, an experienced companion might well be hesitant to wholeheartedly support my quest, which I do think will be an adventure in itself.”
    â€œThat is a possibility with a real companion.”
    â€œI would think so.” Lucy grimaced. “I didn’t really plan this. I’m still not sure why I brought Great-aunt Lucinda’s book along to England in the first place, but I’m fairly sure it all has to do with fate. Life is unfolding in remarkable and completely unexpected ways. Ways that I find delightful.
    â€œYou see, until I came to England, in spite of the fact that I told Jackson before he left New York that he was under no obligation to me, there was still the possibility that we might end up together. I know that’s what his mother had hoped and mine expected.” That she was not going to marry Jackson was another fact she had been distinctly vague about in her letter home. “As I said, I have never gone against my family’s wishes. Jackson and I might well have continued to postpone our engagement until we were both too old to care.”
    â€œI very much doubt that. In spite of what you say, you don’t strike me as the kind of young woman who would marry a man she didn’t wish to wed.”
    â€œThank you, Clara.” Lucy smiled. “That may well be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
    â€œSo this desire of yours to make up for your great-aunt’s regrets is relatively new.” Clara handed the book back to her.
    â€œYes and no.” Lucy’s gaze drifted to the book in her hand and her voice softened. “I have wanted to do this from the very moment I read these pages. But my life was all laid out for me and I knew it was impossible, so I did nothing about it. Looking back, I see my life as nothing more than drifting from one expectation to the next. But now, I am free to do as I please and I fully intend to do exactly that.” Lucy looked up and met the other woman’s gaze directly. “With your help, I hope.”
    Clara paused, then nodded. “I don’t see why not.” She turned her attention back to the journal. “As you said, some of these are really quite simple. Why do you think she never managed any of them?”
    â€œIt was a different time, of course. And she did marry at eighteen, which didn’t seem terribly young when I was eighteen but now seems extremely young. After that, her life was probably too busy to concern herself with things a husband would most likely not understand or allow.” She thought for a moment. “Through the course of her life, she endured two wars on American soil. I suspect when one’s life is filled with, well, living, the desires of one’s younger days are simply forgotten.” Lucy paused and held her breath.