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Chapters (50)
  1. Cover
  2. Half Title Page
  3. Books by Elizabeth Camden
  4. Title Page
  5. Dedication
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Ten
  16. Eleven
  17. Twelve
  18. Thirteen
  19. Fourteen
  20. Fifteen
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-One
  27. Twenty-Two
  28. Twenty-Three
  29. Twenty-Four
  30. Twenty-Five
  31. Twenty-Six
  32. Twenty-Seven
  33. Twenty-Eight
  34. Twenty-Nine
  35. Thirty
  36. Thirty-One
  37. Thirty-Two
  38. Thirty-Three
  39. Thirty-Four
  40. Thirty-Five
  41. Thirty-Six
  42. Thirty-Seven
  43. Thirty-Eight
  44. Thirty-Nine
  45. Historical Note
  46. Questions for Discussion
  47. In 2021, look for Luke Delacroix’s story in
  48. About the Author
  49. Back Ads
  50. Back Cover

She must have gotten through to him, for he looked away and spoke under his breath. “Caroline, I’m sorry.”

It was an infinitesimal budge, but it was enough. He’d done exactly the right thing yesterday. It was childish to wish he had deviated from the rules for her, but the fact that he admitted regret was enough.

“Thank you,” she said, and returned to her breakfast.

Nathaniel left the kitchen without a backward glance. The war would probably be back on the next time she saw him, but at least there was still a scintilla of human warmth in him.

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The day went from bad to worse, for Ida was in a roaring mood. She awakened with a headache, her leg hurt, and breakfast did not agree with her. She focused her ire on the starch from the president’s newly laundered shirts.

“They smell,” she groused. “I won’t subject the Major to foul-smelling shirts while he is sacrificing himself for the good of this country. They must all be washed and pressed again, and this time, tell that girl to do it right.”

Ida dumped the shirts on the floor, ensuring they would need to be laundered again. That meant Ludmila would endure hours of additional work, all because Ida was in a crabby mood. Caroline swallowed back a retort.

“It will be done,” she said, calmly picking up the shirts. It was the same starch that had been used for years, but Ida was still tense after yesterday’s events at the Naval Hospital, and the starch was an easy target for her anxiety. She flatly refused to meet Petra to discuss funding for the girls’ school, so Caroline spent the day planning dinner menus for the following week.

In the evening, she retreated to the roof of the White House to watch the setting sun and quietly pray.

Dear Lord, I want to build a school, she silently implored. It’s the only truly selfless thing I’ve ever done in my life. Please grant me the wisdom and the patience to see this through.

The worries and tensions of the day began to unknot, and peace settled around her. She couldn’t know if Petra’s school would succeed or if Luke would ever enjoy another day of freedom, but there was dignity to be found in fighting for a cause.

She gazed at the streaks of gold from the setting sun and closed her prayer.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Twelve

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Sharing a dormitory with nine other women made sleep a challenge for Caroline, especially since everyone had different work schedules. The kitchen staff were always first to rise. Caroline snapped awake as soon as Betsy, the kitchen maid whose bed was closest to hers, rose from her mattress.