Prologue

PROLOGUE

"I was full of courage and the highest hopes."

~Earl Douglass

S ATURDAY , J ULY 23, 1904 · P ITTSBURGH , P ENNS YLVANIA

Life would be so much easier if there weren't so many rules.

Eliza Mills trudged through the tall grass. At fifteen, she was almost grown up. And the past couple years had been filled with not only her studies but with Grandmama insisting on more and more rules.

"It's not polite for you to insert yourself into adult conversations, dear."

"Ladies do not wear pants out in public, no matter the job to be done."

"Must you insist on digging in the dirt right before a society party?"

She mimicked her grandmother under her breath, made faces, and took even longer strides—yes, in her pants—to the surprise that awaited.

"Where are you taking me this time?" Devin Schmitt—her best friend, confidante, and classmate—dragged the heavy bag of tools, foodstuffs, and assorted paraphernalia along the dirt path as he followed her.

Devin's grumbling broke through her own negative thoughts, and a chuckle escaped her lips. His presence made everything better. Grandmama couldn't insist upon more rules out here. They were out in the glorious, not-a-cloud-in-the-blue-sky weather to enjoy the day. And her surprise. She lifted her face to the warm sunshine. "You'll see." Her voice floated on the breeze as she tossed the words over her shoulder. Oh, how she loved to tease him.

For six years, he'd traipsed along with her and helped her with whatever grand idea she had. Once his dad said they were old enough to venture out on their own, of course. As her private tutor, Mr. Schmitt was in charge. Grandmama and Grandfather paid him a handsome sum to not only educate Eliza but to ensure she was kept out from underfoot.

When she and Devin were younger, that meant exploring the world together through books and studies, tucked away in the east wing of Mills Manor. Mr. Schmitt often took them outside for their lessons as they studied bugs, birds, trees, and vegetation.

But as they grew older, dear Mr. Schmitt understood they needed to stretch their legs and enjoy the fresh air on their own, especially since he'd hurt his knee and couldn't keep up with them.

It was her only escape from all the ridiculous lady training her grandmother insisted upon these days.

"You do love to torture me, Eliza." Devin's voice carried to her on the breeze.

She turned and glanced back at him, wiggling her eyebrows then venturing forward once again.

His groan floated up to her along with the birds chirping and the swishing of the grass against his summer coat. "How much farther?"

She stopped in her tracks and swung her long, red braid over her shoulder as she swirled to face him. Narrowing her eyes, she placed her hands on her hips. "You should know better than to ask that question."

"As the one toting all your stuff, again , I think it's perfectly within my rights to ask just such a question." He set the bag down and mimicked her posture. "That bag gets heavier every time we go anywhere. I'm beginning to think you do it on purpose."

"A gentleman always carries a lady's things." Her chin lifted with the taunt.

"Which I have done and will continue to do, but what did you put in there? An anvil?"

Her lips parted ever-so-slightly as she did her best to suppress her grin. His annoyance wasn't real. "I have no need for an anvil, Devin Schmitt, so why would I do such a thing?" She clasped her hands in front of her and put on her most innocent look.

His eyebrows raised and he stared her down. The challenge in his eyes was as plain as the grassy knoll underneath her feet.

"Fine." She broke eye contact, lifted her hands upward, and let out an unladylike grunt. Good thing Grandmama wasn't present to hear that. "You just have to spoil the surprise, don't you? We're almost there." With that, she turned on her heel, knowing full well that he would pick up the bag and follow.

He always did.

Their path took an incline up a rocky hill, and she focused on her steps so she wouldn't trip and fall back into Devin. Making him take a tumble backward with her bag of goodies wouldn't be a nice thing to do, and he might refuse to come with her next time.

Huffing and puffing at the top of the hill, she waited for him to join her and then grabbed his hand. "You're going to love this. Just wait." Thrills zipped up and down her spine as she imagined his face when they accomplished their task. This was what made her feel alive. Even if she was about to have them knee-deep in muck.

As she dragged him toward her surprise, she swallowed back the sorrow that threatened to overwhelm her every time her thoughts went to the future. He'd be off to university before too long, and these days of dashing off together to explore would come to an end.

She blinked several times and forced the reminder to the back of her mind. "Look!" She pointed toward the drying creek bed.

He squinted. Leaning forward, his eyes narrowed even more. It was almost comical how hard he tried.

She watched and bit her lip. Over the years he'd gotten better at seeing what she saw, but most of the time, his guesses were incorrect.

"Is it ... a fossil?"

"Look who has gotten so smart." She let the sarcastic words drip from her mouth and then smacked his arm with a playful swat. "Of course it's a fossil, silly. Don't you see the shape?"

He studied it for a moment longer. "You're the expert when it comes to this, I'm afraid I don't see anything specific jumping out at me."

"It's clearly a baby alligator, Devin. Come on." She raced toward the small fossil peeking out of its hiding place.

"An alligator. Clearly . In Pennsylvania . Where we have alligators around every corner."

She just laughed and led him down to the trench.

The afternoon passed with them digging through all the mud and dirt that surrounded the rock and fossilized layer. The time was filled with their shared excitement for subjects his father had promised to cover this term, laughter over how much mud covered them both, and the discovery that her "fossil" was exactly what she thought. It wasn't the full skeleton, but the skull was enough to keep her smiling. She'd have several months of contentment working on retrieving the fossilized bones.

"An alligator in Pennsylvania. Who knew?" Devin sat down on the dry grass above the trench, wiping his hands on a towel.

"Deposited here by a great flood, no doubt." She plopped down in the grass next to him, wiping her hands on another towel. Tossing it aside, she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. The pants she wore were filthy, but she would cover them with a skirt before she returned home. The real reason she'd brought him out here today wasn't just another of their explorations, or Devin following her and helping her dig up fossils. Eliza hadn't been certain when the right time would present itself, but at this moment, she couldn't contain the request any longer. "Will you promise me something?"

"It won't get me in trouble, will it?" He elbowed her side and sent her the lopsided grin she loved so much.

"I'm serious, Devin." She stared into his blue eyes, hoping he'd take the hint.

"I'm sorry. I won't tease." He gazed back at her, and his face softened from mischievous to earnest attention.

As she held his gaze, the blue of his eyes intensified. Deepened. Maybe it was simply her imagination, but no matter. She adored his eyes and the way he looked at her. "Promise me we'll always be best friends. That we won't ever let anything come between us." She drew her bottom lip in between her teeth as tears pooled in her eyes. Blinking as fast as she dared, she still couldn't keep them from forming. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. She hadn't wanted to get all emotional and talk about him leaving.

For several seconds he studied her. He didn't tease her or get annoyed that she was tearing up, but he also wasn't saying anything. At all. Finally, he broke their connection and looked out toward the horizon. "You're my best friend. Never doubt that. But promising forever? I don't think your future husband would appreciate you being best friends with a man. Especially not the son of your childhood tutor."

He always knew how to rile her up and steer the attention off himself. How she hated it when he brought up class! "Oh, posh. I can't lose you, Devin. I can't. You're the only person in the whole wide world who has ever understood me. You'll be leaving for university after only three more terms. Three! My future husband—whoever it is, if I even marry—will just have to deal with the fact that I won't be me without ... you." The begging in her voice made her cringe, but he had to know how important his friendship was to her.

Holding her breath, she watched him. But he wouldn't even look at her.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

The moments that passed felt like an eternity. But then he turned and met her gaze once again.

A single tear slipped down her cheek.

Reaching his hand forward, he wiped the tear off her face and then pulled his hand back. "I promise"—his voice cracked, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed—"I will always be your best friend."

She surged toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She could handle whatever life dealt her as long as he was by her side.

Eliza pulled back, kissed his cheek, and then sat in the grass again. "I promise I will always be your best friend. Nothing will come between us."

Back at the manor, Devin waved good-bye and shoved his hands into his pockets. As he walked home along the familiar lane, his eyes slid closed for a moment, and he relished the memory of Eliza's warmth as she'd thrown her arms around him. The feel of her so close made his skin tingle.

Her thick, red hair crowned her like a halo. Every time he saw her—which was every day—she grew prettier and prettier. Why did she have to tug and yank at his heart like this? It was difficult enough to keep his feelings to himself.

When he'd wiped the tear off her cheek, his heart had flipped. It was the most intimate gesture he'd ever allowed, and all it did was make him want more.

His feet tripped over something, and he snapped his eyes open.

What had he just done? He'd made a promise to her that he doubted he could honorably keep. A man's word was his bond. What would she think of him when he let her down?

Their lives would surely take them down different paths. He wanted to be a teacher like his father. She wanted to travel the world and dig up bones.

Still, her words had reached deep inside him and woven their way into his heart. He'd carry that moment with him for the rest of his life.

At sixteen years old, Devin's heart was already completely and utterly committed to Eliza Mills. Not that she would ever guess that her chum from all these years wanted more from their relationship. And not that he would ever say that aloud to anyone.

Even still, he would follow her to the moon. Of course he'd made the promise! He was a fool to even question it.

"Master Schmitt, if I might have a word." The booming voice brought him back down to earth, and his feet stuttered to a stop.

Devin glanced around. Mr. Mills—Eliza's grandfather—was in one of his many horseless carriages. Good heavens. The man had driven up without Devin even noticing! Heat flooded his face. This was what happened when he thought of her.

He cleared his throat. "Good afternoon, sir." With a stiff turn, he placed his hands behind his back and bowed toward the man. At least he still had some manners while his mind had been off lallygagging.

The man didn't exit his vehicle, just stared at him. Then he spoke to his driver. "Meet me at the gate. I wish to have a private conversation with the young man."

The door whooshed open, and Mr. Mills's imposing figure soon stood before him.

Devin straightened and gulped back his nervousness. Mr. Mills had never taken the time to speak to him privately. Never .

The driver drove the noisy machine down the lane. Silence surrounded them like a heavy cloak.

Devin swallowed, tugged at his collar, which felt all too tight, and blinked. What was the correct protocol? Speak only when spoken to? Talk of the weather? Ask after his family?

"Let's walk, shall we?" Mr. Mills didn't wait for a response, just took long strides. The cane in his hand was clearly for decoration. The man was spry and quick.

Realizing he still hadn't moved, Devin croaked out a response. "Yes, sir." He forced one foot in front of the other and focused on breathing.

"I wish to speak to you about my granddaughter."

More heat rushed up Devin's neck. A million different thoughts and questions sparked for attention.

"Let me speak plain and simple." The man stopped his steps, gripped Devin's shoulder, and speared him with an intense gaze. "My granddaughter spends a great deal of time with you and speaks of you with great admiration." He narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, sir." It seemed the only response. The hand on his shoulder was almost as heavy as the bags Eliza made him carry on their adventures.

The grip tightened. "Your father has informed me that you will be off to university soon. Well done, young man. I will see to it that you have the very best education."

Devin narrowed his gaze a bit. What was the man offering? To put in a good word for him? Regardless, it was something that deserved his gratitude. "Thank you, sir."

"Mrs. Mills and I have enjoyed seeing you grow into an honorable young man. You have indeed been a loyal friend to Eliza." The man released his hold and took up his walk toward the gate again.

Devin joined him, feeling one hundred pounds lighter. If that's what they thought of him—

"But there comes a time when every man needs to understand his place. Eliza is from a family of great wealth. Generations of my family built this empire. It's in our blood. You, son, are not from old money. You're not even from new money. You are from no money at all. Your father is a simple tutor. You, frankly, are a different class."

All sense of lightness evaporated. Devin's stomach threatened to tie itself into knots. Mr. Mills wasn't saying anything he didn't already know. But why was he saying it?

"I need your word, son, that you will never pursue my granddaughter for courtship or marriage. It's clear she cares for you as a friend, but that friendship can never be encouraged to grow beyond what it is now. Am I clear on this point?"

He swallowed against the large lump in his throat. "Yes, sir."

"And I have your word on that account?" Mr. Mills's green eyes were the same color as Eliza's, but the ice within them threatened to stab Devin.

He swallowed again and lifted his chin, doing his best to convince his legs to hold him upright. How could he go against her grandfather? No matter how he felt toward Eliza. He couldn't. And being her friend was better than nothing. "Yes, sir. You have my word."

Mr. Mills held out his hand. "Gentlemen always shake on such an important bond."

Devin reached forward and shook the man's hand. The iron grip made his hand ache.

"You have a bright future ahead of you, Master Schmitt. I'm thankful to be a part of that." And with a brief nod, Mr. Mills surged forward and took long, fast strides toward his waiting vehicle.

Devin could only stare after the man. His legs felt weak and wobbly.

For the second time that afternoon, he'd made a promise.

And for the second time ... his heart couldn't take it.

What had he done?