My Next Heroine

“Precisely,” she says. “And where are we?”

“In Constantinople,” I reply. Doesn’t she know?

“And that is what I fear.” She suddenly seems far more intense. “I fear that I will never escape from this stuffy, cluttered world. That I will never discover the larger world outside, but will live out my days doing precisely what is expected of me among people who always do precisely what is expected of them. That I will never even meet people who are different from me.” (The picture above shows the Constantinople she has not had a chance to see.)

She leans back as if she is worried that she has said too much.

“Have you told anyone of this fear?” I ask.

“Who would I tell? Anyone can tell you I have everything that anyone could desire­—wealth, position, family. And I really ought not to be ungrateful. But sometimes…” She shakes her head.

“Is there anyone you would never tell this to?”

“My parents,” she says swiftly. “And you mustn’t tell them either. I love them dearly, and it would only worry them if they found out I was at all unhappy when they can’t do anything to makes things different.”

It is my turn to smile. “Are you sure about that? After all, they brought you here to Constantinople, and you will be traveling on through Mesopotamia.”

Lady Emily looks surprised and then considers. “Yes, they did. And it was Mama’s idea that we should come. Do you suppose she realized…? She might have. She realizes so much more than I tell her, or than any of us tell her.” Lady Emily grins, looking much more impish. “I sometimes think there must be a bit of witch in my mother, and I mean that as a compliment.”

 “A final question. If you could wish for one thing, what would it be?”

“Adventure? Excitement? A chance to see new things, do things I never did before? A chance to discover what I can do?” She tilts her head, looking off into space. “Yes but…but what I really want is to find a man who loves me. Not the marquess’s daughter, or the proper, well-brought-up young lady. Someone who loves me, and will let me be myself without having to pretend all the time. I could love a man like that.”

I smile to myself, thinking that it is quite possible that Lady Emily’s wish will come true.

Thank you for stopping by to make Lady Emily’s acquaintance. The story of her adventures (and her romance with a French adventurer), Lady Emily’s Exotic Journey, is being published by Sourcebooks and will be released this summer on August 4. It’s the second book in my Victorian Adventures series, and is available for preorder. And if you're feeling lucky, there's a giveaway up on Goodreads! For a chance to enter, go to:  https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/138667-lady-emily-s-exotic-journey

Next week, please join Patty Blount and meet Julie, a teen with a secret. She's the young heroine of the powerful YA contemporary, SEND. You can read the interview at http://www.pattyblount.com/category/blog/ Powered by chocolate, Long Islander Patty Blount writes contemporary romances for the teen and adult markets. Her 2014 release, SOME BOYS, is a Firecracker, Bookseller's Best, and RITA Awards finalist as well as YALSA Reluctant Readers pick. Follow her online at pattyblount.com.