Anne had been laboring over how to word her answer, but thus far had only succeeded in supplying sheets of writing paper to the fire. Now as she broke the seal on the new envelope, her fingers trembled. She hoped Nicole had changed her mind about the outlandish proposal. Anne had planned to respond firmly, which should settle the issue once and for all. Go to sea with a young child? Quite out of the question. But Nicole’s second letter was not a bold petition at all. On the contrary, and it shocked her with its strangeness. The letter spoke of longing and loneliness. Nicole said she wished she were home to help console her sister in her time of sorrow, adding that she’d board a ship and return home right away were it not for her promise to their uncle. As Anne read on, she kept waiting for the expected request to be reiterated. Instead, Nicole told of the busy social season she had been thrust into. Yes, thrust. For although Nicole’s time was taken up with lavish parties and dinners, she seemed to take no pleasure in them.
