Free City of Ash by Megan Chance

bring the shame and humiliation rising again. “That’s unfair, Nathan.”
    The carriage stopped. He sighed. “Yes, it was. Forgive me. Now here we are. Judge Burke is trying to broker a deal between Seattle and the Northern Pacific Railroad, and he is most certain to figure prominently in the change to statehood. My future could very well be in his hands.”
    “Don’t worry,” I said. “I won’t embarrass you.”
    He gave me a weary look and offered his arm as our driver opened the door to let us out. There were a few carriages already waiting, and a wagon or two as well. Lights shone invitingly from the windows, and Nathan and I hurried toward them through the rain. We were shown into the parlor, where a short, stocky man with a mustache and the look of the florid Irish about him, and his taller wife, held court.
    Nathan led me to them without hesitation. “Judge Burke, Mrs. Burke, may I present my wife, Geneva Langley.”
    The judge peered at me as if it were hard for him to focus in the dim light. “I’m happy to meet you, Mrs. Langley. I must say I’ve heard a great deal about you.”
    “Nothing too bad, I hope.”
    His wife’s smile was hardly there. “Your husband has assured us all that is in the past.”
    “Indeed it is. In fact, I’ve thought a great deal about joining the Ladies Relief Society I’ve heard so much about.”
    “The Relief Society?” Judge Burke looked faintly bored.“Well, then, you will want to speak to Sarah Wilcox.” He pointed through the crowd, and I looked in that direction to see an older woman dressed completely in black. “She was one of the founders of the Society, along with Mrs. Gatzert. She can present you to the others.”
    Mrs. Burke’s expression seemed strained. “Of course you must speak to her.”
    But she did not offer an introduction, I noticed, and just then two others came into the parlor, and Nathan and I were dismissed as Mrs. Burke and her husband went to greet the newcomers.
    “What is this about a relief society?” Nathan asked me in a low voice. “You’ve never shown any interest in such things before.”
    “I’ve never needed to. But as it seems to be the entry into the hearts of the women here, I thought it would be best to join.”
    “Well.” His expression was surprised, his tone reluctantly impressed. “I’m surprised.”
    “Did you think me too small to change?”
    “Not too small. Too … invested.”
    “Invested in what?”
    “In your little rebellions.”
    I felt the uncomfortable ring of truth. “I think I shall go mad if I must spend another day staring out the window.”
    Nathan let out his breath. “Well, good. Good. I’m glad to see you mean to be the asset I need, Ginny.”
    Just then I saw Mrs. Wilcox across the room, her gray hair perfectly swept up in a clasp of black feathers, the jet beads at her ears matching the cape she wore over her shoulders. She was speaking with some other woman and a gray-haired man.
    “There she is,” I said to Nathan. “The dragon herself. Shall I go and introduce myself?”
    He took a drink from a passing servant and said mildly, “You know best, I imagine.”
    “Very well, I shall,” I said, though my nerves were taut. Foolish—I was Geneva Stratford Langley, after all—what had I to be afraid of? How difficult was it to just walk up to her, introduce myself, and mention the Relief Society? I started across the room toward her. I knew that not only was Nathan watching me,but others were too—my step was purposeful enough that they must wonder as to its destination.
    I was only a few steps away from her when a woman I didn’t recognize tapped her on the shoulder. I saw Mrs. Wilcox catch sight of me. For one moment, she met my gaze, for a moment, she held it. Obvious. Deadly.
    And then, quite deliberately and with a lethal flamboyance, Mrs. Sarah Wilcox turned her back on me and walked away.
    Suddenly I was back in the exhibition hall, with my closest friends turning away