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hand while pointing to the square still resting on the bolt of gold material. “But what if your escort were to show up in that one?”
    Camellia nodded and turned back to the table of displayed silks. She spotted another beautiful color, a bright cerulean-blue length of watered silk. “What about this one?” Her gaze met that of her aunt’s, and both of them smiled at the same time.
    “It’s perfect. I only wish I were going to be there to see you when you enter the room on your handsome escort’s arm.” Aunt Dahlia walked to the table whose surface was covered with the latest dress patterns from Europe.
    Following her to the table, Camellia sighed. “If only you could talk Uncle Phillip into moving to New Orleans.”
    “You’re sweet, child. I know I shouldn’t say it, but of all my nieces, you are the one who is dearest to my heart.”
    Camellia’s lips turned up in a small smile. “I love you, too, Aunt Dahlia. I’ll miss spending time with you, Uncle Phillip, and Grandmother, but we’ve talked about this. You know why I’m going.”
    Aunt Dahlia patted her hand. “You need some separation from your less … traditional relatives. I still find it hard to believe your sister has embraced Henrick so readily after the man all but abandoned the three of you.”
    Camellia glanced down at her shoes. She didn’t want to point out that it was Grandfather’s edict that had caused her father to disappear from their lives for so many years. She didn’t want to defend the man at all.
    “Don’t worry.” Aunt Dahlia had continued talking, unaware of her niece’s inner turmoil. “I’ll be busy looking for the perfect candidate to be your spouse while you’re in New Orleans getting that extra bit of polish.”
    Thinking of the candidate her aunt and uncle had chosen for her older sister, Camellia shuddered. It was the reason Lily had purchased a steamboat and taken all three of them to live on the river. “I don’t want you to try matching me to anyone like the old man you thought Lily should marry.”
    “Of course not.” Aunt Dahlia’s calculating gaze swept her from head to toe. “You are a very different girl than your sister—a beautiful gentlewoman. The man I choose for you will be of a completely different caliber. Lily, on the other hand, could have done much worse than to marry Adolphus.”
    Camellia remembered his atrocious sons and wondered.
    Aunt Dahlia tittered and leaned closer. “As a matter of fact, she did do much worse.” She glanced over her shoulder before continuing in a soft whisper. “You don’t have to worry about him at all. It seems the Johnsons’ oldest girl, Grace, has removed Adolphus from consideration. I have it on the best authority that they will announce their nuptials before the end of the year. I’m sure they’ll host a party. Maybe we can attend it together before your departure.”
    “I don’t think Lily will agree.” Her fingers traced the outline of the topmost dress pattern lying on the counter. “She wants me to travel to Memphis with her before I start school.”
    “That’s terrible.” Aunt Dahlia shook her head and clucked her tongue. “Will she never stop interfering in your future?”
    “I know, but it was the only way I could get her to agree to let me remain in New Orleans.” Camellia’s fingers drifted over the bolt of blue silk as she imagined the upcoming term. She would outshine every other girl at La Belle Demoiselle in a dress like this one. “At least it’s only for a week, and then I’ll be free to pursue my dreams.”
    The shop’s owner returned to them then, and they began to discuss her new wardrobe. Camellia’s head spun with plans and dreams as they picked and chose from the designs available. She felt like one of the princesses in Jasmine’s dramas. And she would be … once she got to New Orleans.

Chapter Three
    L ily was glad to be back on the river, even on a dreary day like this one. Winter had settled on them as