IN THE BLEAK DECEMBER

Chapter OneNothing gleamed. Vienna had spoiled her, Sally Van de Water thought.Christmas time there -- sky so blue it seemed almost crystalline, snow so white itseemed to define purity. And the sounds, bliss rising into the clear, cold air. Nothingclear in Baltimore this December, nothing gleamed, nothing rang. Everything had beencovered in a dull gray haze, even Sally Van de Water's usually ebullient mood.Gloom was not a word Sally had ever thought to associate herself with, and yethere she was, December 21st, 1888, the start of a new season, the beginning of a timeof joy for Christians and thinking folk the world over, and yet Sally sat at the parlor table,facing the open Frenchdoors, desperately searching for a small piece of sunlight to gleam off the silver teaservice andlighten her mood. A futile hope on a day when the most dramatic weather possiblewould be rainand the most likely weather to happen was a stultifying drizzle.Activity and cheer were Sally's usual bulwarks against the lows that interferedwith the daily progress of lesser souls, but this afternoon, along with the outside hazehad come lethargy, regrets -- and yes, Sally admitted, doubts. How odd to have a crisisof confidence when no trial loomed, only solitude. But perhaps that was where thecrisis lay: solitude.Her twenty-fifth birthday still was six months off, yet the looming New Year brought restless thoughts of change and loneliness. With little encouragement from theweather, a lack of company other than servants, and the impending wedding of her best

friend, Mary Merriton, it had been very easy for Sally to turn a minor pang of lonelinessinto a major doubting chord. Sally had never considered marriage seriously. Her father, not anxious to lose his only daughter and a beloved reminder of the great beautyof his late wife, Anna Adair, had never pressed the issue. Time would see to it, he hadoften said. Sally found herself suddenly wondering why, although Time might see tothe Ìdisposition of her future happiness, she had not. Happy enough currently, notwanting for friendship or companions of either sex, Sally had never noticed a lack.There had been her engagement to Walter Wilson, mutually agreed to and jointlydissolved. That had been ordinary enough. There were certainly invitations enoughfrom other young men, but none of them particularly interesting. Yes, they were kindenough, and fair, and intelligent, well-mannered and prosperous, but Sally found noneof them compelling. When at Bryn Mawr, Sally experienced perhaps greater respectfrom her fellow students, but still the environment didn't exactly suit. But if neither thesociety nor the spinster life called to her, Sally realized, what remained? Perhaps her art -- surely she could wed music as the religious wed their church.That brought a laugh -- and a smile. And the butler, bearing a note. But the mailhad already come."A note from Miss Merriton, Miss." Oakley was not one to leave a ga Úp for suspense. "Her maid awaits a response."Perhaps plans had changed for the Anstruthers' house party or some weddingdetail had gone awry. But why the urgency of sending her maid and the need for aresponse? From Mary, but with more urgent news. Sally read it again, trying to makesense of the hasty, jumbled words:"Sally please hurry. I don't know what to do. Father is desperately ill; Mother hysterical; Jane traveling; John away. Please come as soon as you can. I have ordersbut no one will listen.Please hurry Sally dear. Love, Mary."The sun had still not granted Sally's wish to make the tea set sparkle, but Mary'stelegramhad brought a definite gleam to the china blue eyes. A problem, a friend in need, a

place to be for the holidays. Sally would gladly go in any situation, but sorry as she was for Mary's illnews, itsadvent was perfectly timed for Sally. Something she could do. At least until the hazebroke andsome inspiration gleamed."Did the Merritons send their Á carriage?""Yes, Miss.""I'll return with the carriage. Send Colleen to my room. I'll be packing. You mayhave tosend some things after me. I'll be spending the rest of holidays with the Merritons.""Very good, Miss.""Cable Father, Friedrich, and the Bollans, where Hans is staying. You and therest of thestaff are free for the fortnight. Father took care of your pay before he left, I believe.""Yes, Miss." Oakley smiled at the thought of the very generous annual bonus theMaestro had added. Even for a traditionally generous man, this year had beenexceptional."I must change. Send Colleen up and ask Mary's maid to wait.""Of course.""Thank you." Sally swept out of the parlor, her skirt gathered in her hands for ease of travel, her mind reviewing the details of the note, questions already forming.John was in Boston. Mary had mentioned in their last conversation that he washoping touse some of his brother Timothy's connections to land a teaching position the Âre,whether or notHarvard accepted him as a graduate theology student.Jane traveling ... did that mean the notorious Western cousin, Dr. Jane Holloway,who