“When I was seven and father brought me to that lecture at the botanical gardens.” Noli smiled, remembering that day and how grownup she felt to go with him. “I get good marks in my science classes. My botany teacher even offered to write me a letter. He thinks I could get a scholarship.” Of course, he also mentioned she’d have a better chance if she excelled in all her classes, not only the ones she liked.

Her mother nodded, examining a walking dress, then folding it and putting it in the trunk. “I remember you and your father discussing those plans in great depths when you were small, but I didn’t realize that was what you still wanted.”

Because her mother disapproved so heavily of higher education that after their father disappeared Noli stopped talking about it. To everyone. Only recently with V’s support had she talked to a few of her teachers about the possibility of attending a university next year. At this point Noli wasn’t picky, nearly any university that offered botany would do. V had his sights set on a good school, Ivy League even.

“I … I didn’t know.” Mama held up a dress from one of the piles then put it in the trunk. “I suppose we could look into it, but to what end? It’s not as if a degree in botany will help you find a husband or manage a household. Can one even be a botanist and have a family?”

Noli glowered as her mother continued to stuff her trunk with finery. “I should think so.”

Taking the unfinished dress, her mother laid it on top of the packed trunk and closed the lid. “There, all packed. Let me gather a few hats.” She looked at Noli and sighed. “Noli, if it’s that important to you, we’ll consider it. However, I’m not guaranteeing it will happen. A term or two would be better than none at all.” Her mother opened and closed hat boxes, placing a few on top of the trunk. “Maybe you’ll meet someone of interest.”

A term or two? She didn’t want to go for a little while or to meet a husband or any of that poppycock. That’s exactly what would happen if she went to Boston; if she even managed to convince them to permit her attend in the first place.

“I don’t want to go.” Noli scowled. She’d promised V she wouldn’t let them marry her off. If she wasn’t here when he returned, he’d know where to look. Perhaps she’d leave him a note in the tree house. Yes, that’s what she’d do.

“Don’t be difficult.” Her mother’s tired eyes met hers. “Please. Just come without being argumentative and we’ll figure it all out.” Mama sat down on the bed and wrapped her arms around Noli. “I love you so much, this is all for the best. Truly.”

“I love you, too, Mama.” She hugged her back. Her mother had the best of intentions, but the pressure to marry would be stifling. Not, that it seemed, she had any choice. Like it or not, she was going to Boston.

Noli crept into the dark backyard in her only nightdress, a note clutched in her hand. The cool fall night air made her shiver as her bare feet padded across the cold dirt and grass. V’s house was dark and odds were he and James had already left on their quest. She had full faith that they would accomplish the task. Those two could do anything.

Scrambling up tree, like she had a million times, she put the letter to V in the hidey-hole they had for that very purpose. It told V where she was, so he wouldn’t worry. As she climbed down, she heard a soft whir behind her.

“Noli, why are you in the backyard in your nightdress? It’s a little late to be out, isn’t it?” Jeff whispered, landing his hoverboard in the backyard, dressed exactly as he had been earlier.

“Oh, I was leaving a note for V.”

Jeff smirked, raking a hand through his short, dark curls. Her eyes welled with tears as she thought of how much had happened since her brother had dropped her off earlier today.

“What’s wrong?” He climbed off the hoverboard and pulled her to him.

She softy, and quickly, told him everything–V ending their courtship, Grandfather arriving, and them departing for Boston in the morning.

“I don’t want to go to Boston,” Noli hiccupped.

“Then don’t.” He cupped her cold face with his warm hand. “Come with me. Work on the ship as our engineer, save money for university, and become a botanist. Let Mother go. She’ll be taken care of and neither one of us will have to worry about her anymore.”

Noli gazed at her dark house, even in the moonlight she could see how worn it was compared to the others on the block. If their mother were taken care of and happy then leaving wouldn’t be so bad. As much as she didn’t wish to become an air pirate, her desire to go to Boston was a thousand times less.

Resigned, she nodded, belly clenching at the thought that she’d actually go through with this mad notion. “I need to change my note. Good thing my trunk is already packed.”

Jeff’s eyebrows rose, goggles still on. “I can’t carry you and a trunk on my hoverboard. The weight would crash us immediately”

Her cheeks warmed. “You’re right. Could I bring a small valise? I think I can compensate for it balance-wise.”

“Pack light.” He took out his pocket watch and checked the time. “Be fast.”

Scrambling back up the tree, she fixed the note with a stub of pencil she’d stashed in a tin can in the corner. V would find her and they’d take everything from there.

She returned to the house, heart thumping so loud she feared it might wake her mother. Was she truly doing this? Stealing off in the middle of the night with Jeff to go work on an airship? The thought made her so giddy her hands shook.

Pack light. That would be difficult considering she was leaving forever.

Fortunately, she had a solution. Noli lit the candle lamp and dumped the contents of her valise on her bed. She’d packed it for the airship to Boston filled with necessities and amusements. The necessities went back in, along with the new copy of Nichomanchan Ethics V had given her, her parents’ wedding picture, the botany book from her father, the doll, Charlotte’s hair, and the magazine with the pattern.

She opened her trunk and threw some of the dresses into the bag along with other things—nightdresses, shoes, corsets, undergarments, even a few hats, sans boxes. This valise was magic, something she’d gotten in the Otherworld. The small bag could fit more than her trunk and weighed less than her parasol—which also went into the bag along with the precious dresses she’d brought back from the Otherworld and hid. In she tossed her goggles, apron, cap, a couple of books, and work gloves. Things she’d need as a ship’s engineer.

Anything else?

Noli scanned the room and added a few more things including her tool-belt, a leather bracelet Charlotte made her, and a small knife from James. Opening her jewelry box she withdrew an old brass key on a green ribbon. It was the key to the faery garden at Findlay House. She wasn’t sure why she took it, but there was magic in that key, she could feel it even if V couldn’t. If she didn’t take it, she’d probably regret it at some point.

She changed into a blue dress her mother had made out of a sketch from Charlotte. It was Noli’s attempt to meld the comfort of her Otherworld dresses with the propriety of mortal fashion. The blue dress hung a little shorter, allowing for freedom movement and preventing the need for a hoop skirt. Trim dangled from the bell sleeves, which could be kilted up to tackle tasks. Trimmed fabric swooped each hip and the waist was cinched with a belt reminiscent of the waist cinchers and corsets worn in the Otherworld outside of clothing, but looked more the belt than the undergarment. Often she used her tool-belt instead.

Taking a scrap of paper, she scrawled a quick note to her mother.

Dear Mama,

I love you, I love you so much. But I can’t go to with you. I’m sorry.

Go to Boston and start over. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.

None of this is your fault. I promise. You’re the best mother a girl could want and I hope to see you again someday. Give everyone in Boston my love.

Always,

Noli

A sense of finality coated her, clinging to her skin, as she clutched her valise and gazed around her room one last time. This was it. Her mother would return to Boston and this would never be home again—not in the way it was.

Wiping a tear from her eye, she blew out the candle lamp, put her good cape around her shoulders, and grabbed some black gloves and dark blue bonnet. Goodbye room.

Noli crept down the hallway, boots in her hand. She paused in front of her mother’s closed door. “I love you,” she whispered.

Padding down the stairs, she grabbed her tool box and her magnifying goggles from the sewing room and shoved those in her valise. She pulled on her boots and bonnet, tucked the small knife inside her boot, then turned in a circle in the kitchen, taking one last look. Goodbye house. Sniffing, she walked out into the cold night.

Jeff stood outside the back door, stamping his feet and blowing on his hands. “It’s about time.” He tugged on her cape, the same one she’d worn earlier. “A little fancy for an airship.”

“It keeps me warm.” Not all places were as temperate as Los Angeles.

They climbed on the hoverboard, Noli adjusting her stance for the weight of the bag, arms wrapped around her brother.

“You’re doing the right thing, Noli,” he assured as they rose into the sky.

Goodbye Los Angeles. As bittersweet as this was, excitement built within her. After all, she was running away with an air pirate.

Four