Page 7 of Enduring Promise

"Trust me I know,” Hillary said with a sigh. “The obligations never seem to end. My mother thinks my entire schedule should be filled with social events. Like, honestly, I have a life. How many crab puffs can someone even eat in a life time?”

“I’m going for my PhD and mother acts like I’m taking a pottery class and should just spend less time on a hobby. She’d much rather I was married and pushing my career to the very back burner.”

“PhD, wow, my mother crushed my dreams way earlier. I’d say you’re still in the fight. Impressive.” Though Hillary lowered her voice, Russ could still make out the connection growing between the two women.

"Yes," Claire confirmed, and a flicker of genuine interest seemed to spark in her eyes. "I’m working in biomedical science. It’s... challenging, but I love it."

Russ perked up, intrigued despite himself. "Biomedical science? That sounds impressive. What are you working on specifically?"

Claire hesitated, but a hint of pride softened her guarded expression. "I’m part of a lab team researching treatments for chronic sinusitis. It might sound minor, but it’s actually a big deal for people who suffer from it. We’re developing a treatment that targets inflammation at the cellular level. It could end up having impacts on a myriad of other medical fields."

“Claire, darling, what are you wearing to the party?” an older woman with pinned back gray hair and a sharp chin interrupted.

“Grandma, I’m not really sure. Whatever mother packed for me. I didn’t look.”

The woman hummed disappointedly. “A woman your age shouldn’t rely on her mother to pack her party gowns. It’s shameful. You spend all your time in a lab coat. You’ll never find a husband that way.”

“Yes, Grandma,” Claire replied obediently.

Hillary nodded, clearly interested. "Your work sounds fascinating. I imagine it must be incredibly rewarding."

Claire’s gaze softened, and for a moment, her guard seemed to drop. "It is. There’s something deeply satisfying about working toward a solution that could improve people’s lives, even in small ways. It makes all the late nights in the lab worth it."

Russ noticed a slight shift in Claire’s demeanor, a subtle vulnerability that had emerged as she spoke about her work. It was clear she was passionate and driven, but he also sensed something more was beneath the surface—something unsaid.

Just as he was about to ask her more, the second course arrived, and the table fell into polite murmurs of appreciation for the beautifully plated dishes in front of them.

“We should get out of here after dinner,” Hillary whispered between bites. “There has to be somewhere we can actually have some fun.” She leaned across Claire and playfully waggled her brows.

“This place is a fortress,” Claire replied somberly. “I’ve been trying to find my own little escapes for the last twenty years. Once you’re in, you’re in for the night. They won’t bring your car back around for you. You can’t exactly call a cab. The house is miles away from any decent civilization.”

Hillary wasn’t deterred. “It’s a huge estate. There has to be somewhere. Staff must let their hair down occasionally too. The kitchen?”

Claire shook her head, though she did seem intrigued by the possibility. “There is a library upstairs. It used to be where the men went after dinner to smoke cigars but Madame Fournier locked it up after her husband died. I could get the key from Sophie.”

“She’d give it to you?” Russ asked, looking doubtful.

“Sophie and I grew up together here. Her mother had her job first and she grew up living on the property, then took over the role when her mother retired. She knows I find this whole thing suffocating. She’ll give me the key. Do you think you can swipe some bottles of brandy? We could meet there around ten. Everyone is usually out cold by then.”

“Perfect,” Hillary said with a grin before raising her voice. “Claire, you are absolutely brilliant. Tell me more about the work you are doing in the biomedical field? It sounds as though you have a bright future ahead of you.”

Claire’s grandmother snapped back to attention and puckered her lips. “Claire, don’t bore them with that nonsense. You should be asking that fine gentleman if he has a brother.” Russ didn’t skip a beat.

“I do,” Russ beamed. “He really admires women with drive and exceptional intelligence.”

Hillary let a little giggle slip out as she hid her smile behind her glass of wine. The conversation shifted away from the three of them and down to another part of the table where someone was discussing a holiday ski trip they were planning.

“You two will be in big trouble later,” Claire whispered. “But thank you.”

“At least we’ll get a lot of reading done in the library later,” Hillary smirked.

CHAPTER 7

Hillary crept quietly down the darkened hallway, her steps light and deliberate, Russ close behind her. The house was still, the lingering sounds of the evening slowly fading as the guests retired for the night. She felt a rush of nervous excitement mixed with a bit of guilt; sneaking around the grand estate like this reminded her of being a rebellious teenager. She could practically hear her sister’s voice in her ear, begging her to behave. It never worked, but she applauded her sister’s efforts.

Ahead, she spotted a movement and froze, her breath catching. Sophie, Madame Fournier’s trusted attendant, was walking down the hall. Hillary’s mind raced, wondering if Sophie would reprimand them, but to her surprise, Sophie merely cast them a small, knowing smile as she passed, her eyes twinkling with quiet amusement. Hillary let out a sigh of relief as she watched Sophie disappear around the corner.

“Close one,” she whispered to Russ as they reached the heavy wooden doors Claire had described.

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