Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

" T his lace is exquisite, but could it truly symbolize happiness when the match itself is ever so bleak?" Evelina winced slightly as her immediate younger sister pondered aloud.

The girls were all gathered in the cozy living room, the area filled with the delicate scent of lavender and streaks of sunlight filling ever corner from the windows.

They surrounded a table strewn with papers, fabric swatches, and sketches, each item a piece of the puzzle that was Evelina's impending wedding.

With a permanently furrowed brow, Margaret meticulously examined the lace trim of a veil, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns.

"The lace is of little matter sister. I refuse to have the earl's family seated next to ours. It's a union forced upon us, not a joyous occasion," Louisa chimed in, declaring firmly. "Have you witnessed what his younger brothers are like? There are stories about them from the other ladies our age. An awful bunch, every single one of the lot, I cannot-"

Her eyes darted to Evelina's momentarily and she paused, "However, it depends on the bride. I mean, they might not be that terrible, perhaps? I suppose… I hope?"

"Do not give our sister false hope, Louisa. It's but a contracted disease to be married into the Oakwood family," Margaret scoffed, barely even looking in Evelina's direction. "That earl, he has always been a man made of nothing but a title and empty promises. Anyone deserves better than that."

Evelina sighed and shook her head. Doing her best to steady her breath, forcing a light tone as she spoke, "No worries. I'll make sure to adjust the seating arrangements accordingly. I doubt the earl would pay heed to that."

"Certainly, he does not seem like a man to pay heed to anything else other than himself." Margaret's snide remark elicited a giggle from young Penelope who had been sitting quietly in the corner.

Evelina shot her sister a tired look, but was met with an eye roll as Margaret returned to her lace inspection.

"Do we invite Lady Westington? She always brings such cheer to gatherings," Alexandra piped up, her eyes darting to catch Evelina's reaction.

"Why not? We'd certainly be needing all the cheer we can get," once again, before Evelina could even gather her thoughts, her younger sister drawled in another sardonic tone.

"Margaret.." Louisa eyes narrowed slightly as she nudged her sister in the shoulder in a scolding manner.

"What? Did I say anything incorrect?" Margaret huffed and shrugged her shoulders in feigned innocence.

"Evie, dearest, we must ensure the food reflects your taste as well, even if the marriage doesn't," she remarked with a malicious smile, gesturing towards their younger sister, "Come, Pen, let's crosscheck that list again, we have to be sure-"

"Will you not stop, sister? Just for once?" Unable to bear it any longer, Evelina snapped in exasperation.

"Will you not stop acting like you are blind to the horror you have bound yourself to?" Margaret's voice cut through the room like a knife, her tone laced with a brow-raising bitterness.

Her eyes blazed as she continued, "You may try to pretend this marriage is a solution, but you and I know well it's nothing but a curse in disguise."

Evelina, taken aback by her sister's sudden hostility, furrowed her brow in confusion. "I thought you understood my decision?" she questioned, trying to mask the hurt that tinged her voice. "I'd believed everyone understood my decision."

Margaret's eyes blazed with anger as she retorted, "Understood? How could I understand any of this? Genuinely, what is there for me to understand, sister?"

The room fell deathly silent, the weight of the intensity in her words hanging in the air. Unable to bear the tension any longer, Evelina drew in a deep breath as she spoke.

"Maggie, please tell me what's truly bothering you. I cannot bear this distance between us. You've been upset for a while, despite that there is no need for you to be. Could you please let me know why?"

Margaret, her facade cracking under the strain of her suppressed emotions, unleashed it all at last. "I'm not just upset, Evelina. I'm furious!"

"Why? And for heavens's sake can you just let me know why?" Evelina's voice raised as well, feeling for own frustrations mounting. She shook her head, sighing as she tried to find calm. "Are you upset that I am marrying the earl in your stead? I do not understand why that would upset you. I'm too tired to play guessing games."

She took a step forward to her sister, reaching a gentle hand out, "I am the eldest, I've always bore the brunt for us all, it is my responsibility as we know it. I told you I would fix things, so you would not have to suffer with that man, and that is what I am doing. Margaret-"

"This is not what I wanted, Evelina! I never wished for you to become a martyr for my sake!"

Margaret's response was swift and cutting, her eyes bulging as she leapt to her feet to face her sister, "I cannot stand how you've been moping around the house, basically lifeless, hardly a genuine smile crossing your face for days!"

Her voice quivered slightly as she went on, "I have begged father countless times to reconsider, but he refuses to listen. Why is no one listening? The earl has always favored and wanted for you, and now, you've played right into the man's hands!"

"Margaret…" Evelina gasped, her eyes wide with realization of her sister's guilt. "Sister, I did not mean to cause you this pain. I only felt I am doing what was best for us all. This was inevitable, you know this."

She sighed softly, feeling a now familiar overwhelming sadness overtake her, "I will admit I haven't been in the best spirits. However, most brides aren't before their wedding. Eventually happiness would come, it happens that way-"

"No," Margaret's gaze hardened as she spoke, her words sharp with conviction, "No man like that should ever triumph in getting what he desires. He knows you're willingly sacrificing yourself for his pleasure, for his gain. He knows you have no interest in him. How could you expect happiness from such a twisted arrangement?"

She laughed, scoffing loudly, "More so, how can you expect happiness from me, knowing I played a role in making this happen? Perhaps if I'd kept silent," her voice quivered, forcing her to a halt, "p-perhaps…"

Evelina's gaze shifted to her three sisters, their silence echoing loudly in the tense air. Each face bore a mask of solemnity, their eyes mirroring the sadness of the scene.

For the first time, clear for all to see, their sister had tears threatening to spill from the corners of her eyes, and she was not searching for an escape to fully let them flow.

The weight of the moment settled heavily on Evelina's shoulders as she observed the turmoil within her family. Guilt gnawed at her conscience as she contemplated the extent of her sister's inner turmoil.

Her heart ached with the realization that her own preoccupation with her emotions had blinded her to the silent suffering of her younger sisters. Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to find the right words.

"I never wanted to cause you pain, Maggie. I believed I was making things right for us, for our family," she confessed, her voice now tinged with regret. "Perhaps, I could have gone about it in a better way, but this is all I can do."

Margaret's voice softened as she sniffled, a glimmer of sisterly love breaking through her anger. "Evelina, I know your intentions were good, but you can't sacrifice yourself for me, a glimmer of sisterly affection breaking through her anger. I won't allow it." She shook her head firmly. "We must find a way out of this before it's too late."

"Maggie…"

"No," Her voice quivered with a mix of concern and sorrow as she evaded Evelina's touch. "I never demanded this sacrifice from you. If the earl had chosen me, perhaps he wouldn't be as fixated on me as he will be on you. I could have lived in solitude after producing heirs."

She laughed emptily, "That has never been such a bad life. Many ladies yearn for it actually."

"No, Maggie, you've never wanted that, we both know this, how could you-"

"And you have, Evie? Hm?" Evelina shook her head in rebuttal, attempting to interject, but Margaret continued, her words laden with worry, "Do you truly comprehend what you're relinquishing, sister? Even if so, then are you prepared to be the center of his attention, could you imagine what your daily life would be these starting years?"

Of course I have.

Yet, if it means you wouldn't have to suffer, I'd gladly take it.

With a calm demeanor that belied the storm within her, she met her sister's gaze. "This was my decision, Maggie. As a spinster, I have nothing to lose, I can only be thankful," she confessed, her voice tinged with resignation.

Margaret scoffed, folding her arms. "Oh, spare me the lies, dear sister."

"What? I'm not lying to you," Evelina's eyes flickered towards their sisters who sat scattered around them, a fixed silent audience to their unfolding conversation. "Now, you're just being unfair with such words, Maggie."

With a disbelieving expression, Margaret cocked her head, giving her a knowing stare. "I saw the glances exchanged between you and the Duke during dinner," she accused, then gestured to the others, "We all saw the glances, sister."

Evelina's cheeks ignited with a blush, her breath catching in her throat at the direct confrontation. The room seemed to constrict around them, the weight of her painful obviousness weighing on her.

"Oops…"

Penelope's slight murmur caused her cheeks to flame even more intensely, and Evelina's gaze to the floor.

A silence filled the room. Then Louisa subtly intervened, clearing of her throat, an attempt to diffuse the escalating tension that threatened to suffocate them all.

Summoning her courage, Evelina met Margaret's gaze once more, her eyes betraying a hint of uncertainty. "I can't lie to you, sister, we both know this," she paused, "still I don't think you understand the gravity of what you're insinuating."

"Evelina, I know you're in love," Margaret countered matter-of-factly, "You're in love with the duke." She pursed her lips before continuing, "And that is why I feel, sister, it is insanity to be serious about this marriage."

Evelina, her resolve firm, met her sister's gaze head-on. "My feelings for the Duke are irrelevant to this decision. Marrying the Earl is a practical solution to numerous challenges we face."

Margaret's frustration bubbled to the surface once more as she retorted, "Practicality should not overshadow your happiness, Evelina! You can't sacrifice your heart for the sake of convenience."

She paced a bit, shaking her head, "You're numb now, that is all. Eventually, whe it all starts crashing down, you'd hate yourself," her voice cracked with worry, "you'd hate me for putting you in this situation. I would not let you act a fool!"

Evelina's eyes flashed with defiance. "I refuse to be labeled a fool for prioritizing stability and security over fleeting emotions, Margaret. I am doing what is right, society itself would attest to this."

"And what would society say of your oddly rushed wedding? Marrying this man so hastily under his request is going to lead to scandal, have you not considered this?" Evelina's lips parted, but she closed them again, realizing there was no counter to this crucial point.

She drew in a deep breath. "Margaret, listen to me-"

"Girls! Girls, I'd been looking all over for you!"

The sudden bellow of their father's voice put a halt to the argument, all sisters rising from their seats with arched brows at the odd warm tune behind his words.

Surely enough, they quickly found the source of their father's feigned warmth. Following behind him, the Countess of Claymont popped her head out from the side with a wide smile.

"Hello, lovely ladies."

"The Countess has graciously paid us a visit, go on, give her your greetings!"

Evelina and Margaret, their previous argument still fresh in their minds, exchanged a brief, awkward glance before composing themselves to do as told.

"Good afternoon, Countess," all sisters curtsied in unison, their voices strained slightly in effort to hide the previous tension.

"Oh, never you need to go that low," Clara's familiar belly laughter echoed the room. "I believe we are close enough to drop such demanding formalities!" She clasped her hands in excitement. "In fact, I have arrived today, to offer my aid in your auspicious wedding preparations."

"Indeed, Countess," James, ever the enthusiastic host, beamed at her. "Your presence graces our humble abode. We'd be honored of your assistance in Evelina's wedding arrangements."

"Certainly, I can see that you feel that way, but I cannot be certain of the ladies before me." With a twinkle in her eye, Clara surveyed the room and the strained expressions of the sisters. "Whatever have I walked in on?"

At the silence that followed her words, she raised her brows even higher, "Is everything alright, my dears?" Her gaze flickered between Evelina and Margaret, seeming to catch the quick glance the two shared.

"Girls," Evelina recognized her father's laugh as a warning. "Do not keep the countess waiting. Your silence presumes there is an issue. Yet, I believe, there is not?"

Evelina watched Clara glance at him disapprovingly, quick enough to go unnoticed. She marveled slightly at the woman's perceptiveness and quickly fabricated an excuse to mask the strained atmosphere.

"Oh, it's nothing of worry. Just a minor disagreement on the matter of fabrics," she waved her hand lightly, "Feminine matters, of course. It is so terribly hard to come to a decision."

"Ah, of course, there it is," James' shot her one last glare before turning to Clara once again, "And that is why it is such a great deal to have your guidance present, my lady, we truly cannot thank you enough," he gushed, his excitement palpable as he sought to impress the influential visitor.

Clara's curiosity however, seemed to have already been piqued by the situation. She paused momentarily and Evelina could see her contemplation on her face.

Please, do not question any further.

Causing much gratitude, the countess seemed to come to the decision of not pressing any further. Instead, she easily redirected the conversation with a light-hearted remark, "Oh, but the pleasure is all mine," redirecting the conversation.

Noting her father's watchful gaze and eager to steer the conversation away from uncomfortable territory, Evelina smoothly transitioned, "We are indeed honored by your presence, but I must say, I'm in truth surprised you'd choose to do this for us."

"Ah, well, I'm quite the expert in organizing events, weddings included," Clara's smile was genuine as she responded, "and having no children of my own to plan for, why won't I offer aid to such darling girls lacking as I am," her belly laughter echoed once more, "in the opposite manner, of course."

Evelina smiled warmly, "Thank you, you are too kind."

"Too kind, you think? But you are yet to see the extent I have gone," the woman's laughter echoed the room again, "Evie, my dear, I brought a few of my staff to assist us," she grinned widely, "After all, noble bride needs nothing short of a full house to help her prepare."

Ever excitable, Clara clapped her hands in delight, prompting Evelina's brows to raise in question.

A gasp escaped her lips as at sudden movement, she shifted her gaze to the door to find a line of male and female servants standing by, each carrying various items in their hands.

The sight left Evelina momentarily speechless, her sisters' expressions and exclamations of astonishment, excitement, and relief reflecting the words that hung in her throat. She couldn't help but laugh at their animated reactions before returning her gaze to the Countess.

"You are too kind, my lady. Truly you didn't have to go through all this trouble," she expressed her gratitude at last, her voice tinged with warmth and appreciation.

Clara, with a wave of her hand and a dismissive smile, interjected, "Nonsense, my dear. It is a pleasure to assist you in any way I can. Consider it a gift from one friend to another."

The two exchanged a warm smile that was quickly interrupted by the Viscount.

James, eager to shower her with exaggerated praise, exclaimed, "Oh, my lady, you are truly a gem! Your kindness towards my daughters is unmatched, we have certainly never received such attention before! Aren't you thankful, girls?"

His effusive compliments continued, passing the border of being comically excessive.

"My lord, how you flatter me so! I fear your words may inflate my ego beyond repair. Honestly, I can feel my chest swelling, enough!" Amused by James' flattery, Clara deftly deflected his exaggerated praise with a touch of humor, "for I fear it might explode!"

Her playful response elicited a round of laughter from the younger girls, and she winked at them accordingly.

"I don't believe I have formally asked you still." Turning her attention to Evelina once again, with a eagerness in her eye, she inquired, "Would you permit me to join in and assist with the wedding preparations from this very moment?"

She pursed her lips, "Don't feel pressured to say yes. Trust me, you can tell me no and I shall be on my merry way with my meddling antics."

Evelina's brows raised in slight surprise as she came to the realization she was hearing a genuine laughter leave her lips for the first time in a while. She felt grateful for the intervention and the lightness brought to the situation as she exchanged a knowing look with Margaret.

With a sigh of relief, she turned back to Clara, expressing, "Your presence is just what we need at the moment, my lady. Please, join us."