“Is this because of the Viscount of Colemill?” Phyllis wondered, although she knew the answer already.
Elias Walford had caught her sister’s eye quite some time ago, and Joyce had confided in Phyllis that she was madly in love with the young gentleman. They had met on several occasions, during balls, having danced and conversed together, but so far, no courting had taken place yet.
“Yes,” Joyce admitted. “I… there is something you don’t know, Phyllis.”
“What is it, Joyce?” she asked, taking her sister’s hand in her own. “You know you can tell me anything.”
“I know, it’s just…” Joyce hesitated, but once their eyes met, the truth started pouring out of her like an avalanche. “Father has already rejected the viscount once, when he asked for permission to court me.”
“He has?” Phyllis gasped. “I… I had no idea.”
“I didn’t want to burden you with it, Phyllis,” Joyce confessed. “Because, you see, Father insisted that in order for the viscount to court me, you must be married first.”
Phyllis’ eyes widened in surprise. The weight of her own predicament momentarily shifted as she absorbed her sister’s confession. “Joyce, I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
Joyce’s gaze dropped to the floor as she sighed. “I didn’t want to burden you further with my troubles. But seeing Father so determined to arrange your marriage without considering my feelings… it’s tearing me apart that the viscount and I have to be apart, when I know that he feels the same way about me as I do about him. I just can’t bear the thought of losing him, Phyllis. I just can’t…”
Phyllis gently squeezed her sister’s hand. “You’re not burdening me at all. We are in this together. And love should not be sacrificed to tradition.”
Phyllis could sense the weight of Joyce’s unspoken dilemma and the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. Joyce was trying to compose herself, but that came at a great price.
“Phyllis, I can see how much this weighs on you. I don’t want to pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do.”
Phyllis, knowing their father’s staunch adherence to tradition and the old-fashioned values that governed their family, felt a knot tighten in her chest. She understood the depth of Joyce’s sacrifice and the emotional toll it took on her younger sister.
After a moment of contemplation, Phyllis sighed and spoke with a heavy heart. “We both know that Father will never allow you to marry while I myself remain unmarried. It’s a tradition he won’t compromise on.” She paused for a moment. It was difficult to even consider this, but her sister’s happiness meant the world to her. “I cannot bear to see you unhappy, Joyce. I will do everything in my power to make sure that you and the viscount can be together.”
“Even…” Joyce started, but she was unable to finish her question.
“Even that,” Phyllis nodded with a smile that served as a veil to conceal all of her pain.
Tears welled in Joyce’s eyes as a mix of gratitude and sorrow sparkled in her eyes. This was a great sacrifice of Phyllis, but she knew that she would do it for the sake of her sister’s happiness. The complexities of duty, tradition and love converged in the hushed moments that followed, with neither of the two sisters willing to break the sanctity of their time together.
Then suddenly, Joyce seemed to remember something. With a furrowed brow, she locked eyes with her sister.
“I’ve heard some rumors about the duke,” Joyce said, pondering on what she was about to share, although Phyllis knew some of it already. “There are talks of financial troubles in the Woldaves family. Do you think it might be possible that he is offering to marry you just because of your dowry?”
Phyllis, aware of the rumors but focused on the larger sacrifice she was willing to make for Joyce’s happiness, replied, “I’ve heard the whispers, Joyce. But in the grand scheme of things, the state of the duke’s finances is the least of our worries. This will be a marriage of convenience, nothing more.”
Understanding the gravity of Phyllis’ decision, Joyce nodded with a mix of gratitude and concern. “Phyllis, I appreciate your sacrifice, but I don’t want you to enter into a marriage that might bring you more hardship. We can find another way.”
Phyllis knew that no matter how long and hard they pondered, they would not find another way out of this predicament. “Seeing you happy is worth any hardship I might face, my dear sister. We’ll navigate these challenges together. The viscount and you deserve a chance at love, and if my marriage to the duke can pave the way for it, then so be it.”
Touched by her sister’s selfless love, Joyce couldn’t hold back the tears. She leaned closer to her sister and wrapped her arms around Phyllis who, equally moved, embraced her back. The warmth of their bond enveloped them in that moment of shared understanding.
“Seeing you happy is all that matters to me, Joyce,” Phyllis smiled, once they released each other. “We’ll face whatever comes our way… together.”
Joyce’s eyes sparkled with tears and joy. “Together,” she echoed her sister’s sentiment.
In the quiet sanctuary of the drawing room, the St. Clair sisters found solace in each other’s arms. The sacrifices made for love forged a connection that transcended the challenges they were about to face. As they stood entwined, the weight of their familial ties and the choices made for the sake of one another lingered in the air, creating a bond that was bound to endure the trials ahead.
CHAPTERTWO
The carriage rumbled along the winding road toward the Woldaves estate, and inside, the atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and contemplation. Phyllis stared out of the window, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery, though her mind was absorbed in the weight of the decisions she had made.
As the wheels of the carriage crunched against the gravel, Phyllis couldn’t escape the swirling thoughts. The sacrifice she had chosen for Joyce’s happiness weighed heavily on her heart. She stole a glance at Joyce, whose eyes were filled with a mix of gratitude and concern, and then at their father, Norman, who sat with a stoic expression, seemingly lost in his own reflections.
Breaking through the veil of her thoughts, Phyllis heard her father’s voice. “I must say that I am extremely pleased that the negotiations regarding this marriage have gone so well. You truly are a fortunate young lady, Phyllis.”
