Joyce smiled back relieved. “I know I am, immensely. But that doesn’t excuse my behavior.”
“It means you don’t know when you are being unreasonable,” Phyllis added.
“It does mean that,” Joyce couldn’t help but agree.
“I would do anything for you,” Phyllis continued. “You know that. I wanted to marry the duke so you could have your dream wedding, and I will do it now as well. It’s just that I thought that we managed to find a way around it, that our plan would work. But then you went ahead and did something silly without thinking…” She sighed heavily, shaking her head. “But I suppose that makes no difference right now. As I said, what’s done is done. There is no point in thinking about what if’s.”
Then, she looked down at her feet for a brief moment, only to lock eyes with Phyllis again. “Do you still love me?” she asked.
This was where Phyllis almost broke down. Her heart ached for her sister, for herself, but she knew that pointing the finger of blame would not lead anywhere. They had to find their way back to each other, and that was exactly why Joyce had come to her.
She got up and wrapped her arms around her sister. She hugged her tightly, tighter than she ever had before. She closed her eyes, inhaling the fragrance of her sister’s perfume, the smell of her hair, her skin, the very essence of her sister and her best friend, without whom she was lost. Joyce immediately embraced her back, and they remained like that for a long time, before either of them was willing to let go.
“Of course, I love you, silly girl,” Phyllis murmured into her sister’s cheek. “I could never stop loving you, even though you do make me mad sometimes.”
“I know,” Joyce replied. “I love you, too, Phyllis… so very much…”
When they reluctantly released each other from their grip, Phyllis turned to her task. “Do you want to help me finish the guestlist?”
“I would love to,” Joyce beamed, as the two sisters sat down at Phyllis’ small writing desk, which housed sweet little trinkets, along with more practical things. One of them was a music box that didn’t work anymore, because Joyce dropped it down the staircase when they were little. The other one was her favorite book, which Joyce wrote on when she was so little that she didn’t even know what she was doing.
But through all of that, Phyllis forgave her, for one very simple reason. She was the older sister. She was supposed to forgive Joyce, to protect her, to keep her safe and loved. Lately, she had steered from that path, but fortunately, she was back on it again.
“Did you put Fanny and her brother on the list?” Joyce wondered, glancing at the piece of paper, referring to their friend who lived in a nearby village.
“Of course,” Phyllis nodded. “And their parents, too.”
“Good,” Joyce mused. The list went on with Joyce adding a few more names, most of whom had already found their place on it. Together, the sister’s reminisced about old friends and acquaintances, some of whom they didn’t even want to see. But it felt good to be that close again.
Suddenly, Phyllis put down the quill pen.
“Is that everyone?” Joyce wondered.
Phyllis gazed at her. “Joyce… are you sure about this?”
Joyce’s brows knitted in confused. “The guests?”
“No, about marrying the viscount,” Phyllis clarified.
“Oh, that,” Joyce exclaimed. “I… I believe I am. I love him, Phyllis.”
Phyllis didn’t doubt this was true. She had seen her sister light up in the presence of this young man, and also, she had witnessed his deep care and attention he would bestow upon no other lady apart from Joyce. While they were young and inexperienced, Phyllis believed that if she had ever seen true love, it was in the eyes of her sister.
However, she also knew that love had a nasty habit of hiding secrets. It could also be manipulative. Love could lie. Love could hide. Love could rear its real, ugly face when one was least expecting it. After all, that was what happened to their older sister, Charlotte and even their mother. The very thought that such a thing could happen to her sweet Joyce almost broke her.
“Do you think you truly know him?” Phyllis asked cautiously.
Joyce felt a little taken aback by this question, but she quickly regained her composure. “I am not Charlotte, Phyllis.”
“I am not saying you are,” Phyllis clarified, not meaning to offend her sister in any manner, but she wanted Joyce to see beyond the fairy-tale like quality of her love story. “Your situation and hers are different. Just… just promise me you will tell me if anything happens, if you need any sort of help. I will always be here for you, Joyce. Always.”
These words softened whatever sharpness there was to Joyce’s reaction. She smiled. “Thank you, Phyllis. But no help will be necessary. Elias and I are madly in love with each other, and I know he will be the best husband in the world. I just know it!”
Phyllis smiled at her sister, but at the same time, she wondered if Joyce’s naivety was preventing her from seeing the real state of affairs. Still, she decided to quiet her doubts and suspicions, and closely follow the development of unfolding events.
“All right then,” Phyllis announced, taking the list into her hands. “I think the list is finished. We should go and ask Father if he has anyone to add.”
Joyce chuckled. “Keep that list after you’re done,” she winked mischievously. “I will need it for my wedding as well.”
