Phyllis realized it was her favorite, chocolate cake. Usually, she would not decline such a delicacy under any circumstances. But this time, she merely offered a weak smile and politely declined the offer. Her thoughts were elsewhere, lost in the whirlwind of emotions that had gripped her since leaving the Woldaves estate.
Joyce took a seat beside her, concern etching lines on her forehead. “I hate seeing you like this, Phyllis. You’ve barely spoken since you arrived, and I can see the weight on shoulders. I know you are thinking about him.”
A heavy sigh escaped Phyllis as she finally looked up to meet her sister’s gaze. “I can’t help it, Joyce. He is all I see, all I think about. I thought things were getting better, that we would eventually find common ground and make it work somehow, but he’s determined to end our marriage.”
“Why didn’t you talk to him about all this?” Joyce wondered. “Why didn’t you ask for an explanation?”
“I heard his mother speak to him. Words I never expected to hear from her. I could tell she did not particularly like me, but I was hoping that in time, we would also find our way to each other. After all those words, he didn’t say anything in my defense. And even worse, he let me go, as if I did not matter at all. That told me all I needed to know, Joyce.”
Joyce reached out, placing a comforting hand on Phyllis’ shoulder. “Men can be foolish creatures, dear sister. Perhaps he’s blinded by pride or fear.”
“I don’t know,” Phyllis admitted, looking down at her hands, with the cup still cradled between her fingers. Actually drinking the tea she was holding was the last thing on her mind. “I guess I was foolish in thinking that we were both falling in love with each other. He was merely playing his part, the exact part we both agreed to play. Only, my emotions were real. His were not.”
“Do not let his choices define your happiness. You have a future ahead, and I’ll support you no matter what,” Joyce tried to reassure her.
The sisters shared a quiet moment, the ticking of the clock echoing through the room. Phyllis’ heart, heavy with unresolved emotions, yearned for the solace of understanding, which she managed to find by her sister’s side. Although, she knew well that she would not be able to remain there for much longer. She had the excuse of visiting her, but remaining there longer would raise some eyebrows, especially their father’s. He would realize that something was amiss. Phyllis didn’t want him to interfere any more than he already had. He forced her to marry the duke, but he would have no effect on the decision to annul this marriage.
Joyce, determined to infuse some cheer into the heavy atmosphere, suggested a game of cards. The flickering candles cast a warm glow, creating a cocoon of comfort as they gathered around. The ornate card table, adorned with delicately embroidered silk and surrounded by plush chairs, served as the focal point in the drawing room.
“Come, Phyllis, let us play a round. It might divert your thoughts, if only for a moment,” Joyce encouraged, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
Phyllis hesitated but nodded, trying to engage in the diversion her sister had orchestrated.Perhaps it will work in distracting me from thinking about Alexander,she thought.
The viscount, Joyce’s husband, joined the gathering, shuffling the deck with a hint of enthusiasm. As the cards were dealt, the room filled with the soft rustle of playing cards and the occasional clink of crystal as they made their moves. Despite the genuine efforts to lift Phyllis’ spirits, an undeniable somberness lingered. Phyllis could barely focus on the game at hand, despite the cheerful comments of her sister and her husband. If anything, their evident love for each other only made Phyllis even more hurt because her own heart belonged to Alexander, but he refused to be the owner of it.
Joyce, noticing her sister’s distant gaze, exchanged a concerned glance with the Viscount. “Phyllis, my dear, if you’d rather do something else, just tell us. We are here for you.”
“No, I’m quite all right, thank you,” Phyllis managed a faint smile, appreciating the genuine concern of her sister and brother-in-law. However, the weight of her recent experiences at Woldaves estate seemed insurmountable, casting a shadow even over the fleeting moments of respite provided by the card game.
The card game continued for a while, after which Phyllis excused herself to go out for a walk. She needed some time alone, to herself and her anguishing thoughts. Also, she felt that her sorrow was slowly becoming a cloud on the sky of her sister’s marital happiness. She hated herself for it, and that was why she tried to remove herself from their company, at least for a little while.
“Would you like me to join you?” Joyce suggested, always the affectionate sister.
Phyllis managed a smile. “Stay with your husband. I don’t want to take up so much of your time together.”
“It is no problem at all,” the viscount assured her gently, taking his wife’s hand into his own and bestowing a tender kiss upon it. “We have the rest of our lives to spend together and enjoy each other’s company, and you are here just for a visit.”
“Thank you, that is most kind of you, but I would still like some time alone, if that is all right with both of you,” Phyllis said, hoping they would not find this offensive towards their hospitality.
“I understand,” Joyce assured her, pressing her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “We shall be here if you need us for anything.”
“Thank you,” Phyllis nodded, then found her way out of the drawing room and into the gardens.
The sun dipped towards the horizon, casting a warm amber glow over the well-tended garden. Phyllis meandered along the cobblestone paths, surrounded by a tapestry of blossoming flowers and the delicate scent of blooming roses. As she strolled beneath the gracefully arching boughs of climbing vines, the familiarity of the garden triggered poignant memories of another estate—the one she had hoped to transform into a haven.
The soft rustle of leaves seemed to whisper echoes of her aspirations at Woldaves, where she had envisioned crafting a home filled with love and warmth. Phyllis found a secluded bench beneath a flourishing wisteria, its cascading lavender blooms offering a touch of solace. She couldn’t escape the thoughts that swirled in her mind, each step through the garden carrying her deeper into the recesses of her memories.
Her gaze lingered on the vibrant blooms, reminiscent of the colorful tapestry she had hoped to weave into the fabric of her life. The rhythmic melody of a distant songbird resonated, a poignant reminder of the harmonious dreams she had once nurtured. As the shadows lengthened and the garden embraced the tranquility of the approaching evening, Phyllis traced her fingers along the petals of a delicate rose. The velvety texture provided a fleeting comfort, but the yearning for the life she had envisioned persisted.
At that moment, she heard the rush of oncoming footsteps, as if someone had been running in her direction. She lifted her gaze only to see a flushed Joyce. When she reached her, she stopped, breathing heavily and resting her hands on her knees, slightly bent forward.
“Ugh,” she said, through cut out breaths, “I don’t think I’m in good shape at all!”
Phyllis smiled at her sister. Although she had politely asked for solitude, the knowledge that her sister cared so much about her to go against her wishes comforted her more than she thought it would.
“I know you said you wanted to be alone, but I have a surprise,” Joyce revealed.
“What sort of surprise?” Phyllis wondered, hoping it was not the presence of their father here. She quickly decided against it, a decision that only seemed to awaken even more curiosity regarding the surprise in question.
