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.
