“I am also sorry I accused you of taking the shards and breaking the box.”
At this, her sister flinched. “I did not take them.”
“I know. It was Lord Rotham who took them. He meant to take them to Lord Caster to be repaired.” She took out the box from within its new wooden home and presented it to her sister.
The way she crumpled her nose at the sight of it was unsettling.
“So, you falsely accused me. I see.”
“I did. And I am sorry, as I said.”
Her sister jumped up out of her seat and marched back and forth around the room, glancing at her each time she turned. When at last she came to a stop, the fire behind her illuminated her figure. The orange-yellow flames stood in contrast to her green gown. The silver embroidery along the waist and sleeves reflected the flicker of the flames.
“Ruth, I cannot stand by and watch you and Lord Rotham enveloped in this cloud of happiness. Others might be pleased; I know Papa certainly is, and people will grow used to the idea, His Grace is among those. But I? I cannot stand it. I cannot let go of my anger at you when I see you with the man I was meant to wed. I cannot forgive what has happened between us if I must see you live the life that was meant to be mine.”
“I do not understand the meaning of your words.” Ruth stood but did not move. Her feet, her entire body, was heavy with sorrow and heavy with the strain of the past few days.
“Her Grace has offered me the opportunity to accompany her on a trip she is taking to Brighton. I was of two minds about leaving as I wanted to be near you should you need me. But I cannot. The matter of the patch box has all but done me in. The strain between us – I cannot stand it. I will go with her. We will be gone ten days, and when I return Papa will arrange a carriage for me to go to Shropshire.”
She was leaving her. Her sister was going away. The sense of loss overcame her like an avalanche, and she struggled to breathe.
“But Sophia – we’ve never been apart for that long. When am I to see you again? How are we supposed to make our peace if you are not here?”
Her sister sat, crossing her legs at the ankles, and picked up her embroidery once more.
“I do not know when. Perhaps our uncle can find me a Marquess to marry, then I will never return to Twilightfare except for a visit. As for Goldclaw Manor, this will be your home. I am sure we will see one another with the same frequency Lord Rotham sees his sisters who are married to lords elsewhere in the Realm.”
A lump formed in Ruth’s throat and she forced it down with one swallow. “We were always going to be together.”
This time, when Sophia looked up at her, there was no fire in her eyes, no anger. Only sadness. “I know. But that was when we thought you would end up an old maid. Now you have found love. In time, I will be happy for you, I am certain. But in the meantime, we both must understand that the lives we had each planned will be entirely different.”
Ruth watched in stunned silence as her sister picked up her needle and thread once more and drove it through the material on her lap, her teeth clenched. She did not look up again. Not when Ruth called her name, not when she told her she was leaving, and not when she turned and walked toward the door and bade her farewell one last time.
Chapter 30
“Are you quite sure you are well enough to go out on a ride?” Ruth’s father asked as the three of them made their way toward the stable.
“I am, Papa. It has been three weeks since I tumbled down the stairs and the bruises are healed. I cannot wait to go riding. Besides, Lord Bronwyn and his parents are already at the stable.”
Kenneth watched with a smile on his face as Ruth sauntered forth at her father’s side. The relief to see her in better spirits was immense. When his mother and Lady Sophia left almost ten days ago, Ruth was inconsolable. She shut herself in her chamber and admitted no one for two days.
At last, over the course of several days, her mood had improved. Kenneth could take no credit for it, it was all the doing of the Duke of Twilightfare, with a little assistance from Jack’s mother, Lady Caster. Upon hearing of the young lady’s distress, Lady Caster presented herself with a large basket of baked goods as well as a flute that was hand-carved by her husband and demanded to be introduced properly - and not as she put it, with a roaring river and two loud-mouthed-noblemen between them.
Lady Caster, the mother of two young ladies herself, provided some of the motherly guidance Ruth clearly needed and now at last Ruth appeared back to her old self.
For the past few days, she made it a habit of joining Kenneth and Jack on their morning rides. On this morning they were to ride as a group with both of their father’s as well as Jack’s parents. The destination was the remains of an old monastery Lady Caster was fascinated with and wished to show Ruth, who was a great lover of architecture.
As they walked, the Duke turned to Ruth. “I have received a letter from your sister. She wishes me to tell you hello and that she is doing well. Furthermore, she asked me to tell you that the plum cake in Brighton is much preferable to the one in Portsmouth.”
Kenneth frowned at this rather curious exchange, but Ruth grinned, the relief at having heard from her sister evident. He was not close to his sisters and thus had no idea what Ruth was going through. He could only imagine that it had to be similar to his having a falling out with Jack, not that such a thing ever occurred. At least not thus far.
“Sophia loves plum cake. She is always searching for the best one and so far, the one in Portsmouth was her favorite. The Brighton plum cakes must be scrumptious, indeed.” She turned her attention back to her father. “She is still returning in the morrow, yes?”
“The day after if the messenger Her Grace sent is to be believed. She will be here for a week and then move on to Shropshire to stay with your aunt and uncle.”
Ruth’s visage darkened at this. Kenneth knew she’d hoped her sister might change her mind and wish to remain at Goldclaw Manor for a while longer, but it wasn’t to be.
I must confess, I do not mind it at all. The absence of both Lady Sophia and my mother has made a change in the atmosphere, a change in the way we all interact with one another. I dare say, it has been pleasant, aside from the first few days of torment my beloved Ruth had to endure.
