“I just… I missed you, that’s all,” she finally admitted.
“That was all? You can tell me that, silly,” Nancy said, “I missed you too as well.”
Beatrice bit her lip, “Really?”
“Truly. What’s pestering you so?”
Beatrice shrugged, “I do not know. Ever since Papa died…”
Her voice trailed off and Nancy immediately squeezed her arm, signaling that it was all right to feel sad about that.
“Well… After Papa died, we never spent time together like we used to. Mama fussed about finding you a husband, then His Grace showed up and whisked you off. After that, all Mama talked about was how she hoped you were doing well or how she was worried about Anne’s education and upbringing. You were the closest friend I had, and when you left, and no one cared that I was lonely and sad. I had to pretend everything was all right because I shouldn’t upset Mama or Anne.”
Nancy’s heart sank. With all her marital troubles, she had not spared a moment to consider how lonely her sisters might be. They’d also lost their father and their mother was too preoccupied with their welfare to check on them.
“I’m sorry, Bea. I had no idea.”
“I shouldn’t be bothering you with this. You’ve got so many things on your plate,” Beatrice said while chewing a piece of scone anxiously.
“Nonsense. I’m your sister, and I’ll always be there for you,” Nancy responded, “And please. If you ever feel lonely, you must write to me, and I shall find a way for us to reunite as soon as possible.”
Beatrice gave her a tentative smile.
“Thank you, Nannie. That means a lot.”
Nancy planted a soft kiss on her cheek, “Think nothing of it. Papa would want us to stay close.”
Beatrice frowned slightly, “I miss him.”
“I know, dear. I do as well.”
“He always knew how to cheer us up,” her sister sighed.
“Indeed. Remember those terrible serenades of his?”
Beatrice burst out in laughter, “With that dusty lute? Oh yes, how could I forget? We were begging him to stop—he sounded worse than a cat wailing in the middle of the night!”
“And then he tried to dance along, nearly tripping over his own feet and knocking over the vase! I thought Mama was going to faint from the shock,” Nancy chuckled.
“But it did work, didn’t it? We couldn’t stop laughing for days. Even Papa couldn’t help but laugh at himself once he saw how much joy he brought us.”
Nancy nodded, “It worked indeed.”
As she looked into the eyes of her little sister, she couldn’t help but share her grief. The hollowness that her father’s death had left could not be simply filled. Perhaps it never could. Nevertheless, they still had each other. And that is what mattered the most.
“What do you say we get out of this stuffy room and go for a walk with Anne and Dash?” Nancy suggested.
“But they have already gone on a walk today.”
“Trust me. If it were up to him, Dash would go on a walk every ten minutes.”
Beatrice giggled, “All right. Are you sure you’re up to it, though?”
“Absolutely. I want to spend some time with my sisters now.”
Beatrice beamed and for the first time in a whole week, Nancy felt a little hope.
Even though the phantom of her fight with Richard still lingered, she could always come back home to her sisters. Her mother as well, but she had to make things up with her first.
