“We can hear you crying! Oh, sister, please let us in.” Jane’s voice called through the door.
Everything was spinning. Her heart thundered in her chest. Was this normal?How is one body supposed to cope with so much?She had been rejected all of her life. And yet, this one.
It had broken something within her. She consumed his thoughts, haunted him. That is what he had said. And even with that passion…He would not choose me.
She hated that she wanted him to. Hated that instead, he had told her to marry his brother.
“What is happening?” Rose had joined the other two.
“Emily will not open the door.” Natalie replied. “I am worried about her.”
“Is it locked?” Rose asked.
“I did not want to intrude.” Natalie’s voice was uncertain.
Emily could picture the determined, maternal look on her sister’s face and felt fresh shame wash over her.
“My sister is crying, and I am not about to let her weather whatever this storm is alone.” Rose said.
A moment later, the door burst open and Jane, Rose and Natalie all walked into the room. They gasped as soon as they saw Emily. She opened her mouth, trying to reassure them, but the smell of amber caught her off guard.
Her lip trembled.
“Oh, Emily.” Rose caught her in a hug, pulling her close and stroking her hair. “Oh, my darling little sister.”
She shook in her sister’s arms, sobbing. She could not stop. She could scarcely breathe. Everything was agony. It was all too much. Jane and Natalie were beside her, each holding one of her hands.
“He gave me his blessing.” Emily choked out.
“What?” Natalie frowned.
“L- the Duke.” She could not bring herself to say his name. “He told me that I could marry Lord Baine.”
“But surely that is a good thing?” Jane sounded confused.
Emily shook her head, wiping tears away with her sleeve. Natalie handed her a handkerchief.
“You do not wish to marry Lord Baine, do you?” Rose asked softly.
“I do not want to be a burden. I know you feel obligated to care for me, after all I am your sister.” Emily shifted out of Rose’s embrace, walking to the window and crossing her arms across her chest. “I am not trying to be ungrateful.”
Jane moved towards her, turning her to face them. “We do not want you to be grateful, we want you to be happy!”
“We should not have put such pressure on you.” Rose shook her head.
“But you were right. You cannot support me forever, and you should not have to.” Emily swallowed. “I will think of a plan. I will not be a bother.”
“A bother?” Natalie shook her head. “I already told you that even if Lord Baine does not marry you I will look after you.”
Emily smiled at her friend. “You are only sixteen, I expect you will feel differently once you have your own husband.”
“Why on Earth would I think differently? You are basically my sister.” Natalie’s brow furrowed even more. “One does not simply cast off one’s family because they are married.”
“We will support you as well, always.” Rose added.
Emily swallowed. “I do not want you to have to.”
“You are our sister, we will always look after you.” Jane took her hand.
