His sister simply patted his sleeve. “It is all right, but I would refrain from staring at her too much. But that is just me. You can do as you please.”
Not liking where this conversation was headed, Winston dropped his arm and reached for the door to the shop. He held it open for Elodie and followed her inside, feeling out of place among the hats, ribbons and fans on display.
As he glanced towards the door, considering making a quick exit, Mattie caught his eyes from near the ribbons and smiled. And just like that, he decided to stay.
Winston approached her and saw that she was fingering some black ribbons. “Those are some fine-looking ribbons,” he remarked.
Mattie gave him an amused look. “Do you know much about different types of ribbons?”
“I’m afraid not, and quite frankly, I do not care,” Winston replied.
“Then I won’t bore you with the details, my lord.” Mattie lowered her voice as she turned towards him. “We shouldn’t be here. We are in mourning.”
Winston resisted the urge to reach out and offer a comforting touch. This was not the place to do so. “But you are here, and you might as well make the most of it.”
Mattie turned her attention towards her sister, who was browsing through brightly colored ribbons, despite being in mourning attire. “I do not know what to do with my sister. She is balking at mourning and has been rather insensitive towards Franny.”
“Miss Emma is young,” he attempted.
“That is no excuse for her callous actions,” Mattie sighed. “I should try to speak to my father about this.”
Winston grew thoughtful. “Do you think that will improve the situation?”
Mattie winced. “It can’t hurt to try.”
Miss Emma approached them with a bright pink ribbon in her hand. “This would be perfect for my hair,” she declared.
“Emma…” Mattie started.
Lowering the ribbon to the table, Miss Emma responded defensively, “I won’t be in mourning forever, Mattie.” She lifted her chin and walked away in a huff.
Mattie pressed her lips together before asking, “Would you like another sister?”
Winston couldn’t help but chuckle at the suggestion. “I can barely handle the two sisters that I have,” he joked.
“Pity,” Mattie murmured.
Hoping to make Mattie smile, Winston reached for a dark gray ribbon that was lying on a nearby table. He held it up and inspected it closely. “Now this,” he said with exaggerated seriousness, “is truly a magnificent piece of ribbon. It is straight and the color is superb.”
Mattie’s lips twitched. “Well, then, I simply must have it,” shedeclared.
“Allow me the honor of purchasing it for you, Mattie,” Winston replied with a flourish of his hand.
His efforts were rewarded when she smiled, lighting up her entire face. He would daresay that he had never seen anything so beautiful before.
With a deep breath, Mattie stood outside of her father’s study. She had been rehearsing in her head what she intended to say, knowing it would be a difficult conversation with no guarantee of how her father would react. Would he be supportive of her or take Emma’s side—just as he always did?
The door swung open, interrupting her thoughts, and her father stood there with a furrowed brow. “Mattie? Why are you standing outside of my study?” he asked.
“I needed to speak to you,” Mattie responded.
Her father took a step back and motioned for her to take a seat in one of the worn leather chairs. “Please come in,” he said. “I was planning on visiting the Wilcox family, but it can wait a few moments.”
Mattie sat rigidly in her seat, trying to calm her nerves. This was ridiculous. Why should she be nervous about speaking the truth? She would just say what needed to be said and be done with it.
“I want to speak to you about Emma,” Mattie began.
Her father frowned before he closed the door. “I expected as much,” he said, settling into his chair. “What is it that you wish to discuss?”
