Page 50 of Silk and Sensibility

“I wish you wouldn’t be so gloomy,” Meilin said as she took the sky-blue skirt Ailin handed her.

Ailin forced a smile. “Thank you for the reminder.”

Meilin stuffed the folded skirt into a travel chest. “I’m not talking about how you look; I’m talking about how you feel.”

Ailin sighed. Meilin was, again, fixated on feelings. Ailin was doing her best by going on the trip at all. The night before, she had thanked Grand­mother Jiang for her promise to connect her with more patrons of art, but how could her happiness be anything but feigned when going to Hangzhou meant Shen Lusi would be one step closer to formalizing her betrothal to Enze? Not to mention Meilin’s embarrassingly obvious desire to chase down Master Wei.

Ailin grabbed a blouse the color of rice. “Maybe we should talk less and focus more on packing.”

“Have you considered reaching out to Enze while we’re in Hangzhou? Before Shen Lusi approaches him, I mean. I think we have a right to ask him for the truth.”

Ailin stifled the natural reflex to clench her fists. She didn’t want to wrinkle the clothing. “I thought we agreed not to bring this up anymore.”

Meilin clicked her tongue as she took the blouse.

Ailin glanced at the ceiling. She knew what her sister was thinking, and she didn’t think Meilin’s exasperation was warranted. Shen Lusi had already told everyone about Enze’s alleged promise to marry her, so there was no way to resolve the situation without burdening the Jiang family. Keeping quiet was the only way to preserve peace in the household.

Ming­ming strode into the room. “Do you have a minute to spare? Captain Bai wants to talk to Meilin. He is waiting outside.”

Meilin dropped the blouse. “Me? Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s about Hangzhou, since you insisted on joining the traveling party after he warned everyone about pirates.”

Ailin bent down to pick up the dropped blouse, bemused to see her sister react so strongly to the mention of Captain Bai.

Meilin crossed her arms. “I thought Grand­mother Jiang already talked enough about that to satisfy anyone who cared.”

Ming­ming shrugged. “Maybe he cares more than you think.”

Meilin glared at Ming­ming. “Will you stop saying things like that? People might think you’re being serious.”

Ming­ming smirked. “Maybe I am.”

Ailin could not believe how immature her sisters were acting at eighteen and fourteen suì. Neither of them should be speaking so thoughtlessly about such a matter.

“Will you two stop arguing?”

Meilin frowned as she took the dropped blouse from Ailin’s hands. “Will you come with me to talk to him, jiě?”

“What?” Ailin asked, surprised by the request. Meilin usually didn’t hesitate when speaking with Captain Bai, whether cordially or argumentatively.

“I want you to be with me.” Meilin’s voice and eyes showed desperation. Something must have changed between her and Captain Bai recently to make her suddenly apprehensive of him.

Though Ailin didn’t know why, she couldn’t refuse when Meilin asked for help. It had been a long time since her sister asked anything of her that she could give.

“Fine. I’ll go with you.”

Meilin’s shoulders relaxed visibly as she released a breath. “Thank you.”

Ailin followed Meilin and Ming­ming to the courtyard. Early blooming plum blossoms perfumed the air where Captain Bai paced back and forth. He paused when he noticed them and walked over.

The wrinkle in his brows signaled worry. “I apologize for disturbing you ladies.”

“Why are you here?” Meilin asked.

“I wish I could persuade you not to leave for Hangzhou,” he replied. “I worry about your well-being.”

His bluntness made Meilin defensive. “Thank you for your concern, Captain Bai, but the matter is already decided. Uncle Meng and Grand­mother Jiang are planning everything, and I trust them to keep us safe during travel.”