Parting the Veil by Paulette Kennedy
CHAPTER 13
Eliza pulled her trunk from beneath her bed and mindlessly shoved stockings, drawers, and shifts into it. She had no idea where they were going or how long they’d be gone, only that Malcolm had reassured her he’d find an authority to oversee their vows. As she was buttoning her summer wool traveling suit, she heard the front door creak open downstairs. Lydia’s step whispered on the marble floor below.
“Liza! Are you awake?”
“Upstairs, cher!” Eliza called. “I have news.”
Lydia appeared in the doorway, her hair a wreath of frizzing ringlets. A glossy sheen winked in the whites of her eyes. Her chin and cheeks were the color of claret. Eliza smirked. “You’re drunk.”
Her sister frowned. “No, ma’am. I am not,” she slurred. She wobbled over to the foot of the bed and sat. “Sarah is, though. I put her to bed after the other ladies left. She was wretched.”
“See, you’re already practicing at becoming a nurse.”
“It’s the middle of the night. Why are you getting dressed?”
Eliza crossed the room and took Lydia’s hands. “Sister, Malcolm and I are eloping.”
“What?” Lydia made a dry clucking at the back of her throat. “No. You’re not going to marry anyone until banns have been read and you’ve the blessing of a priest.”
Mon Dieu. “We are eloping. It’s settled. You told me to give marriage a chance, and I am.”
Lydia stood, her breath huffing from her nose. “You are making a terrible mistake, ma soeur. You hardly know him. You have almost two whole months before the clause must be satisfied. Why not wait and have a proper wedding? Be practical. Be sensible, for once in your life!”
Eliza dropped Lydia’s hands. “We cannot wait. Lord Eastleigh has threatened to file notice of eviction by the end of the month. Malcolm will lose his house, everything. We must be married quickly in order for me to pay the debt and save Havenwood Manor. He can’t lose that house.”
“What about your house?” Lydia gestured to the room, her eyes feverish. “You can live here. Hmm? What is wrong with that? If he loves you, your house will be just as suitable.”
“I had planned on giving Sherbourne House to you.” Eliza turned away and sat to tie on her walking boots. “You and Clarence will be betrothed soon. I can feel it. I meant to give it to you as a wedding gift.”
“There’s room enough for all of us here! I can’t understand.” Lydia stalked through the room. “I don’t know what you see in him or that godforsaken house with its bad mojo.” She made a dramatic sweep with her arms. “It rolls off that place, Liza. I feel sick to my stomach just walking past its gates.”
“You’re being ridiculous.” Eliza stood and straightened her jacket. “It’s only a house.”
“Mais oui! It is only a house.” Lydia’s face glistened with tears. “And what of the man? He’s the same ilk as Eastleigh, only in more clever clothes. Of that, I am certain. Oh, Liza. I beg of you—please do not do this.”
At Lydia’s tears, Eliza melted. She went to her little sister and pulled her into her arms. Lydia pushed against her at first, and then stilled. “Do you know? I still remember the day Mimi Lisette first let me hold you.”
“Don’t talk about Mimi. Not now.”
“You were so small, and I felt so big compared to you.” Eliza remembered Mimi’s soft hand in hers as she stood next to Lydia’s crib, looking through the slats at the big-eyed baby with the red face and angry little fists. Mimi had lifted Lydia from the mattress and led Eliza to the rocking chair, where she carefully placed the swaddled babe in Eliza’s arms. Rock her gently, my little Liza. She is your petite fleur. You will always have one another. With Eliza’s steady rocking, Lydia had quieted and drifted into a contented sleep, her little hand curled around Eliza’s thumb.
Tears sprung to Eliza’s eyes. She drew back to look at Lydia and pushed the rain-crinkled curls away from her face. “We will always have each other, cher. Mimi was right about that. Just because I’m marrying Malcolm doesn’t mean you’re losing me. That’s what you’re most afraid of, isn’t it?”
“Well. You’ll be too busy keeping company with your new husband to think about me anymore.”
“I’m only going to be down the road—a quick Sunday stroll away.”
“It’s going to be lonely here. Too quiet.”
“You’ll have your nurse training to keep you busy. And Clarence!”
Lydia’s face softened. “I suppose you think you love him, or at least you love the idea of him. I just . . . I worry. Something doesn’t feel right.”
“The rumors aren’t true, Lyddie. Malcolm has only had a difficult life. A life just as full of sorrow as our own. It’s made him a pariah, and it’s unjust. I can right some of his wrongs. His debt is such a small thing, after all. I want this marriage, and him, more than anything I’ve ever wanted. I know it’s right. Please believe me.”
Lydia drew in a shaky breath, her lips curving into a sad smile. “You must learn to see these things on your own, in time. I will do my best to lock my worries inside.”
“Do I have your blessing, then?”
“As much as I can give.”
“Good.” Eliza kissed Lydia’s forehead. “Do you know the very best part?”
“What?”
“Tomorrow, you’ll have this entire house to do with as you wish. You can finally take down that damned cuckoo clock.”