Page 44 of Lord of Mischief
There were no words for the depth of Eve’s pain.She had taken a sisterly love and twisted it into an unnatural shape.“I am ashamed beyond words.I am jealous of you.My own sister.”
Caroline climbed off the bed.She rummaged around at the end of the fire and picked up a poker.She came back to Eve and jabbed at her gently with it.“I’ve a good mind to strike you with this and throw your foolish, jealous body on the fire.Mama may be none too pleased, but she will get over it.As you say, I am the golden child so clearly, I am the only one who matters,” said Caroline, her voice breaking.
Eve looked up.Caroline was still beside the bed, the poker pointed at her.Her words had dripped of sarcasm but her cheeks were shining with tears.
“You think you are the only one in this family who is jealous of their siblings?I would give a pound a day to be allowed to work in Papa’s business, like Francis does.To have travelled the world like Will.As for being the center of attention, men don’t see me.They see my looks and figure.Truth be told, I was jealous of you and Freddie.Much as I thought Freddie a fool, I was prepared to accept I had lost you forever because he clearly made you happy.You were always laughing and having secret conversations together.”
The poker slipped out of her fingers and onto the floor where it landed with a thud.Caroline looked at it but made no effort to pick it up.
Eve wiped her eyes.She struggled for words.She did not have the monopoly on jealousy.Caroline, too, had felt the ugly emotion.“I’m sorry, Caroline.I had no idea of the pain you have suffered.”
Caroline walked over to Eve’s wardrobe and pulled out a deep blue and white striped day gown.She marched over and threw it on the bed.She drew in a shaky breath.
“Get dressed.You and I need to go out and have a day together.At the end of it we shall apologize to one another for all the horrid things we have said.Then we shall say no more of our stupid petty insecurities.From this day on, we work together as loving sisters to find the Eve and Caroline Saunders we deserve to be, and men such as Freddie Rosemount can all go hang.”She headed for the door but stopped as she took hold of the handle.“And I promise if Freddie does cross our paths again, I shall heat up the end of that bloody poker and stab him with it in a most unpleasant place.”
Eve stared at the door after Caroline had gone.Both her sister and Cecily Rosemount were right, she did have a choice in the type of person she would become.Freddie had shown her the folly of her actions.It was time to pick herself up and become the Eve Saunders of which she could be proud.
