The sound of rhythmic tapping on ivory keys was dulled as Philip shut the door behind them. He almost felt guilty about leaving his sister to figure out the piece by herself, but he only needed to remind himself that it was basically his sister's idea after all, and all guilt was wiped away.
"It's such a lovely day out. More heat than humidity," Theodosia commented as she made her way down the porch steps, Philip only a step behind her.
"A lovely day to be on a stroll with a lovely woman," Philip said, hoping it sounded half as smooth as he had hoped. Philip's hope was further flamed by the small smile Theo gave, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.
"Philip, you flatter me."
"But I offer only the sincerest flattery," he said as they rounded the corner of her home, the garden in the backyard coming into range of sight and smell. The garden took up what appeared to be acres of an expansive yard. Bright flowers peppered color on the green hedges. Had he not been so distracted by the garden, Philip might not have missed Theodosia's not so subtle eye roll.
"A line you've practiced on many ladies, I imagine." Theodosia said, curtly. Philip snapped his head to look at her.
"What?"
"You're at boarding school, I imagine you find yourself in the company of ladies often when out around town. Does flattery get you far with them?" She asked, she kept her tone level and cool, but Philip couldn't help to be struck by the sudden change in tone of the conversation. He stopped in his tracks.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
"Oh you don't, do you?" she asked turning to face him. She stood defensively, arms crossed over herself. "Are you not, then, the ladies' man that I've heard so much about?"
"What?" he asked incredulously. "Where did you-"
"Social events give you a rather lovely opportunity to listen in on gossip, and from what I heard Mary saying about your flirtatious attitude with her- "
"Wait. Mary? What? No," he stumbled. "Theo, I'm only fifteen-"
"Nearly old enough to be married, that means noth-"
"I've only so much as held a girl's hand! I never intend to, to-" he faltered, his cheeks burning.
"You never intend to flirt your way into seduction?" Her gaze was hard and strong. Philip couldn't help but look away. He found an interesting patch of grass on the floor to look at instead.
"No. That is, erm-" He cleared his throat, but Theodosia was the first to speak.
"Because, you see," she said, softly, "when I first saw you that night, and you were so… shy. I thought that perhaps you- well, I thought perhaps you might haven taken an interest in me. And you made that comment about how I-" She stopped. Phillip heard her let out a long breath before she continued. "Perhaps this is too forward of me to say, but in those few moments I had taken an interest in you."
Philip dared to look up. Theodosia looked at him softly, her guard down for just a second before she continued. "But minutes later, I learn that I'm not the only one to be on the receiving end of your compliments," she spat. "Am I just another face for you to forget after you've had your way?"
"No, it's like that, Theo. Not with you. Please believe me." He willed for the sincerity he felt to be evident on his face. How could he have fallen out of her grace so quickly?
Theodosia looked him over and sighed. "I would like to, but the Philip I knew once wasn't this way, flirtatious with every girl he met. He talked to me without any intent behind his words, and now it would appear as though I need to guard my heart around you."
Philip felt her words sting him. "I'm still the same Philip. I've just grown up, that's all. I'm not child anymore." Theo stared at him for a moment, but said nothing. "But, I promise you, Theodosia: I have no intention of doing anything to hurt you," he said, taking a hesitant step forward to bridge the distance between them. "In fact, I would very much like to continue to be your friend, as we were when we were kids."
Theodosia looked down, picking at a fiber on her skirt. "I was always more of a friend to Angelica than I was to you."
"That exactly what I told Angelica!" he said without missing a beat.
Theodosia chuckled and lifted her eyes to look at him again. "I have missed you both."
Philip smiled at her. "We've missed you, too. It was nice having someone other than my sister to talk to."
"I always thought we were a nuisance to you more than anything," she said, resuming her walk toward the garden.
"Oh you were, but you two were my favorite nuisances," he said, taking large strides to keep up, his heart lightening with each step. Theodosia laughed. Philip's heart sped up a little. Trying to keep the atmosphere light, he jokingly asked, "So, do I really have the reputation of being a ladies' man from school?"
Theodosia huffed, but her tone remained playful as she replied. "It would appear so, from what I've heard."
"Oh. Well, that's quite-"
"You're there to learn, Philip. You're not there to socialize with women and find yourself a wife," she scolded lightly.
"Who said anything about a wife?"
Theodosia glowered at him. He laughed as he tried to backtrack his words.
"I only mean, any of the women in the area there aren't particularly suitable for marriage. They tend to be women of the world, to put it delicately."
Theodosia sighed. "I still think it's a shame. There you are, off to receive an education to make your way in the world, but instead you find yourself in the company of worldly women-"
"Well, I mean I'm not meeting-"
"Meanwhile, I'm here, made to educate myself. There's only so much one can teach herself with book, you know," she said smartly. "I would love to have the opportunity to go to a university." She picked up her skirts as they walked over a particularly muddy patch. Philip stared at her for a moment.
"Would you really?" he asked, curiously.
"Oh, yes." Her answer was firm. "It seems awfully silly to me that the only thing that prevents me from doing so is my sex. As if I had any say in the matter of the nature in which I was born," she grumbled. "If only I were a boy. I'd be on my way to the College of New Jersey, no doubt."
The defiant and determined look in her eyes compelled him to say, "I'm sure you would be."
"Truly." She paused. They entered the garden and followed the dirt path that took them between the rows of various roses and wild flowers. A gazebo sat in the center of the garden, vines that sported periwinkle flowers climbed the posts.
"This is beautiful, Theo. Do work on them yourself?"
"I prune them and water them occasionally, but the construction and major developments were handled by a gardener," she admitted.
"You're doing a marvelous job with maintenance, at the very least."
Theo smiled. "Thank you," she said politely. "If only you could have seen the spring bloom. It was lovelier."
They continued to walk around the garden in silence. Philip occasionally stole glances at the girl by his side. She walked with her hands clasped behind her band. Philip found himself wishing she would drop them so that he might have an excuse to brush his hand against hers.
"Do you want to know something?" she asked, breaking the silence. Philip refocused his attention.
"What's that?"
"When I'm older, and when I'm not telling my future husband how to properly do his job-" Philip laughed "-I'd very much like to be a tutor for older girls. I'd give them a proper education."
"Only for older girls?" he inquired.
"You will find that while most tutors have no issues teaching basic writing, reading, and arithmetic to girls under ten years of age, very few tutors want anything to do with older girls who should be 'preparing for marriage,' as if that is our only job."
"How modern of you." He said, feeling some pride for his friend.
"It'll be the way of the world soon. Mark my words, one day women will be able to enter colleges, just the same as men. We are just as capable." Philip didn't doubt her in the slightest. In his short life, he had been surrounded by strong, clever women.
"You and my Aunt Angelica would get along very well," he offered. She looked up and smiled at him.
"I've heard about her. I'm inclined to agree."
He smiled back at her. "I'd like you to meet her sometime. Perhaps if you came to mother's birthday?"
Philip hoped he wasn't imagining the color that rushed to her cheeks as she said, "I'd like that very much."
They continued their stroll through the garden slowly. Every now and then, Theo would stop and point out her favorite flowers, giving him the Linnaean classification name and native habitat. Philip watched her enthusiastically explain everything she knew. He prompted her by asking after different flowers she skipped over, and she, happy that someone was taking in interest in her studies, happily filled him in. Nearly an hour and half passed before Philip reluctantly suggested they go back inside to check on Angelica.
Angelica, as it turned out, was a very quick study. In the time that she had been left alone, she had worked her way through half of the selection at tempo only one-quarter slower than the recommended.
"I told you I've gotten better since you've left!" She was eager to tell him.
"You may not even need to come as often as you thought," Theo suggested, almost sounding disappointed, but Philip tried not to overthink it.
"Oh no, I want it to be absolutely perfect for mother," Angelica said. "Sorry, Theo, you're not getting rid of us just yet. I'll need all the time I can get to practice." Angelica tucked the music away into her purse and covered the piano keys.
"If you don't mind, that is," Philip added quickly.
Theo shook her head. "Of course not. I gave you my word on the frequency. It won't change."
"Excellent!" Angelica interjected, smilingly widely as she looked between the pair. "Well, I think a sufficient amount of work was accomplished today, and we ought to make our way home now. Shall we see you the day after next?"
"I look forward to it," Theo smiled and said as she led them to the door. "I had a wonderful time today."
"As did I," said Philip, looking her in the eye. They stood by the door for a moment. Angelica watched in silence as the two held each other's gaze for longer than necessary. She cleared her throat.
"Right, well. We should be leaving now," said the little sister, a little impatiently.
"Right," Theodosia and Philip responded simultaneously, prompting a quick giggle from the two.
"Until the day after next," Philip said, walking backward down the porch steps, keeping an eye on Theo.
"Until then," Theo countered before waving to Angelica and closing the door behind her.
Philip turned as the door shut firmly and looked at his sister, who wore an expectant look on her face.
"So how did it go?" she asked.
"I-I'm not sure."