Welcome, Lovelies!
This story has been a long time coming, and I'm so excited to finally share it with you all!
Thank you to Mel, Jill, Pamela, and Gemma for all the work they've put into this chapter!
Chapter 1
December
"Sit up straight."
The order is followed swiftly by a slap of a thin cane to my spine, and I flinch before rolling my shoulders back.
"You are pathetic." The words land on my shoulders, and I fight to stop from curling in on myself again.
Someone is reaching for my hair, and my eyes screw shut as they tug at my curls. "This hair is unruly," Grandmother complains, though I know it is not her that is trying to brush it. "It would serve you right if we chopped it all off. What good would you be to us then?" She sniffs, and behind me, the hand dug into my hair softens, just a fraction. The maid's sympathy is wasted on me. Nothing and no one could change Grandmother's hatred toward me.
"What do you think you are doing? Stop slacking and finish the job already!" Grandmother's voice is a snarl, and I feel the maid jump, her fingers digging deeper into my hair and yanking so hard tears spring to my eyes. I fight them down, not wanting this to be worse for her. We both just want her task to be over with.
I wish I could dress myself. I wish I could be left alone, to not have to get dressed up at all. I wish…
"Stop daydreaming, you stupid girl."
My eyes flicker open as Grandmother's cane snaps across my knuckles. I flex my hands, sliding them into my lap where I can protect them with my skirt. Grandmother is standing in front of me, her cold eyes assessing.
"You are lucky your sister's marriage has given you a prospect at marriage yourself," she spits. "Who would ever want such a weak, stupid girl as their wife?"
I do not bother to respond. She is right. If it weren't for Rosalie's betrothal, I would not be here.
My eyes threaten to water at the thought.
My family is not great, nor powerful. My father is a merchant, and since my mother died when I was little, the raising of my sister and me to become proper ladies has fallen to my grandmother. Our status meant that we could not expect too much out of life, except that my older sister was born beautiful. Since she was a child, people had fallen over themselves, awed by her beauty.
Since as wives all we are meant to be is beautiful, it has made Rosalie highly sought after.
So much so that she caught the eye of a duke.
It was unprecedented, and because of my family's status, it meant that Rosalie's dowry was too meager to satisfy the duke, despite how much he coveted her.
Desperate to see the marriage through, my father offered me up as part of the dowry.
Now, I am to be given as a wife to one of the duke's soldiers, a man I have never met.
I do not speak as Grandmother berates me. She has always been this way, and there is no use fighting her. She paces the unfamiliar room, shouting abuses at both the maid and me. I feel bad for the maid, who until yesterday had never met Grandmother and certainly does not deserve her poison.
We have been in the duke's home only two days, but already Grandmother has terrified more than half the servants.
The door to the small room opens, and I glance up to see my sister in the entryway. Her appearance is a relief, as Grandmother turns her full attention to her.
"Rosalie," she sighs, and it is as if my sister has offered Grandmother a breath of fresh air. "Darling, what are you doing up so early? You should be resting for your wedding."
Rosalie's pale eyes sweep the room, taking in Grandmother before landing on me where the maid is still fighting my hair.
"I need to speak with Bella," she says.
Grandmother stiffens. "There is no use wasting your time on this one," she says, shaking her head. "She is as dumb as a box of rocks."
My shoulders curl, and Rosalie shakes her head. "I need to speak with my sister—alone," she commands. She has the air of a duchess already.
Grandmother's mouth purses, but then she turns to the maid. "Come," she commands. "My clothes need airing for tonight anyway."
The maid lets go of my hair, and she and Grandmother step out of the room. For a moment, Rosalie does not move, but then our eyes meet and she crosses the room, coming to stand before me.
"How are you doing, Little Bird?" she asks, her gentle hand coming up to cup my chin. My eyes fill with tears.
"I am frightened," I tell her, because Rosalie has always been someone I can be honest with. The only person I can be honest with.
She brushes the hair back from my face, her touch tender.
"I know," she murmurs. "I am sorry that I have done this to you."
It is not her fault. Rosalie has found an incredible match. I would expect nothing less than for everyone to bend over backward to make it come true.
She moves behind me, lifting up my hair. "That woman made a mess of this." She sighs. I hear her pick up the hairbrush, and slowly, she starts combing through the tangles.
Her careful touch makes me feel like I am little again.
"The duke tells me that the soldier you are to marry is young," she says after a moment. "Young and poor, but a good worker and very loyal."
My hands curl in my lap again. Her words mean almost nothing to me.
"He tells me that your husband will be given land on the north end of the duke's property. So we shan't be far from each other," she continues. My mouth goes dry. Rosalie has always been there, one bed over. What am I to do when I can no longer reach out to her in the middle of the night?
Who will be there for me now?
Her hands still, and I feel her reaching for a ribbon. Her practiced hands quickly braid my hair back, securing it before twisting the strands up into a bun at the back of my head. When she is done, she moves across the room, plucking small white flowers from a vase by the window. She returns to me, sliding them into my hair.
"I wish I could see you be married," she whispers. My marriage is to happen first, whilst she is getting made ready. My wedding will not be a grand affair, and it will likely consist of myself, my betrothed, and a priest. I will be shocked to see any of my family there because no one really cares about this wedding. This is just the security deposit for my sister's match.
"Will I get to see you married?" I ask, my voice soft.
"I hope so," Rosalie murmurs. She does not sound certain, and I feel the small curl of hope in my chest shrivel up and die.
When she leaves this room, it will be as if we are no longer sisters. We will be forced into different directions, facing entirely different paths.
I will be utterly alone in the world.
Rosalie finishes putting the flowers into my hair and comes around, taking in my face. I gaze up at her, trying to memorize her features. She looks like our mother, or so I am told, with her long light hair and bright sapphire eyes. More than her physical beauty, Rosalie's kindness shows through her eyes, and when I gaze up into her face, I am reminded of how good of a person she is.
She deserves to be queen one day.
"There now, Little Bird," she murmurs, brushing a tear from my cheek. "Everything will be okay, I promise you."
She leans down, pressing her forehead to mine, and my eyes fall shut.
"Everything will be fine," I repeat quietly.
"No matter what," she says gently. "We will always be sisters."
My eyes open, and I gaze at her, her head still pressed to mine.
"We will always be sisters."
This story will post weekly on Fridays, so stay tuned!