dear sister
Daphne's knocking was persistent. In reality, it had only been minutes, but it felt to Eloise as if it had been hours. She caved, flinging the door open with such vigour that her older sister stepped back with surprise.
"Daphne, I do not wish for your…" Eloise shook her head, exasperated. "This may come as a shock to you, but I do not wish for your advice right now."
"Advice?"
"I also do not wish for you to reprimand me," Eloise continued. "I know I was foolish. I do not need to be told."
"I did not come for that."
It was enough to make Eloise pause for a moment, her brow furrowing. "You have not read Lady Whistledown?"
"Of course I have, but I know better than to trust a word that woman writes." Daphne's tone was soft as she gazed at her sister's face, taking in her red eyes and pale cheeks. She pushed her way into the room, gathering her sisters' hands in hers. "I came to make sure that you're all right. Those lies...I know you can explain."
Eloise inhaled sharply. "But I cannot explain. They weren't lies, Daphne. It was all true."
"You cannot mean that." Daphne released a nervous laugh. "I know that you do not appreciate certain, uh, aspects of society, but that does not make you a radical, Eloise."
"It was more than that." The words tumbled from Eloise's lips. "There were pamphlets and books and meetings—"
"Meetings? You went to meetings? With whom?"
Eloise pulled away from her sister, collapsing onto her bed and throwing her arm over her face.
"With Theo."
Eloise felt the mattress shift as it molded to Daphne taking a seat next to her. Then she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, firm but comforting.
"Tell me about him."
And after a short pause, Eloise did.