didn’t approve. When they caught a glimpse of a man sneaking out her window, she threw herself into hysterics and claimed it was my son. Of course, they had her examined by a doctor and discovered she was no longer a virgin. They had taken her word without considering there could be an alternative story.”
Elisabeth and I are both completely enraptured in her story, and we wait for her to continue.
“Our families were divided. I stood by my son’s word and she hated me for it. Two years went by and we didn’t speak. When I would see her in town and attempt to approach her, she would glare at me and take off in the other direction. Eventually, I gave up on attempting to clear my son’s name.”
“So, you lost your sister over a misunderstanding?” I blurt out. I know that Elisabeth hates me for what I’ve done, but not ever speaking to her again breaks my heart.
When I risk a glance at my sister, I find her eyeing me warily. So I smile at her in such a way that begs for forgiveness. We hold each other’s gaze until Ma speaks again.
“Nearly, darling. It wasn’t until my niece turned up pregnant by the boy her family disapproved of. The very idea that she was carrying the child of a simple man who worked at the mill despite their own family’s higher social class was the talk of the town. I felt bad for them and sent my sister a letter. In the letter, I reminded her that we were still sisters and, if she needed someone to confide in, I was still here.”
“What did she say?” I question.
Ma purses her lips together. “She wrote back and told me that she was thankful for the sentiment and the offer but she had to decline. There was also a small apology stating that her daughter finally came clean and confessed that the boy from the mill was her only lover. Alcott never touched a hair on her body, much like I already knew.”
“So you two forgave each other and worked through your problems,” I state with hope filling my voice.
Ma glances at Elisabeth and then at me. Her eyes fill with tears before she blinks them away. “No, that was not the case. I’d been planning to visit her in an attempt to rekindle our relationship. It was as I was packing that I was informed of the fire.”
I gape at her, and when I turn, I see Elisabeth doing the same. Out of habit, I reach across and take my sister’s hand to comfort her. She accepts my hand, and I squeeze it.
“Dear girls, the fire consumed her entire family. Later, it was determined the boy from the mill was so distraught that her family had refused to let her marry him. In an effort to eradicate them so they could run away together, he burned their estate to the ground. But he hadn’t expected my niece to be inside, as she was supposed to be waiting for him at his home. At the last minute, she had gone to warn her family and was taken by the fire as well. The boy from the mill took his life that night. It was all a tragedy.”
Elisabeth and I can no longer hold our sobs in. She clutches my hand, and it reminds me when I had to hold both her and Ella for countless nights after our mother died.
“My point, beautiful girls, is that no grudge is worth holding on to. I loved my sister, and events put a wedge between us. But they weren’t events that were more important than the love we shared. We made mistakes, but in the end, I still loved her. And I know she loved me. Our last moments were stolen from us, and I’d do anything to get them back. Elisabeth, I’m sorry for what Edith has done to you. It may seem unforgiveable, but it’s not. She is your sister.
“Edith is very much in love with my son, much like you are with Jasper. The William you told me of earlier was just as much to blame. I know that the betrayal you feel from your sister is too much to bear. Believe me—I was in your shoes. However, it is mud in the water now. You two still have the rest of your lives to mend this relationship. Soon, you’ll have babies, and it will be
Elisabeth and I are both completely enraptured in her story, and we wait for her to continue.
“Our families were divided. I stood by my son’s word and she hated me for it. Two years went by and we didn’t speak. When I would see her in town and attempt to approach her, she would glare at me and take off in the other direction. Eventually, I gave up on attempting to clear my son’s name.”
“So, you lost your sister over a misunderstanding?” I blurt out. I know that Elisabeth hates me for what I’ve done, but not ever speaking to her again breaks my heart.
When I risk a glance at my sister, I find her eyeing me warily. So I smile at her in such a way that begs for forgiveness. We hold each other’s gaze until Ma speaks again.
“Nearly, darling. It wasn’t until my niece turned up pregnant by the boy her family disapproved of. The very idea that she was carrying the child of a simple man who worked at the mill despite their own family’s higher social class was the talk of the town. I felt bad for them and sent my sister a letter. In the letter, I reminded her that we were still sisters and, if she needed someone to confide in, I was still here.”
“What did she say?” I question.
Ma purses her lips together. “She wrote back and told me that she was thankful for the sentiment and the offer but she had to decline. There was also a small apology stating that her daughter finally came clean and confessed that the boy from the mill was her only lover. Alcott never touched a hair on her body, much like I already knew.”
“So you two forgave each other and worked through your problems,” I state with hope filling my voice.
Ma glances at Elisabeth and then at me. Her eyes fill with tears before she blinks them away. “No, that was not the case. I’d been planning to visit her in an attempt to rekindle our relationship. It was as I was packing that I was informed of the fire.”
I gape at her, and when I turn, I see Elisabeth doing the same. Out of habit, I reach across and take my sister’s hand to comfort her. She accepts my hand, and I squeeze it.
“Dear girls, the fire consumed her entire family. Later, it was determined the boy from the mill was so distraught that her family had refused to let her marry him. In an effort to eradicate them so they could run away together, he burned their estate to the ground. But he hadn’t expected my niece to be inside, as she was supposed to be waiting for him at his home. At the last minute, she had gone to warn her family and was taken by the fire as well. The boy from the mill took his life that night. It was all a tragedy.”
Elisabeth and I can no longer hold our sobs in. She clutches my hand, and it reminds me when I had to hold both her and Ella for countless nights after our mother died.
“My point, beautiful girls, is that no grudge is worth holding on to. I loved my sister, and events put a wedge between us. But they weren’t events that were more important than the love we shared. We made mistakes, but in the end, I still loved her. And I know she loved me. Our last moments were stolen from us, and I’d do anything to get them back. Elisabeth, I’m sorry for what Edith has done to you. It may seem unforgiveable, but it’s not. She is your sister.
“Edith is very much in love with my son, much like you are with Jasper. The William you told me of earlier was just as much to blame. I know that the betrayal you feel from your sister is too much to bear. Believe me—I was in your shoes. However, it is mud in the water now. You two still have the rest of your lives to mend this relationship. Soon, you’ll have babies, and it will be
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