Chapter XXXVII.

In the Clarke household, a commotion was heard from Eileen's room as the sisters were on the ground, each with a pile of papers.

Earlier in the morning, Tamara and Eileen received a letter from Mr Tippe, informing them to go to his office in a week's time to discuss further steps needed to be taken in their collaboration to publish their story.

"When I was a little girl..." Eileen began, attempting her best, old Veursian accent. "I had 2 little goats...".

And with that, Agath and Ruth let out a goat sound.

Trying to compose herself, Eileen continued, "And... and I lived on an old ranch! I had a chicken too.".

In that, Tamara made a chicken sound which, in turn, caused both Agath and Ruth to fall on their backs as they laughed.

Eileen tried to say her next line, but it proved to be impossible when she joined her sisters, laughing. Tamara was left as she watched her sisters but it wasn't long before she joined them as well.

It took a few minutes for the sisters to calm down and when they did, Agath and Ruth had to wipe the tears that rolled down their cheeks all the while Eileen held her stomach from the slight pain she felt after her laughing fit. And Tamara fanned herself with the papers she held.

"Okay, sisters. Let's recompose, we have a play to get through!" Tamara spoke, trying her best to not break into another laughing fit, but it didn't work when Agath and Ruth broke into laughter once more. It only caused Tamara to join them.

By the time they all calmed down, their wish to further perform the play went away. Instead, Ruth stood up and walked to the window. There, her gaze was met with the beautiful blue sky and the greening of the grass.

The days were still cold, but they felt they were slowly undergoing an improvement.

"Sisters? Can we go outside, it's a beautiful day!".

"Yes! Please, Tamara, Eileen!!" Agath stood up next before walking over to Ruth.

Eileen and Tamara felt relieved to see that Agath happy again. Her joy returned. Though she had her troubles during the night, she had Ruth, her best friend, there by her.

"Fine..." Tamara gave in. With that, she looked toward Eileen. "Are you coming also?".

"I'll clean up a bit and then I'll be joining you all.".

"Do you need some help, Eileen?" Tamara inquired, standing up.

"No, no. Go out with them, keep an eye on them both.".

"Eileen!!" Ruth called out. "We aren't small kids so Tamara has to keep an eye on us!".

"Well you all are small to me," Eileen responded as she began collecting all the papers to place them back into their place.

Ruth rolled her eyes as both she and Agath rushed out of the room and down the stairs. Tamara followed them seconds later, glancing at Eileen before leaving her room.

Exiting the house, Tamara had her jacket wrapped around her all the while her sisters put nothing on themselves. They immediately ran out onto the green glass. Tamara was about to join them when she nothing something off the side of her eye. A carriage was heading her way.

Surprise filled her up as she wondered who it might be. 'Was it Diana?... or... Theodore?'.

Once the carriage came to a halt, she looked at the coachman who greeted her with a nod. With that, one of the carriage doors opened.

Tamara furrowed her brows ever so slightly when she saw who emerged from the carriage.

"Ms Elisabeth?...".

A sheepish smile formed on Elisabeth's lips. "Ms Tamara...". She greeted Tamara with a curtsey. "I... I know you've told me you don't want to see me, but... I am leaving for Veursau and I am not sure if I'll ever be back here...".

Elisabeth spectated Tamara's expression on her face.

"I wanted to apologise, Ms Tamara, for what I've done to you, to your family..." Elisabeth spoke out. A slight lump formed in her throat. "And I wanted to apologise for the argument we had that day. It was uncalled for on my behalf... I don't expect you to forgive me, Ms Tamara. But I wanted to let it be known that... that I am sorry.".

A mere moment of silence spread between the two women and just as Elisabeth was about to turn and walk away, Tamara's voice caught her attention.

"I forgive you, Ms Elisabeth," Tamara spoke out.

Surprise churned in the pit of Elisabeth's stomach as she felt a weight on her chest. "You forgive me?".

"Yes... I do..." Tamara began. "It's not in my nature to hate, Ms Elisabeth.".

Such words caused Elisabeth's eyes to tear up ever so slightly.

"May I?..." Tamara asked as she offered Elisabeth a hug.

Elisabeth nodded before she embraced Tamara. "Thank you, Ms Tamara...".

Tamara wanted to respond, but with tears in her eyes and the lump in her throat restraining her from doing so, all she did was nod against Elisabeth.

It wasn't long before they parted from their hug, Elisabeth took a step back. She took a deep breath once more. "Can you also please apologise to Ms Agath in my name? I- I don't think I can face her. After such a terrible thing I've done, I don't think I can do it... I feel ashamed, Ms Tamara...".

Tamara didn't have to ask what it was Elisabeth was talking about, she pieced together the puzzle and got her answer.

"Theodore's mother is a horrid woman... And because of her, I've ruined the happiness of your beloved sister...".

"When you go back..." Tamara began. "Don't let anyone manipulate you in that way again, Ms Elisabeth... I can tell you have a beautiful soul, just from this interaction alone. And it was a shame I couldn't get to know more of this Elisabeth that I am talking to right now...".

"Yes, Ms Tamara..." Elisabeth responded, wiping tears that lingered on her cheeks. With that, she turned around and stepped back inside the carriage. "Thank you again, dear Ms Tamara.". A mere second of silence passed when Elisabeth spoke up again. "Also, Ms Tamara... Please disregard my foul words about Theodore. It was only a bluff on my end. It seems as though you know him better than I do. Or that he opened up to you more than he did to me...".

Tamara gave Elisabeth a nod. "Bon Voyage back home, Ms Elisabeth..." she spoke out and with that, the carriage set off. Her eyes followed the back of the carriage before it was gone out of sight.

Elisabeth left a mere smile on Tamara's lips.

And there, from the green of the grass, her sisters ran to Tamara. "Who was that?" Agath asked.

"It was Ms Elisabeth...".

Eileen expressed a look of confusion across her face. "Why did she come here?".

"She came to apologise to me. To us.".

---

Just leaving the gates of the Oxford estate were Theodore and Daryll, each on their own horse.

"Are you ready, Mr Daryll?" Theodore asked, turning his head so he could face Daryll.

He saw Daryll nod to his words. However, unease was still present across his face. Theodore took easy notice of this.

"You mustn't worry about what my mother will say. I will speak to her. Any further blackmail would not go past me..." Theodore voiced out, hoping his words were accepted as reassurance. "Do you want to do this, Mr Daryll?".

Daryll couldn't help but laugh at Theodore's question. "Yes, more than anything, Mr Theodore.".

"Then you should think of such and use that as your driving force, Mr Daryll. The woman you love is utterly heartbroken because of my mother's actions. And we must make this right now. Don't you agree?".

Immediately, Daryll nodded at Theodore's words. A moment of silence passed before Daryll broke it. "Mr Theodore..." he called out.

Turning around, he looked at Daryll who called out for him.

"Thank you, Mr Theodore...".

In reply, all Theodore did was smile. "No need to thank me, Me Daryll...". He paused before muttering under his breath, "This will benefit us both...".

And with that, the two men galloped away on their horses, heading toward the Clarke residency.

---

Inside the Clarke household, all the Clarke sisters were in the living room of their house. Along with them was their mother, sewing a new creation of hers.

Eileen and Tamara were reading a book each all the while Ruth was stitching up a few dresses that had holes in them. Agath was by the windowsill of the living room, her eyes pointed out the window. She gazed at the clouds as they sailed across the sky before her gaze was caught by the slight swaying of the branches of the tree in front of their house. The swing also managed to sway its way along in the breeze.

A yelp caught the attention of all the sisters and their mother as Ruth held her finger up. She pricked her finger ever so slightly, just enough to draw blood from the small wound.

"Ruth, are you okay?" Agath rushed to her sister as Eileen and Tamara stood up to see what happened.

"I'm okay, I just nicked myself with the needle. I don't want to ruin my clothes...". So with that, placing the dress aside, somewhere safe, she rushed to the kitchen to get something to brush off the drop of blood.

Coming back into the living room, she saw Agath take a seat beside Ruth's empty chair. Having made a little bit of progress on what she was sewing - just like her mother, Agath left off from where she stopped a little while ago.

Ruth gazed at what Agath was doing before deciding to take a break just like her sister did. So, she walked to where Agath stood only minutes ago, looking out the window and onto their front yard.

Eileen and Tamara returned to reading from where they stopped.

With that, silence once again ruled the room. Minutes passed with Ruth gazing out when two figures on horses caught her attention. Seeing them turn into the open gates of their home, Ruth stood up, her eyes widening ever so slightly. "Sisters... I think we have visitors.".

With each woman in the room putting their things down, they all stood up.

"Visitors?" Ann-Marie asked. "I wonder who could it be," she added as she made her way to the window. Eileen, Tamara and Agath followed behind their mother.

"Is... isn't that Mr Theodore..." Eileen inquired, looking at Tamara's way.

"It looks like him..." she responded, looking at the way he hopped off his horse. "But who is the other man beside him?...".

Once Agath managed to make her way to the window, she gasped, putting her hand on her mouth. "Sisters-...".

"What?" all the sisters asked concurrently.

"That... that man is Mr Daryll... W-why is he here???" Agath asked, feeling nervousness well in the pit of her stomach. It caused slight nausea to make its way to her stomach also. "I-... I thought he was gone to Veursau...".

With that, a knock was heard on their front door, in turn, all the sisters gasped. From the door frame, Ms Hope peered her head into the room. "I'll get that, Ms Clarke.".

"Alright, girls..." Ann-Marie began. "Relax, act normal!".

With a knock on the door of the living room a few moments later, Ruth and Agath took hold of Tamara's and Eileen's books all the while Tamara and Eileen took the pieces both Ruth and Agath were working on.

The door opened and Ms Hope came in. "Ms Clake. Mr Theodore and Mr Daryll...". With that, she moved out of the way and allowed the two men to come in.

Immediately, Theodore's eyes managed to find their way to Tamara's as Daryll's gaze found Agath.

"Ms Clarke..." the two men greeted the women with a curtsey.

"Mr Theodore... Mr Daryll..." Ann-Marie began. "What a surprise!". With that, she smiled as her eyes looked over all her daughters before stopping on Agath.

"Good day, Ms Clarke..." Daryll managed to spit out as he fiddled his thumbs in nervousness.

And then, Theodore took over. "We apologise for such an intrusion at this time of day. We see we've interrupted you in your daily tasks.".

Immediately, Ann-Marie spoke up, "No, no, not at all!... In fact, we were just about to finish up.". She paused for a second. "But what can we do for you?".

Theodore was about to speak up but Daryll surprised him by beating him to it. "I am here to apologise... to apologise to Ms Agath. And to you, Ms Clarke...". He paused for a second. "I've acted a fool and... I... I would like to ask if I could have the honour of talking to Ms Agath alone...".

At hearing him mentioning her name, Agath stood up, her gaze still on Daryll. She was lost for words, so instead she looked around herself, at her sisters and her mother before clearing her throat. He nodded before voicing a reply, "Yes... yes, of course...".

Seeing that their living room was filled with people, she walked out and asked for Daryll to follow her to an empty room.

Once out of sight and Theodore moved out of the way, Ruth, Eileen and Ann-Marie all looked at each other before rushing out into the hallway and trying to follow where Agath and Daryll went. Tamara stood up after them and with a small smile growing on her lips, she walked out, past Theodore and followed her sisters.

Noticing such, Theodore bit his lip before turning around and walking out the main door.

Standing by Eileen, Tamara leaned against the wall by the staircase of the house.

"Is this really happening??" Eileen asked as she faced Tamara.

"Seems like it," Tamara responded with the smile on her lips only growing as she let out a giggle.

Inside the room, where Agath and Daryll stood. Daryll held Agath's hands in his. "I've been an utter fool... Can you please forgive me, Agath?".

Her brows quivered as her eyes filled with tears. "Did you mean anything of what you wrote in that letter?...".

Such a question broke his heart. And whilst trying not to let his emotions get the best of him, he failed in just that when his hands wrapped around Agath. "God no... I meant nothing... nothing in that letter was true. My lord, Agath... I am so sorry...". He paused to try and remedy the pain that grew in his chest. "I was told to scribe that letter like that. I was threatened had I done otherwise... But thinking back to it all now, I was a cowardice...".

He took a deep breath. "The claim of what Mr Theodore said is also false. If anything, he helped me come here today...".

Agath's face softened to his words as tears flowed down her cheeks.

Outside of the room, Ruth, Agath, Ann-Marie and Ms Hope tried to hear what was going on all the while, Tamara still stood behind Eileen.

Turning around and facing the ajar front door, she cleared her throat. "I am going for a breath of fresh air.".

"Alright," Eileen whispered back.

And with that, Tamara made her way to the front door. Opening it and closing it behind her. She looked up at the sky before letting another small smile make its way to her lips.

"Ms Tamara?". Theodore's voice gave her a fright.

"M-Mr Theodore..." she greeted him back before sending him a curtsey.

He approached her, leaving a step's distance between them both. Silenced was shared between them, but not that it resonated any oddity. If anything, it was welcomed by them both. Each felt warm simply by the other's presence.

"How are you, Ms Tamara?" Theodore asked, merely disrupting the silence.

"I am well... Thank you, Mr Theodore... Yourself?".

He wanted to respond, but instead remained silent, but only for a second. "I- I've been thinking back to over last night ever since, Ms Tamara... I wanted to apologise if I made you feel discomfort in any way possible. It was out of place on my behalf.".

Tamara couldn't help but smile at his words. "You mustn't worry yourself, Mr Theodore...".

"And I also want to apologise on my mother's behalf for such a foolish attempt to hurt both you and your family. Had Mr Daryll and Diana not told me what they did last night, I wouldn't have had a clue what my mother had in plan..." Theodore voiced softly. "I'll have a talk with my mother and ensure she understands that no more torment will be tolerated from her... I'm sorry again, Ms Tamara.".

"Please, Mr Theodore, there's no need for any more apologies," Tamara began, as a small smile remained on her lips. "I've known it couldn't have been you who said all those things... all those things to my sister...".

To her words, Theodore allowed a smile to form on his lips also. 

"Thank you for bringing back joy to my sister's face...".

Theodore was about to speak when Eileen walked out the door and called out her sister's name. "Tamara!".

Turning, she was greeted with a wide smile on Eileen's face. "She said yes!".

Gasping, Tamara giggled before she ran over to Eileen, hugging her. "Sorry, Mr Theodore..." she glanced over at him.

He bowed his head in acknowledgement, his smile never failing to reduce from his lips.

They ran to Agath who Daryll had in his arms. They both smiled in a moment that felt like it came from a fairy tale.

As if managing to slightly understand what was going on, Agath immediately rushed and embraced her sisters before she hugged her mama. "It's happening, my dear sisters...".

With those words, Agath broke into tears as her sisters embraced her again.

Not long passed before both Theodore and Daryll left back for the Oxford residency, all the Clarke sisters were in the living room with their parents and Ms Hope. However, Tamara was further from the group, she was sat by the windowsill, playing with a strand of her hair. 

Seeing such, Eileen walked over to her sister. "Tamara?". Eileen caught her attention. "Are you okay?".

Tamara nodded a smile growing on her lips. "I am as happy as I can be, Eileen.".

But at her words, Eileen couldn't help but purse her lips ever so slightly. She sensed as though Tamara wasn't being all too truthful. "It doesn't seem like it, Dear Sister... Is something bothering you?".

"No, no... I'm telling you, I am fine, Eileen... Thank you.".

But Eileen didn't want to desist from her questioning. She let a second pass before she spoke up again. "I saw you talking with Mr Theodore a little while ago... did something happen?".

Tamara opened her mouth to speak, but she stopped herself. She let her gaze fall off her sister and onto the ground outside. "Actually...".

"Yes, Sister?".

"He did this all for us, Eileen... I- I am just thankful for him, for him doing this..." Tamara voiced in a mere whisper so that only Eileen could hear the content of her words. "Bringing the smile back to our beloved sister's face. He told me everything, but I knew it couldn't be him...".

A small smirk grew on Eileen's lips. "Well then, I think... I think he did it for you, Tamara... His mother wanted to separate you two, but he tried to fix that.".

"And he succeded, or so I feel like he did.". Tamara paused, thinking over her words. "He said he loves me, Eileen..." she repeated the words through her smile, the same ones she told Eileen last night.

To them, she nodded at Tamara's words.

"I've been so blinded, to put it the best way, Eileen..." Tamara giggled, allowing herself a moment's break. "And now... now I think I can reciprocate the love for him too...".