Chapter 5

A lone guard walked the shadowy halls, on his usual patrol deep into the night. He noticed the glow of a lamp through a single window.

Lady Cecilia was awake.

Cecilia couldn't find it in her to lay down. Jitters wracked her frame. She couldn't make head or tails of her situation, it kept getting confusing.

If Julia, her kind little sister was just looking out for Cecilia then who was the person who cheated and got pregnant with her husband? Who was it that looked dead in her eyes without any shame? It couldn't have been the same person. It terrified her.

The fallout between Cecilia and her friends, it was true. A most heartbreaking event of her life. 

Evelyn.

Cecilia's most cherished friend. They were childhood friends, joined at the hip since they could recognise each other. Their friendship, well known and a subject to ponder over for adults. Girls, complete opposite in their behavior and interests, adored each other.

Evelyn was a bit of a tomboy. Gowns were too stuffy for her, she'd rather don comfortable pants and loose shirts, balls and parties too refined for her taste, the gentle and polite talk of a 'lady' an annoyance for her free mind. 

Her mother often complained about her to Cecilia, expressing worry for her future and a decent match all while Evelyn would just scoff from somewhere. Cecilia would giggle as Evelyn would be smacked on the back of her head.

A small smile graced Cecilia's lips recalling some of her happiest and carefree memories. The smile fell just as quick, her stomach rolling venturing further in her memories.

"Evelyn!" Cecilia had rushed to visit her more than a decade old friend in thundering rain, livid. Not caring that water had soaked through her many layers and quite possibly had reached her bones. She'd fall down from how bad she was shaking but she was running on pure adrenaline.

She couldn't believe it. Evelyn had insulted Julia, at a major event nonetheless. Julia had come sobbing hard, having been humiliated about her weight in the past, and her curly hair. 

"I can't even bear to see your face right now!" Cecilia was held in place by furious eyes. Her steps momentarily halted in shock, anger clouded her mind and judgement once again as she marched to her friend.

"You can't bear to see me!? I can't bear to see YOU!"

"LEAVE!"

"Evelyn! What is wrong with you!?"

"GUARDS!"

Cecilia was escorted out the door as the two friends glared daggers at each other.

Cecilia remembered crying when she reached home, however, looking at the glazed eyes of her younger sister, she'd decided it was worth it. A friend willing to disrespect her sister was no friend of hers.

She gave a wet smile and hugged Julia, her sister returned the embrace tightly. 

She whispered to her disturbed heart, it'll be alright.

Rumours.

Vicious rumours surfaced, bashing Cecilia for everything she did and didn't do. Before she knew it, her invitations had dwindled, she caught an unusual stink eye directed towards her often.

All her other close friends had long stopped keeping any contact with her. 

She was isolated.

It hurt. Why would Evelyn do this? Disrespecting her sister, spreading false rumours about Cecilia…

Julia stayed a consistent source of comfort and peace throughout. Her presence and warm smiles settled Cecilia's unrest.

Now, as Cecilia sat sifting through her memories, she realised something. She never found out why Evelyn did what she did. She wasn't the kind of person to talk bad about someone behind their back, let alone her best friend's sister. Even when Cecilia confronted her, they were too mad to have a coherent conversation.

Why had she not once again met Evelyn? Why had she never given her friend a chance to explain herself? Why had they not talked like adults? 

What had happened?

Cecilia palmed at her forehead, she had brought on a headache from how hard she was frowning. 

Evelyn. She needed to see Evelyn. A distressed sleep enveloped her, as she dreamt of her friend slamming a book at the table in a fit of anger, screaming for her to leave and for guards to take her away. 

Next morning, as early as she could, she left in a carriage. 

It was a hot summer day, the sun beating down at her as she stood in front of the large guarded gate. The guards silently stared at her and asked for a few minutes. Cecilia nodded and swallowed the uncomfortable feeling in her throat, she'd never had to be given permission to enter through these gates.

Concentrating on the sound of her footsteps on the cobblestones, she took a deep breath.

"Cecilia dear!"

"Auntie"

Countess Madeleine, Evelyn's mother, briskly walked towards her and embraced her in an affectionate hug.

"Oh it's so good to see you after so long!"

Cecilia tensed but soon relaxed and wrapped her arms around her. She closed her eyes to stop the fresh wave of tears threatening to spill, countess Madeleine was the closest she had to a mother figure.

She held Cecilia's cheeks in her palms.

"Whatever it is you girls fought about, I'm sure it to be a misunderstanding. I'm so glad you're here, you know Evelyn, she's so stubborn, she'd never apologize first."

She sighed, then gave a small smile.

"Go on, she's in her room."

Cecilia nodded and made her way to her friend's bedroom.

It was quiet and dim, so unlike the usual atmosphere it housed. It was clean and appeared barely lived in. Normally, it looked like a hurricane had swept through here. Evelyn is never the one to keep a space neat and tidy.

"Evelyn?"

A head popped up from under the blankets, then retreated back under the covers.

"Why are you here?" Her cold tone hurt, but Cecilia smashed it down, she had to be the mature one here.

"Evelyn, let's talk, please"

She slowly sat up, still in bed but focused on Cecilia now. 

"Speak"

"Why would you do it? Why hurt her?"

"Excuse me? Who?"

"Julia. Why would you demean her in front of everyone for no reason?"

"What're you even? When did I?"

"You…. Didn't you?"

Evelyn shook her head, confused.

"Didn't you talk bad about Julia's weight in the past at duchess Gomorrah's birthday party?"

"Cecilia, you're not making any sense! I didn't attend the duchess's party, because you weren't going to! I changed my mind at the last minute and even sent you a letter!"

Cecilia's mouth opened and closed, trying to get words out.

"Evelyn...I didn't get any letter"

Evelyn looked as if she was about to refute but stopped as she registered the genuine shock on Cecilia's face.

Then, almost inaudibly she asked

"Why would you expose me in front of Lady Diana?"

Cecilia numbly asked what she meant.

"She came to me, warning me that Julia is spreading untrue claims about me, indicating that I am….in love with Lady Diana"

Cecilia's heart thudded against her rib cage. 

"What was I supposed to say? 'No it isn't untrue, however perverted it may sound, I do love you? It appears that the only friend I trusted with this secret has betrayed me'!?"

"I….. never…..ever, told anyone, not even Julia" 

Cecilia felt herself on the brink of an anxiety attack. Julia had lied to her, plotted to defame Evelyn and tried to draw a rift between them.

Cecilia had been so, unbearably foolish, failed to see reason, refused to think with her own head, content living in the delusion her sister had created.

"Then how did she know?"