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* * *
Belle walked quickly away from Meadow’s house, hardly able to believe what she’d just seen. She would never have expected her own sisters to betray her, yet the proof of it was only three blocks behind her.
She stopped outside Summer’s house, debating with herself as to whether she ought to go in or continue walking. It was the tail end of sunset, and though not quite full dark, it was dark enough that she knew she ought not to be walking outdoors alone.
That had never stopped Belle before though. She did what she wanted, when she wanted to do it. But all of her things were inside Summer’s home, and it was cold out here. The dark did not bother Belle nearly so much as the cold itself, and she shivered automatically at the word.
Belle’s thoughts carried her as far as Summer’s front door before she paused one last time, her anger almost outweighing the chill in the winter air, then went indoors. The house was warm, and a strong fire was going in the living room fireplace.
The housemaid, Miss Kirk, came in just then and let out a startled crying, jumping half a foot in the air. “Sorry, miss. I didn’t expect anyone back for another two hours, at least. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you, Tillie,” Belle said and went to her room. She packed her small bag and set it outside the door to her bedroom, then returned to the living area and waited. Her hands shook, and she fought to calm herself.
Summer and Emile returned only an hour after she had. Belle heard them moving about in the other room and waited on the couch with her arms folded across her chest for her sister to come in. She and Emile were talking quietly but loudly enough for Belle to hear.
“Do you think she’s mad?” Summer asked, her voice strained.
“Of course she’s mad,” said Emile. “But she’s your sister. Belle will forgive you.”
“What should I tell her?”
“Just tell her the truth.”
“Belle’s always had a wild streak in her. She often acts before she thinks, and when things go wrong, she cannot let it go. I fear this time there will be no calming her down.”
Summer and Emile walked into the room just then, and Belle cleared her throat. Summer gasped, and Emile’s naturally tan face colored pink across his cheeks and forehead. He looked from one sister to the other and then wisely excused himself from the room.
Summer watched him go up the stairs as quickly as he could with a scowl on her face, and Belle pitied the man for the trouble he’d be in later.
“I didn’t think you’d be up,” said Summer. “Actually, I wasn’t sure you’d be here at all.”
“I’m not staying,” Belle said. “I only waited for you so that we might talk.”
Summer sighed and moved toward the fire. Tillie came in and offered her tea, but Summer declined and dismissed her for the evening. “I’m sorry I lied,” she finally said, and Belle was glad that at least she was not attempting to keep up the lies. “I should have told you right away that Irene was staying with Meadow, but you were so upset when you first arrived here, and I just didn’t want to make things worse.”
Belle stood and faced her sister. “You and Meadow have always acted as though I cannot handle anything on my own. Well, I can handle plenty.” She set her hands on her hips and glared at Summer in the firelight.
“Meadow and I would not treat you as such if you did not act so impulsively.”
“Better to act impulsively than not at all,” she said.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing, except that it seems to me other women in my position would have said and done nothing. They’d let the man they love marry another and let their sisters lie to them all while remaining silent and still. I will never do that.”
“Are you certain you love Sidney, or is it only that he belongs to another now that you suddenly cannot live without him?” Summer challenged her.
Belle hesitated. “Sidney and I have always been close. You know that.”
“So then why does he seem to want nothing to do with you?”
Belle felt her stomach begin to ache at the truth in Summer’s words. “I do not know. I... I think he’s been caught under Irene’s spell and cannot easily free himself.”
“Or maybe you did something to anger him. You’re always acting so brashly. Can you never act more...” Summer searched for the word, and when it finally came, it incensed Belle. “...demurely?”
“Demurely?” Belle shouted. “You wish for me to pretend happiness when I do not feel it and quiet myself when I should speak?”
“It would not hurt you to practice a little bit of humility. To show Sidney that you can be modest and needn’t always be the loudest person in the room.”
“Those women bore me,” Belle said. “I have no use for them. You and Meadow do not behave in such a manner. Why should I?”
“Meadow and I do not go around surprising men on their doorstep and then acting hurt when we are not wanted there.”
“Sidney would have been thrilled to see me if only Irene had not interfered.”
“Irene’s done nothing wrong.”
“So, you’re defending her now, too, are you? Fine. I’m glad to know where your loyalties lie.” She went to get her bag. Summer followed. Emile poked his head out of a room and Belle glared at him. He quickly retreated. She took up her bag and headed for the door.
“And now instead of facing your problems,” said Summer, following after her, “you’re running away from them.”
“No,” said Belle. “I am merely running away from you and your lies.”
Summer inhaled a deep breath and put her hand on her rounded belly.
Belle hesitated. “Is your child all right?”
Summer inhaled again and nodded. “She stirs a bit is all.”
Belle stood silently watching her sister for a moment, and when she seemed to be breathing normally again, she turned to go.
“Belle, please,” Summer said. “It is cold and dark out there. At least stay here another night.”
“I’d rather sleep in a pig’s pen,” Belle said.
Summer’s face turned red at the insult. “Go then. I’ll not worry myself over you any longer.”
“Fine. Mrs. James’ boardinghouse is far nicer than this place anyway. At least there no one will bother me.”
She slammed the door behind her as she left, the cold wind blowing harshly against her cheek. There would be no more uncustomarily warm days. No more going out of doors without a coat. Belle pulled hers tighter around her as she hurried for the boardinghouse, suddenly realizing she had no idea whether she could even get a room there right now.
For half a moment, Belle feared what would happen if there were no rooms available. She considered the idea she might have to change her ways and begin acting more rational, more modest, as Summer had suggested she do, thinking and planning before acting on her emotions.
But then she found a room available for her after all, and all of Summer’s fears for her seemed suddenly unfounded. Belle paid for the room with her share of the money from selling the house and went to sleep almost right away.
It was a poor sleep, though. Belle would never have admitted it to anyone but herself, and when she woke at four, she found it impossible to get any more rest. She lay awake for the next two hours contemplating Summer’s words and wondering, in the darkness of her room, alone and chilled in her heart if not her body, if, just maybe, her sister had a point about her impulses getting her into trouble.
* * *
