Chapter 6

Tea cups clinked against saucers, forks clanked against plates as they quietly sipped tea and ate pastries.

No words were exchanged, they silently basked in each other's presence and worked through the snacks. A heavy weight had settled in the room, the gravity of their actions on their minds.

Their relationship, would've been terminated had it not been Cecilia reaching out.

The revelations had Shaken Cecilia, but at the same time her heart felt light. 

Evelyn had not insulted Julia, nor had  she spread the rumours. 

"Are you ok?" Evelyn quietly enquired.

"No"

No she wasn't. She's here after living a life that had resulted in her death, she wasn't even sure how it happened. Did she dream of a whole another life? Had she travelled in time? Did it even exist? What sorcery!

"If I told you….."

Evelyn looked up.

"No…It's nothing" Cecilia shook her head.

She couldn't do it. They've just mended their relationship, she can't come off as crazy right now.

"I should go, I hurried here this morning without informing anyone" 

Evelyn nodded as they got up. 

Arms grabbed Cecilia's waist from behind as she turned to leave. She felt her friends head resting on the back of her shoulders and at that moment, it was a miracle Cecilia didn't bawl like a child.

"I'm sorry" It was whispered between them, She had to strain her ears to catch it.

She clutched Evelyn's hands.

"I'm sorry too"

"I shouldn't have kicked you out so horribly" Her arms tightened. 

"I shouldn't have been so furious with you knowing you'd never do something like that" Cecilia answered back.

"Thank you for coming," Her friend rubbed her eyes.

Cecilia gently smiled and embraced her again. 

"I'll always" 

Stomach feeling like a sack of stones, Cecilia walked out the door.

She hadn't always.

Auntie Madeleine smiled wide at her, somehow knowing they had made up. In Spite of feeling like she'd throw up, Cecilia returned her smile.

Hey head stayed blank the whole way home. It did that a lot these days, the events and information too much to process for her pitiful brain. 

Julia had deceived her.

"Sister Cecilia!"

No sooner did she step foot in the house did she hear her. Frantic footsteps as she held up the skirts of her gown and almost marched towards her.

"Where were you?" She shrieked.

Cecilia blinked and asked calmly.

"Are you alright?"

"YES, I'm- " Eyes wide, as if suddenly realising how she must look like, Julia attempted to appear normal. It was almost hilarious, she was trying her best but her fingers still trembled and her lips in a taut, thin line.

"Where did you go off to without informing anyone?" A failed attempt at a smile.

"Just to the market, I needed to mend that broken bracelet. It's been collecting dust since ages"

"Oh" Her whole body relaxed, and her smile reached her eyes with relief.

"Just inform someone ok? You've no idea how worried I was. Let's eat something?"

The two sisters made their way to the dining room, one unaware of the distrust brewing in the other's mind.

It was a quiet affair, their father reading that mornings newspaper like usual, Julia filling in the silence, while Cecilia just sat nursing her cup, not eating anything.

Her sister paused and focused her attention on Cecilia.

"Sister, you've been awfully quiet, I've barely heard your voice since yesterday." Her eye brows creased, her face painted with worry.

It looked so fake.

Why?

Parting her lips to answer, Cecilia caught her father's eye. He stared at her, as if viewing her in a different light, pitying her, no doubt thinking she's on the verge of going crazy. 

"My throat has been hurting" She lied easily.

"Oh! We could get you some hot lemon tea! That ought to make you feel better." Julia looked pleased with herself as she ordered a maid to bring some lemon tea for her sister.

"Darling, I think you should talk to Evelyn. Whatever happened, you can sort it out, I'm sure" He folded his newspaper and now focused fully on her.

In her previous life, her father had said the same thing.

A friendship isn't light, especially the ones-

"that we've kept so close to our heart. They should not be ruined due to misunderstandings or pettiness"

Happiness that had surrounded her at the prospect of talking to Evelyn and quiet possibly making up with Evelyn was quickly squashed as Julia-

"Papa! If only it was a misunderstanding! Lady Evelyn kicked her out of her house in pouring rain, refusing to even talk to her. If anyone's petty, it's not sister, it's her."

"Sometimes, we have to be the ones-"

and now Julia interrupts him.

"Papa, you're late for your meeting, it's 10:30"

Eerie.

It was eerie how every thing was the same as she had experienced it. Words, their expressions, the way they sat. The only thing different today was her going to Evelyn's house without anybody's knowledge.

Once again, she questioned her reality, her existence, but no answer came.

A steaming cup of warm yellow liquid was placed in front of her. Lemon tea. She suddenly felt grateful for it. Her throat was actually hurting now.

Too busy soothing her head from the strain of the morning, she didn't notice the delirious expression on Julia's face. 

It was wiped off quickly and she grinned.

"Feel better?"

Cecilia nodded.

"Well that's better because I have an AMAZING news" She giggled.

The tea had suddenly gone cold, her hands went numb as she realised what was going to happen. How had she forgotten?

Julia cleared her throat and giggled again as if she couldn't contain herself.

"I know something that is sure to make you ve-ery happy!"

The buzz of delight she had felt as she awaited Julia to spill the news, was nowhere. Instead, dread had gripped her, silently pleading for her next words to not be uttered.

"Ahem! Prince Bain has asked for your hand in marriage" She almost screamed out.

"Sister, you're going to be a duchess!"

No.