20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Margaret stood on the balcony, taking in the beautiful sunrise.
It had been a while since she took time to marvel at it.
During this time of the day, she had been getting ready for work; however, she wasn’t in much of a rush this morning.
Yes, she was eager to see Roger again, but she was worried about her confession to her sisters.
She had been up during the wee hours, wondering what she might say.
Would they pressure her to court Lord Burton, or would they ask her to reject her inheritance?
Lord, please direct me to the path I need to take.
I can’t help but feel torn between duty and my heart.
Margaret couldn’t understand why choosing had to be so painful, and even love.
Was love what she had with Roger? Or was this merely a test?
She felt deeply for him—more than she did for Eugene—but would it last forever?
What if Roger changed into his old self?
He had hurt her pride on many occasions when they first met, but now he was making her stronger.
However, one thing she couldn’t be strong about was leaving her family behind to live in a foreign land, all for money.
“Margaret, why aren’t you dressed?”
Margaret turned around, wrapping her robe tighter around her. The weather had grown warmer, yet high on the balcony, and it being nearly past dawn, it wasn’t as warm as it had been during the afternoons. Evie was already dressed in her afternoon dress, but her hair was puffy and unbrushed.
“Just thinking,” Margaret answered.
Evie observed the view, leaning against the railing. “It’s still nothing like home.”
“Nothing can compare to it,” Margaret said. “Home will always be a magical place.”
Evie closed her eyes as the wind blew through her hair. “Home. That’s such a wonderful word.”
Margaret leaned over the railing, soaking in the bright sunlight on her face. “Indeed.”
“When do you think we’ll go back? Isn’t the will already in order?”
Evie’s question stung. Everything relating to the will, and the secret Margaret kept, was too much to bear. It was a parasite that had attached itself, sucking the life out of her, irritating and painful to remove. That is if she could muster the courage to remove its fangs from her skin.
“The will isn’t in order. It won’t be until next week.”
“Another week?” All color left Evie’s face. “We’re . . . leaving next week?”
A mixture of emotions displayed across Evie’s face—one of delight and another of disappointment.
“We’re leaving?”
Margaret turned around to see Marjorie already dressed for the day, closing the balcony door behind her.
Her mouth hung open. Margaret cleared her throat.
She was the only source of information. Her sisters had waited patiently for the news of their return to Charlottesville, but they were oblivious to every aspect of the delay.
Working at the office all day, they never had time to ask Margaret questions, so it was easy on her these two weeks.
Marjorie enjoyed herself around Richmond, and Evie enjoyed the libraries and her picnics with Sidney.
It seemed they had forgotten they had a home in Charlottesville. Home was hardly spoken of anymore.
Margaret’s teeth clenched as she begged herself not to say a thing.
Yet how much longer could she remain silent under the weight of such baggage?
If she went through with the plan, she would hardly see her sisters again.
It pierced her soul in agony, knowing she wouldn’t return with them to Ivy Hill.
“You two will be going next week.”
“But what of you?” Evie asked. Her voice squeaked, and her eyes demanded answers.
“What do you mean by us two? What about you?” Marjorie pressed.
Margaret’s throat tightened, trying to hold back her tears. “I’ll be getting married.”
Despite the absence of a proposal from Eugene, a wedding would still take place. Grandmama was demanding; either way, Margaret would be married to Eugene or an arranged suitor. Just like her parents. With the size of her fortune, any man would marry her in a heartbeat.
“Married!” Both girls gasped in unison.
Marjorie giggled. “Oh, sister. You picked the right time to joke with us.”
Margaret shook her head. “I’m not joking.”
“Of course you are,” Marjorie pressed. She glanced over at Evie. “Such a cruel sister she is.”
Margaret placed her fingers between her eyes, sighing. “I don’t know how to explain to you both.”
“Explain what?” Evie asked. But Margaret didn’t answer. She didn’t know how to form the words. “Margaret?”
Margaret faced her sisters, the cool wind causing her to shiver. “There is a reason for everything—why we are still here and why Lord Burton has been visiting.” Margaret took a deep breath. “In order for our family to obtain our fortune, I have to be wed . . . by my twenty-first birthday.”
Both sisters gasped.
“That’s next week!” Marjorie shouted.
“How could you keep this from us?” Evie’s eyes pierced with betrayal.
“I’m sorry,” Margaret croaked. “I didn’t want you two to know.”
“Why not?” Evie asked. “We’re your sisters! Don’t we tell you everything?”
“It’s complicated.”
“That’s no excuse!” Marjorie argued. “You have been keeping this . . . dreadful secret from us when we could have been helping you.”
Frustration rushed through Margaret, making her ears hot and her head pound. Her fists tensed as she struggled to regain her composure, but it wasn’t helping. “That’s why I didn’t tell you! I don’t want your help. I want to do something on my own for once!”
Both sisters stood in silence, exchanging glances.
“You shouldn’t have to bear this alone. It shouldn’t be your responsibility,” Marjorie commented.
“It is my responsibility,” Margaret said. “It is time for me to do what’s right. With this fortune, we will be more than well off.” Margaret’s voice softened. “And you two will have fortunes to do with as you wish.”
“We don’t need fortunes.” Evie gripped Margaret’s hand. “We just want you to marry who you want and for love. You shouldn’t be forced into anything . . . even if it includes money.”
“But . . .” Margaret protested. “Evie, you can go to school. Marjorie, you can go to Broadway or travel.”
Marjorie placed both hands on her hips. “I would move to a God-forsaken country for a lifetime if it meant you’d be free.”
“Me too,” Evie agreed. Margaret’s heart warmed, gaining the support she longed for.
All this time, she had been trying to be responsible and do something meaningful, but as she stood there, she realized everyone had what they needed.
Margaret didn’t have to obtain a fortune to gain their love.
She already had it. Her sisters were her treasure, worth more than any great fortune.
When Margaret dressed for work, thoughts of Roger encircled her mind.
She was free now! Free to love, and she couldn’t wait to start her new beginning.
However, this could also mean she’d make her home in Richmond.
But did that frighten her? Only slightly.
Her lips curved, thinking about it. With Roger, the future was bright and beautiful.
Margaret was between her sisters as they walked down the grand staircase.
“So, is this a no for Lord Burton?” Marjorie asked.
Margaret’s cheeks warmed discussing the rejection she’d give. “He is a nice man, but he isn’t for me. I thought we had a strong connection, but I believe Daddy was right. I became desperate. Those romance novels clouded my mind, making me imagine feelings that weren’t actually there.”
Evie leaned against her. “You’ll never have to be desperate again. We are just happy you won’t have to marry a man for money.”
Marjorie huffed. “I can’t believe I almost had a fortune hunter for a sister.”
The sisters all burst into laughter. Margaret chuckled until she believed her stomach would burst. How silly she had been!
“Now, that Mr. McKinley is one big catch,” Marjorie commented with a wink.
Margaret’s lips parted into a large grin. She couldn’t help but smile until her cheeks ached at the thought of the man. And her sisters had seen it, reading her mind.
“Well then, I guess we found Prince Charming!” Marjorie interjected.
Margaret shook her head. “Oh, you silly girls.”
“If you admit it, Roger is more handsome than Lord Burton,” Marjorie admitted. “He’s so muscular.” She sighed, her hand on her chest. “And those eyes!”
Margaret playfully hit her sister’s shoulder. “Oh, shut it.”
The aroma of baked pastries assailed their senses when they reached the ground floor.
Margaret’s stomach growled from desperate hunger.
She had hardly eaten supper the night before because she had been nervous about spending the evening with Roger.
And it was a wonderful evening, perhaps almost magical.
Margaret’s stomach turned into knots. Why was she getting nervous again?
It’s just Mr. McKinley. It’s professional.
Yet that was a big lie. She could never convince herself of that in a million years, even to calm herself.
When they entered the dining room, Margaret could immediately sense something wasn’t right.
It was a gut feeling she couldn’t quite shake away.
Her parents were whispering at the end of the long dining table.
When they noticed the girls, Mama removed her hand from Daddy’s, and their posture straightened.
Margaret and her sisters stopped in their path.
“Mama? Daddy? Is something wrong?” Even though Margaret’s stomach was empty, a wave of nausea came over her.
She counted it a blessing she hadn’t eaten her breakfast, for it would be all over the floor.
She had relived this moment once before.
It was when her mother shared the news about her father’s injury. But what could be worse than that?
“Evie, Marjorie, would you mind taking your plates into the parlor?” Mama asked.