"Oh!" Alethea drew back hastily.
"Pardon me…" Oliver said at once.
They both stopped, then shared a startled smile. Alethea felt the tension ease into shy laughter bubbling up in her chest.
"Allow me," Oliver insisted with a chuckle, lifting the candlestick and handing it to her once more.
She accepted it, their fingers brushing yet again. Her face felt impossibly hot.
"Both of us seem to be clumsy at the moment," she could only manage to say.
"We are doing just fine," he winked at her.
Winked? He was not aware of it but the small gesture sent her heart beating out of her chest. She bit down on her lip, trying to fight the smile on her face.
Instead of running off to her own chambers, she realized that she wished to linger a bit more. She thought back to what Theodorehad said to her about being in love, and in this moment, there was no denying that this was exactly what it was.
But it was a love that was not return.
As if jolted back to reality, Alethea straightened sharply.
"I should…" she gestured vaguely toward her end of the corridor where her chambers lay.
"Yes, of course. It's late." Oliver ran a hand through his hair, attempting to recover his usual composure. "Pleasant dreams, Alethea."
"And to you, Oliver," she replied softly.
But as they parted, she could not help but steal a last glance back at him. To her surprise, he was looking in her direction, as well.
Oh. Trouble.
"Alethea!"
Two mornings later, Alethea arrived at her family's townhouse in London for a much-anticipated visit. The carriage had scarcely rolled to a stop in front of the Carter residence beforethe front door flew open and two familiar figures rushed out onto the steps.
Daphne reached the carriage almost before the footman could open the door. Alethea could barely get a word in before Daphne flung her arms around her.
"I've missed you so," her sister cried.
Alethea laughed, returning the hug. It felt nice to be welcomed like this, even though her relationship with her sisters was not the closest.
"It has only been a month, dearest," Alethea replied, feeling more at ease than the last time she had been at her home.
"A month is an age," Daphne insisted. She stepped back to survey Alethea and gasped in delight. "Look at you! Marriage clearly agrees with you, sister. You're positively glowing."
Alethea blushed but she was spared from replying as Joyce greeted her next.
"My darling, we've been beside ourselves waiting to see you," Joyce murmured. There was a hint of lingering worry in her eyes as she drew back to study Alethea's face. "Are you truly well? We've had only your letters, and you always downplay any hardship."
"I am well. Very well, in fact," Alethea assured, squeezing Joyce's hands.
Daphne tugged eagerly at Alethea's arm.
"Come inside. We were just about to have tea."
Within minutes the three sisters were settled in the morning room. Daphne kept insistently pouring tea and pressing sweets upon Alethea as though she were a guest of honor.
"Tell us everything," she said.
