Her parents just watch, eyes shining, their hands clasped together. She doesn’t want to make anyone sad, or hurt, or worried. But the feelings feel too big. She could sob into Aunt Genevieve’s shoulder for hours and never get them all out.
“I feel left out,” Christopher exclaims. He throws his arms out and huffs. “Everyone has secrets but me.”
They all burst into laughter. Aunt Genevieve grips at Rosalie’s shoulder to keep them both upright. Mother and Fatherfall into each other in giggles. Christopher grins at Rosalie, who wipes at her dripping nose, beaming back.
“Is there something you would like to share with the family that, while not scandalous, is still important, to feel better included?” Father asks.
Christopher’s silly smile disappears and he looks at Father and Mother almost hesitantly. Rosalie reaches out to take his hand again. They really can’t take more secrets or surprises.
“I’d like to ask Amalie—MissLinet—to marry me, actually,” he says. “With your blessing.”
“Oh,” Mother says, her face breaking into a smile.
“Though I should admit that she was my partner in crime in tonight’s reconciliation.”
“What reconciliation?” Father asks. They all turn to him, flabbergasted. “How, exactly, did it come out that Rosalie and MissPine are in love?”
“We didn’t actually—”
“Amalie threw wine on MissPine, so MissPine and her mother had to go into the water closet, and Rosalie tricked Mother into going in there, and then I sent in Aunt Genevieve to end the feud,” Christopher says. Like it was all his plan.
“There was a little more nuance than that,” Rosalie says as Father looks between them. Not much, but still.
“So you and Eleanor made up?” Father asks Mother.
“We did. Which should help,” Mother says, gesturing to Rosalie.
“Good,” Father says, then looks to Rosalie. “Excellently done.”
“A little more dramatic than we anticipated, but thank you. Amalie ruining Catherine’s dress was not actually part of the plan.”
“But wonderfully executed,” Christopher says.
“I believe we’ve swerved off the point,” Aunt Genevieve says.
“Ah, yes,” Father says, smiling at his sister before looking back to Christopher. Mother squeezes his hand. “You, of course, have our blessing, on the condition that MissLinet is equally prepared to have Rosalie and MissPine in residence should they choose, and that you both will swear to take care of them until the day you die.”
Christopher looks to Rosalie, who grins back at him, feeling light and excited and so terribly exhausted all at once.
“She is,” Christopher says as the same time Rosalie says, “She will.”
Father and Mother laugh. “Then we’ll arrange a wonderful ceremony as soon as you propose,” Father says.
“Yay,” Christopher says, reaching out to hug Rosalie, who leans into him, smiling as Aunt Genevieve jostles his shoulder in congratulations.
“We’ll need to find Mother’s ring for her,” Aunt Genevieve says.
“You have her jewelry box,” Father says.
“I’ll check tonight. And perhaps on my way home, I ought to deliver a letter to the Pine residence?”
Rosalie’s good cheer dims a little. It’s all well and good that this family meeting has gone spectacularly well, but the Pines are another matter entirely.
“I’ll write one before you leave,” Mother says. “Our plan is perfectly reasonable; they should have no cause to object to the girls living with you for a few years, and it will be easy enough to orchestrate smoothly.”
“Leave the details to your mother,” Father tells Rosalie. “It’s easier.” Mother elbows him. “She can see the whole chessboard.Always has done, even when it’s cost her,” he says, meeting Mother’s eyes. “It’s one of the things I love most about her.”
“No one will be sacrificing happiness for reputation anymore,” Aunt Genevieve says firmly. “If we do this right, Rosalie and MissPine can be happy and save face, with saving face being the far less important of the two.”
