Phoebe nodded, reaching out to squeeze Sophie’s hand.
‘And I always knew we’d end up leaving Knightswood and starting our own homes and families,’ Sophie continued tearfully. ‘It’s just I thought I’d feel older, readier. But now, I can’t help but think that when one of us leaves, things will never be the same again.’
Phoebe pulled her close again, a sudden, hard lump in her throat.
‘I don’t know what the future holds, Sophie,’ she returned, ‘but I can tell you that wherever we may be, we will always have each other. And nothing, and no one, can ever change that.’
Sophie smiled wanly, burying her head in Phoebe’s shoulder just as Matilda hurtled into the room and threw herself on the bed.
‘I fell off the wall, Josephine has the cough, and Cook has just made the mostdivinebatch of shortbread… And who can’t change what?’ she demanded, yawing and rolling over to reveal three warm shortbread in her hand. ‘I’ve already smuggled one in to Jo. Aunt said best not to give her anything until she stopped coughing, but I figured – who would want to be coughingandhungry?’
There was a moment’s silence before her sisters burst into laughter.
‘Besides, aren’t theydelicious,delightfuland…’
Matilda paused to look at her sisters expectantly.
‘Delectably, deliriouslygood?’ Phoebe grinned, snagging the biggest piece.
Sophie giggled, earning herself a pillow swat.
‘Show off!’ Matilda pronounced, rolling her eyes.
‘Oh … and Fred is downstairs!’
Then she grinned and scoffed the rest of her shortbread, while her sisters took off at speed.
ChapterNineteen
Four weeks, six days, and lying to Fred until the wedding
‘To celebrate our last exam, we took an eight-oar rowboat down to Sandford, and returned by Iffley Lock.’ Fred grinned at his sisters. ‘Sanderson – he was stroke of the head boat – pushed her out of the lock as quickly as possible and then we all rowed for England. It was capital sport!’
‘Did you win?’ Sophie exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
‘We did in the end!’ He beamed. ‘We were in hot pursuit under the bridge, and our bow was struck several times?—’
‘Struck?’ Phoebe echoed blankly. ‘As in hit?’
‘Morebumped.’ He shrugged, with a sheepish smile. ‘It’s all in the rules, I assure you! Anyway, we inched over just in time, hoisted our flag and celebrated with a picnic at Nuneham. Was almost as good as the Hexworthy race, Phoebs!’
‘It sounds it!’ Phoebe grinned, inwardly aching at how easy it was for her brother to have as many adventures as he liked without so much as a by-your-leave.
‘So, what of you all? Have you been enjoying Bath? Been to the Assembly Rooms, the theatre, seen any ancient sights, perhaps?’
Phoebe inhaled while Sophie nearly choked on a fresh piece of shortbread.
‘I’m sure Aunt Higglestone will have ensured you’ve seen more ancient ruins and sights than I saw the whole time I was in Athens!’ He laughed good-naturedly. ‘Am I right?’
‘Foolish boy!’ their aunt reprimanded indulgently.
‘Well, there have beena fewancient sights,’ Phoebe laboured, making Sophie snort again.
‘Actually, we haven’t seen that many ruins or sights at all!’ Josephine complained, wrapped up in her aunt’s favourite bluebell coverlet with a dog-eared copy ofPride and Prejudiceon her lap. ‘Aunt is determined to cure my cough with the waters first.’
She rolled her eyes, but had to give in to a cough instead, the effort of controlling it showing on her thin face. Phoebe frowned, Josephine still hadn’t wholly recovered from her chill at the picnic, and she was more convinced than ever that the laudanum was doing more harm than good.
‘Though Aunt has spoiled us in many other ways,’ she soothed, passing Josephine a glass of water.
