April sat by the library window, lost in her world, until footsteps in the hallway drew her back to the present. She quickly wiped at her eyes and straightened her posture, schooling her expression into calm just as the door opened.
June stepped in, pausing when she saw her. Her amber eyes flicked from the tear tracks April had failed to erase to theuntouched tea on the side table. She said nothing, only crossed the room and sat beside her on the chaise.
They remained in silence for a moment.
“You look awful,” June said quietly, but there was no bite to it. No sarcasm. Only understanding.
April gave a watery laugh. “Thank you. That’s precisely what I hoped to hear.”
“I always thought you were the lucky one,” June murmured. “People love you. You walk into a room, and they follow.”
April blinked, startled. “What do you mean?”
June picked at a thread on her sleeve. “You don’t know what it’s like. Being one of three. Some of us always felt… invisible.”
The words pierced April with a strange clarity. She had never considered June might feel that way. Her sister, who always had the sharpest words, the driest wit. She had seemed impervious.
“But now,” June continued, “I see the burden they’ve placed on you. I would not envy that for anything.”
April turned to her slowly. “June, I felt invisible, too.”
Her sister smiled. “I suppose that is one of the consequences of being triplets. All of us crave attention that can only be split into three.”
“Wise words, Sister.”
June reached out, taking her hands. “You mustn’t worry about us, April. We’ll be fine. You must do what is right for you.”
April’s throat tightened again. She looked away. “How can I not worry? Have you seen how tired August is? How thin he’s grown? He is managing an estate that barely feeds itself.”
June sighed. “I know. I miss his laugh. He used to smile so easily.”
April nodded. “He hasn’t smiled properly in months. I worry he’ll wear himself out before anything improves.”
They sat in quiet understanding before June broke the stillness. “I’m tired of the season, you know. All those gentlemen with too much cologne and too many opinions. I don’t trust any of them.”
The word settled heavily between them.
Trust.
April stared at her hands.I don’t trust him because I don’t know him.
Just when she had started to believe she did, he had shown her another side. But then… her brother’s voice returned to her.If he was angry, it’s because that man deserved it.Then there was Theo’s aunt, who was so fond of him. And the way he looked when he wasn’t trying to be distant.
“What are you thinking?” June asked.
April sucked in her lips. Then, with a breath, she replied, “I think I may accept his offer after all.”
June’s brows lifted. “That is curious.”
“Indeed,” April nodded slowly.
“Why did you refuse him in the first place? You seemed rather… inclined before.”
April couldn’t tell her. Not fully. She turned to stare out the window. “Because he’s still a stranger. And I fear what I don’t understand.”
June’s voice was gentler than usual, and she took April’s hand again. “Are you afraid of him? That he would hurt you?”
April’s answer came too quickly. “No.”
