“Ladies, let us not lower ourselves to debauchery so early in the day,” Evelina teased.
Anna and Maria quieted their giggles.
“All I am saying, Theo,” Anna started, “is whileyoufeel science is the answer to everything,Ifeel that the world is too big and too great to be held to the strict boundaries science requires. There are simply too many inconsistencies or even consequences out there.”
Maria nodded in agreement. “And it is just that…” Maria paused as she pursed her lips. “I do not want to sound pretentious, and please forgive me if I do, but…” Her eyes drifted in between the sisters. “It is just that you have not experienced love so how could you possibly make up your mind on what it is or is not?”
Anna sat up excitedly. “Yes! I agree with Maria. If you would have told me years ago that I would fall for a man like Damien, I would have laughed. But look at us! We are truly kindred spirits.”
“Look at Mother and Father, Theodora. Even they love each other in their own…unique way.” Evelina smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
All the warmth left Theodora’s body. She had not told Evelina about her…discovery. She had not even told their mother, and the guilt had been eating her up every day since the incident.
Perhaps, I should confess.
But her father’s warning rang clear in her ear, and she would only blame herself if her mother fell into melancholy. Theodora looked up and found Evelina searching her face curiously.
She swallowed and drummed her fingers over the book in her lap. “There are no kindred spirits,” she stated plainly, the hurt from her father burning just below the surface. “Harps can be tuned to the same pitch. Those same harps can play together in a glorious symphony, but after enough play one may lose the ability to keep in tune. You can always replace the harp with a newer one when the older one cannot keep up.”
The room quieted into an awkward silence.
“You seem a bit bitter, sister.” Evelina leaned over and placed her hand over Theodora’s. “What brings this up?”
Theodora’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about, Eve?”
“What bringsthistopic up?” Evelina amended. “You were never one to put much weight into feelings and emotions, so why all of a sudden have you taken an interest in examining love?”
Anna gasped. “Have you met someone?”
Theodora felt all the color drain from her cheeks. “What? No, I have not!”
Maria clapped. “I knew it! Is it that Benson boy? Oh, he is a handsome one!”
Theodora’s heart began to race and her palms became sweaty. This was getting out of hand. All three women began chatteringaway making up scenarios and plans that involved people she never even heard of before.
“Stop!” She yelled. “I have not met anyone, nor do I want to.”
The three women stilled at her outburst.
“I am sorry to disrupt your wedding plans but let me repeat myself for good measure. I have not met, nor do I intend to meet anyone,” she added pointedly in Anna’s direction. “There is no one who I would consider tying myself to for the foreseeable future.”
Theodora could see the air of excitement deflate from each of the women. Within a matter of seconds their shoulders sunk back into the chairs they occupied. Much to Theodora’s dismay, the silence only lasted so long.
“And you call yourself a woman of science,” Maria grumbled.
Theodora’s eyebrow rose at the insinuation. “What does that mean?”
Maria looked around to Evelina and Anna for support. She tilted her head in Theodora’s direction. “You are always one for experiments, correct?”
Theodora nodded.
“Well,scientist, I say you do the ultimate experiment. A love experiment if you will.” Maria grinned, challenging her.
“That is ridiculous.” Theodora shook her head.
“What are you afraid of, Theo?” Maria’s question was like a slap to her face.
“I am not afraid of anything!” she snapped back.
