“It was,” Anna insisted.
Theodora pressed her fingers to her temples. “Ladies, I am not asking for myself.”
Evelina began to knead Theodora’s shoulders. “You do not need to hide it, sister. Melancholy is nothing to be ashamed of. We have all been through it.”
The ladies nodded in agreement. Theodora planned to ask for Rosalind’s sake, but she suddenly realized that she needed her friend’s comfort and advice even more. Again, she was almost tempted to confess everything to them, but she stopped herself.
“For heaven’s sake,” Theodora groaned and shook Evelina’s hand off her shoulders. “I am not melancholy.”
“Then why did you ask?” Maria challenged.
Theodora thought of Rosalind once more, and how her sadness was clearly visible in her dropping shoulders and downcast eyes.
“I simply wish to understand the condition better.” She spoke her words with care.
Anna narrowed her eyes. “Purely for academic purposes?”
“Yes.” She answered too quickly.
“I feel as though you are fibbing,” Evelina said softly. “But we will not press you.”
Theodora felt a sense of relief. “Thank you.”
“We will not press you because whatever this is, you will tell us when you are ready.” Evelina smiled confidently as she returned to her armchair.
Theodora usually admired her sister’s confidence but today it annoyed her. She liked to think of herself as unreadable, but her friends and her sister constantly proved her wrong. They read her like the scandalous books in their meetings.
She threw her hands up in resignation. “Fine. If you will not help me, I shall research it myself.”
“We will help you, Theo. Of course we will. But first, you must tell us one thing.” Evelina picked up her cup of tea and sipped it slowly.
Theodora tensed. “What?”
Evelina’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Did you finish the book?”
Theodora’s cheeks flamed. “Of course not!”
Maria clutched her heart and Anna gasped.
“You stopped before the carriage scene?” Anna looked genuinely hurt.
Theodora stood abruptly. “If you will not take me seriously then this conversation is over.”
Her friends burst into laughter. She crossed her arms, trying to look stern, but her lips twitched despite herself.
Anna rose and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Theo, darling, you are allowed to enjoy things. Even scandalous novels. These little moments of enjoyment are the true cure for melancholy.”
“And so is laughter.” Maria winked at her.
“And love,” Evelina whispered so softly that she almost missed it.
“Love?” Theodora frowned at her sister.
She never imagined that Evelina would still believe in love after her disastrous marriage. Theo noticed that they all exchanged softer looks before they smiled knowingly at her.
“Yes, dear sister,” Evelina said gently, “love is the cure to all ailments.”
Evelina ordered the maids to bring more tea and her words sat heavily in Theodora’s mind.
