“You told me to speak plainly, and now I am speaking plainly, so this is really your fault,” Augusta lifted one shoulder.
“If you did have a fight, you can say sorry, and then he can say sorry, and then everyone can eat breakfast tomorrow,” Matilda, still determined to help, said.
“That is not usually how adults do things,” Augusta turned to her.
“It should be,” Matilda frowned.Ah.To have the innocence of childhood again, it was enough to brighten Charity up considerably.
“That is very sensible,” Charity looked at Matilda, smiling.
“I know,” Matilda said, satisfied.
The smile faded a little as Charity looked down at her plate again.
The wedding was soon. She had been pushing the thought away for days, handling one crisis at a time, but the most important day of her life was inching forward.
Soon.
“What is it?” Augusta seemed to catch the shift in her expression. “Oh, don’t start acting strange again, please.”
“The wedding,” Charity hesitated, but decided that it was best to be honest.
“Can I have ribbons?” Matilda straightened. “Oh, I’m so excited about it.”
“I haven’t thought through all of it yet,” Charity rubbed her fingers together in her lap, a habit that had replaced touching her necklace for the moment.
“You haven’t thought through the wedding,” Augusta stared at her.
“I have thought through it,” Charity said, then corrected herself with a small exhale. “Well, as much as time has allowed me.” The whole thing did come together very hastily.
“Are you nervous?”
Charity looked at her, then at Matilda, and saw no judgment there, only curiosity and concern.
“Yes,” Charity said. “I am nervous.”
“Is it since you don’t know what dress you’re wearing, or is it the married part?” Matilda asked, very seriously. Augusta laughed outright this time, and even Charity smiled.
“The married part,” Charity said. “Though now that you mention it, the dress is also a problem.”
“Well, the dress can be solved, but the married part…” Augusta reached for another piece of toast and spoke while breaking it in half. She paused and looked at Charity with unusual care. “The married part may still be frightening, but it is less frightening now that I don’t think he is cruel.”
“Then it will be fine,” Matilda nodded, like that settled everything.
“It may not be fine immediately,” Augusta looked at Matilda, then back at Charity, and said, sounding older than her years for a moment, “but that does not mean it will be terrible.”
Charity looked at her sister and felt a complicated pull of pride and sadness and gratitude. Augusta was still angry with her. She had every right to be, but she was trying.
“So now you are the one speaking like the older sister,” Charity said quietly. “How have you grown up this fast?”
“Someone has to,” Augusta gave her a look. “You seem to be too smitten to do anything, and clearly you are still looking for him to walk through that door.”
“Oh, not this again,” Charity groaned softly and covered part of her face with one hand.
“Does that mean you do miss him?” Matilda brightened.
“Eat your breakfast,” Charity said, though she was smiling despite herself.
Matilda grinned and obeyed, at least for a few seconds. Charity looked at the door one more time before she could stop herself.
