Ophelia turned to see a footman rushing down the path. Adelaide swept to meet him, giggling as she did, and then beaming as she took from the footman a letter.
“Adelaide…” Ophelia frowned with interest and slight jealousy as Adelaide sat back down. “Dare I ask?” She indicated the letter.
“Oh, this?” Adelaide pretended to shy away. “It is nothing…”
Ophelia almost did not push. She had a pretty good idea what the letter was, for her friend’s reaction could mean nothing else. But jealousy stabbed at Ophelia like a dull blade, and a small part of her hated that her friend was in the throes of romance while she had nothing.
Then again, Ophelia also needed the distraction. What was more, she needed to be reminded that the world was not such an awful place. Her friend was clearly over the moon; such feelings ought to have been celebrated, and Ophelia wanted to be the type who would do such a thing.
“Oh, please,” Ophelia snorted. “If you wish to be coy, the first thing you might try doing is wiping that smile from your face.”
“What smile?” Adelaide’s smile literally split her face in two halves.
“Tell me who wrote you,” Ophelia laughed. “Or I will be forced to wrestle that letter from your hands.”
Adelaide laughed. “Well, if you must know…” Her eyes flashed, and she leaned in, dropping her voice. “But you must promise to keep it a secret. Even my father does not know.”
“How scandalous,” Ophelia joked.
“It is nothing like that! But a certain gentleman has been writing to me the last few weeks.” She grinned wickedly. “Apparently, I caught his eye at a ball, and he was too nervous to approach me.But his letters, Ophelia…” Her eyes glazed over. “I have never read something so romantic! It is as if fate has finally taken an interest in me. And about time!”
“His name?” Ophelia asked. “You must tell me that.”
“His name?” Adelaide looked away shyly. But then turned back and beamed. “Lord Percival Hallbridge. Do you know him? I am not even sure what he looks like.”
Ophelia’s face paled, and her mouth dropped open, just in time to join her stomach as it fell right out from her.
Oh no…
Adelaide blushed, giggled, and looked like a woman in love. It was a look that Ophelia recognized well enough, as she knew the feeling of being courted by a man who appeared to be truly interested in her. She remembered such letters. She remembered those charming words. Most of all, what she remembered was the harsh reality that came when she learned the lies attached.
“Adelaide, I want you to listen very closely.” Ophelia kept one arm around Harriet but used her other to take Adelaide’s hand. She squeezed it, holding her eyes so that her friend would know that she was being serious. “Whatever you do, you cannot keep writing to Lord Hallbridge.”
Adelaide started in surprise. “What? Ophelia, why would I –”
“Please,” Ophelia spoke over her. “I know this man. I know his lies. I am sure he has said all the right things, that he has made you feel special and seen. But he does not mean it, Adelaide, and I have no doubt that he will hurt you.”
“Ophelia, how do you…” Adelaide looked into Ophelia’s eyes, and she gasped. “No? He is not the one who…”
“He is,” Ophelia said. “I would not say such things if I did not know them to be true.”
Adelaide pushed her lips together, and Ophelia saw the fight raging behind her eyes. No doubt she wanted to dismiss Ophelia’s concern No doubt it hurt her to believe such words. And no doubt, the thought of being lied to was a painful one to accept.
“I trust you,” Adelaide finally said with a deep sigh. “As I know you would never say such things if they were not true.”
Ophelia exhaled with relief. “I am so sorry, Adelaide. I hate to say such things, but I just want what is best.”
Adelaide tossed the letter away and sneered. “I knew it was too good to be true. For who would ever want me.”
“Do not say that!” Ophelia kept hold of her friend’s hand. “Any man would want you.”
Adelaide laughed gaily as if her sorrow was a thing of the past. “Look at us. Has there ever been two such tragic cases in the history of the world? But at least we have each other.”
“That we do.”
The words were kind, but they were also hollow.
Ophelia took no pleasure in breaking her friend’s romance apart, just as she knew that it was the right thing to do. Alas, the right thing… that was a theme in Ophelia’s life of late, and never had it felt so wrong. Why could the right thing not bring happiness? Why did it not bring joy? And if it was so right, why did it feel so wrong?
