The Candlewood Sisters: Lavender

It's your turn

Lavender Candlewood nodded as she recited from the list in front of her.

"Smile." She stared at herself in the mirror as Fiona tightened her dress. She attempted a smile but just looked ridiculously constipated. She shook her head and looked back down. "Polite giggle." she looked back at the mirror. "Hehehehe..."

Fiona giggled and quickly clamped her mouth shut.

Lavender gave her a meaningless glare through the mirror. She looked back down at her list. "Hold your tongue." she grimaced and made a show of sticking her tongue out and pinching it between her two fingers.

That gesture garnered another fit of giggles from Fiona. "Oh Miss. Candlewood, you're awfully silly."

Lavender sighed as her maid finished tying the last knot. "I cannot be silly if I am to secure a husband this year Fiona. You heard my uncle. He shall give till June before he seals his deal with Lord Worcester."

"Anybody but Lord Worcester." Fiona whispered.

"Anybody but Lord Worcester." Lavender whispered back in fear. But this was her third year and she had yet to be engaged. She couldn't care less, if there wasn't so much riding on her to do so. Her uncle was sick and tired of being the only male in the household. Her mother was wrought with fear that she would grow to be a spinster. Her younger sister Azalea, two years her junior was aghast that she had to wait on her to be married before she could even fathom to accept any marriage proposals sent her way.

Unlike Lavender, Azalea's entrance into society two years ago had been a major success. Men were falling at her feet and there were gentlemen callers every single afternoon. But once Lord Candlewood made it known that his nieces were to be married off in order, well all eyes had turned to the so called prude Miss. Candlewood. The quiet reserved eldest sibling, though beautiful, certainly lacked the charm of her younger sister. She was, what many whispered simply....boring.

The only one who did not find Miss Candlewood boring, was they youngest Candlewood sister, Miss. Daisy Candlewood. Being only 10, she still held 6 years left of freedom as Lavender loved to point out to her.

But this year was going to be different, Lavender vowed to herself. Smile. Giggle. Hold your tongue and be the pretty, most un-boring lady during all the galas. Because she may accept anything and everything thrown her way, but she most definitely will not accept Lord Worcester. The 59 year old widowed Earl made her skin crawl. Maybe it was the crooked yellow teeth, maybe it was the beady black eyes. Whatever it was, no wonder his wife threw herself off the roof. Although rumor was she was mentally unwell. Lavender was sure the poor soul had preferred death.

"You look stunning Miss. Candlewood." Fiona praised her as she reached out and wrapped an escaped curl around her finger so it could spring back up to frame her mistress' face.

Lavender took a deep breath. She did look nice. But she always looked nice. Looking nice was not the problem. Pretending she cared was. She smiled brightly, her almond shaped eyes fluttering seductively. Azalea had forced her to learn how to do that because according to her, "sister I love you but I will literally slit your throat if you don't get engaged this year. You maybe fine being a prude but I NEED a husband."

Lavender turned around and swallowed back her fear. It was now or nothing. Holding her dress, she exited her chambers and made her way to her family whom she knew was waiting for her.

"Oh Lavender you simply look splendid." Daisy beamed from the bottom of the stairs.

Lavender smiled at her youngest sibling, before turning her eyes to Azalea. The middle child looked stunning in her own pink gown. Her looser curls, cascading down her back. Her lips, a bright red, eyes a lighter shade of brown than Lavender's.