When the Hydrangea Flowers Bloom

Chapter Twelve: The Letters

Richard,

How is it at college? Treating you well? There isn't much going on back here. It's certainly not as fun without you. I spend most of my days reading and talking with Winnifred. Sometimes we gossip, but there are only seven of us, so the gossip isn't great. Gertrude and Martin started dating and spent every day together, but Flora got jealous and forced Gertie to spend more time with her. Martin and Gertie still spend a lot of time together, but not as much in the beginning. I don't understand why Gertie listens to Flora. She's so manipulative and controlling. Maybe she's afraid of her.

Your father has been taking control of communicating with us for the time being, and you can tell he doesn't like it. He doesn't eat meals with us as you did, he spends as little time with us as he can. You two are so different; I don't know how it happened.

We went to the market again last week. The last time I found a gorgeous locket, but I wasn't able to find anything like that. I bought a basket of books for very cheap. I don't know if you can tell, but I'm struggling to think of things to write to you. I can't wait to hear all about school and to see you, even though that might not be for a long time.

Missing you,

Hydrangea Langdon

Dearest Hydrangea,

I can't describe to you how pleased I was to read your letter. School is fine, boring, really. The dorm room is dirty and cold, nothing like the manor. I am learning a lot in classes and making a few friends. I miss you, too, and though you say it is uninteresting over there, I miss it.

I think you would really like it over here. The city is wonderful, there are always people running around, carriages and carts driving down the streets. Once or twice a week, I will join some friends in walking around at night, going to pubs and restaurants. All the people are so well-read and intelligent. We smoked cigars with a very interesting lad the other night, he was a retired professor and soldier. I wish you could come to visit me here, but my father would never allow it.

I'm coming home for Christmas, but hopefully, I will be able to make it out there before then. Until that day arrives, I'll be looking forward to the letters we send.

Send my regards to the rest of the pack,

Richard Fawcett

Richard and I wrote to each other at least twice a week. In the beginning, at least. Without him at the manor and Winnifred still mad at me, I spent most of my time alone. Every Wednesday, she went riding with Simon and Eugene, so I planned to talk to her after one week and apologize.. It was already mid-September, and it was a particularly cold Wednesday, so instead of going to the garden gazebo to read, think, journal, I went to the parlor room.

Flora was sitting alone on one of the couches when I came in. She was embroidering something on her lap. I gave her a small nod and headed to the kitchenette to make myself some tea.

"Would you like some?" I called out.

"Yes. Chamomile," she said.

A couple of minutes later I brought out a tray with two teacups and a pot of chamomile tea, as well as some cream and sugar cubes. I placed it on the coffee table in front of her and took a seat in a chair opposite the couch. We both made our teas and quietly did our separate activities.

I noticed she never thanked me for the tea, which didn't offend me or anything, but I thought it was a little rude. I mumbled, "You're welcome by the way," under my breath as she took a sip.

"What?" she asked. "Did you say something?"

"No." I shook my head and turned back to my book. I tried to concentrate but there was too much tension in the air to relax. Finally, I started a conversion.

"Where's Gertie?"

She looked up at me, coldly. "Off with her boyfriend, somewhere. And you? Where's Winnifred?"

"Horseback riding with Simon and Eugene," I told her.

"You know, we all thought that you and Eugene had a thing for each other when we first got here." She said, looking down at her embroidery.

"What? We're just good friends, that's all."

"Well now that you're with Richard, I guess that can't be true." She put down her embroidery and I, my book. "Congratulations, by the way, he's cute."

"Yeah, I saw you staring at him when we saw him for the first time."

"That means nothing, I stare at every man!" She said. We laughed. And for the first time, Flora didn't seem so bad.

Amazingly, Flora and I had a real conversation that day. But as soon as it was over, she went back to Gertrude and I went back to Winnie. At dinner, she seemed to be back to her usual, annoying self, but I knew that there was some good in her.

After my talk with Flora, I realized that Winnifred was almost done with riding. I ran downstairs and waited by the back door for her to come inside. As she approached, I hid so she wouldn't see me and run away. As she opened the door, I popped out of the bushes.

"Winnifred, can we talk?" She jumped back, surprised by my "attack".

"No, I don't want to talk to you."

"Please. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I was in a dark mood, and I've regretted it ever since."

"Sure you have; you seemed pretty sincere at the time."

"I know. Is there any way you can forgive me?" I begged.

She looked at me, thinking. "Fine. But only because it's been so dreadful with Flora. I don't know how someone could be that shallow."

"Actually, I had a real conversation with her today!"

"Wow! Who'd have known she was capable of doing that?" We laughed.

"So I'm forgiven?" I asked.

"Yeah, you're my best friend. How could I not?" I hugged her, so thankful and happy to finally have my best friend back.

Tired from a long day of horseback riding, Winnifred went upstairs soon after we finished eating. I went to my room as well and read on my balcony with Pietro for a while. Even after writing in my journal and taking a bath, I was still restless. In my nightgown, I opened my door and stepped out into the dark hallway. Everyone else was asleep; I could hear snoring from one of the bedrooms.

I walked downstairs and to the kitchens. It was dark and quiet, with no one in sight. I found some milk that I warmed up in a pot. Holding the steaming mug, I walked back upstairs. I was just about to turn to the right, to my room, when I looked up. I walked up the next flight of stairs and down a hallway, the marble cold against my bare feet. I opened the closet door and pulled the ladder down, slowly climbed up (one-handed) and into the attic. After some careful movements, I was sitting alone on the roof.

I looked out on the property. I could see the gun range, the garden, the pond. The horse stables were far, but I could see small movements. The moon was bright, hidden occasionally by thin clouds, passing quickly. I sipped my milk and felt the energy melt away. It was windy out, but I wasn't cold.

I was just about to go back inside when I saw a human figure by the pond. I looked closer, squinting my eyes, and saw a male silhouette holding a lantern and looking around like they were waiting for someone. I waited for a minute or two and was giving up when I saw another figure come out of the darkness, this one female. The man placed the lantern on the ground and embrace the girl with a swoon-worthy kiss.

Stunned and feeling like I shouldn't have seen that, I went back inside. I walked downstairs, wondering who the two lovers could be. My first thought was Gertrude and Martin, but they wouldn't need to keep their relationship secret from the rest of us, like the two by the pond.

As I approached my room, I noticed two doors slightly ajar: Eugene and Flora's.