Rearrange Me

XVI

Philippe XV

"You told Mama?! Goodness Eleanora, she shall have me hung!"

Jean and I both glance at the door to the sitting room Eleanora and Adela currently occupy across the hallway.

"Do you reckon she is upset?" I ask.

Jean's eyes narrow at me. "I do not find your sport any playful at the moment. I believe you do it to spite me."

"I do not find that I care. It is not my fault you broke the law and got caught, Brother." I tell him, flipping the page in the book in my hands.

"I do advise you to remember I shall not forget what you have done, Eleanora!"

I hear Eleanora laugh, but it is not the same as she laughs for me. "What I have done? God, you really are a child." The door swings open and Jean and I busy ourselves. Eleanora saunters into the library and I look up from the German words I am reading. "She is unimaginable."

Adela follows behind Eleanora. "Quit referring to me as a child."

Eleanora huffs before turning to her sister, and Jean and I share a glance. "If you do not wish to be referred to as a child, then do not act like one."

"Children do not partake in amorous congress." My eyes widen. Eleanora's palm slaps against Adela's cheek, evoking a gasp from the girl.

"You need to grow up, Adela. You are still a child, who has no right to speak to me in such a manner." Eleanora says before walking out—and I mentally applaud her.

"I hate her." Adela mumbles as she begins to walk out.

Jean reaches out and grabs her hand, tugging her to him. "You do not hate her, my dear, you are simply infuriated."

I stand from my chair. "You should never have hatred for ones you love, Adela." I slide the book back into its place on the shelf before turning to look at the girl who resembles my wife. "Imagine the pain you shall feel if those were the last words you spoke before she was gone."

I walk out of the library and down the hall. The glass doors come into view where I see Eleanora out on the balcony. I pull the handle and the door tugs open, before I step outside in the warmth.

Eleanora does not remove her attention from where it is at, even as I step up behind her and place my hands beside hers on the short concrete wall, caging her in.

I rest my chin on her shoulder, watching the trees in the distance blow in the wind.

"Was it wrong of me to hit her?"

"She should not have spoken to you as she did. It is bad enough that you are her sister and of older age, but to speak to a queen with those words and meaning should have such punishment."

"It was almost as if she were... bragging about what she has done—as though she is proud."

I brush the hair on her shoulder back and her neck comes into view. "She shall learn the hard way when your Mama receives the news, I reckon."

"I am worried of James, also. I fear he may try and execute Jean himself."

"I cannot even be angry. Every time I try, I imagine Alice in this situation. I do believe I would have the man responsible's head." I place a kiss on her soft skin. "But it is done, and he is courting her now. I fear even your Mama cannot put an end to this."

"I only wish to end it because I do not wish for Adela to regret it in the future. When she is of older age and is wiser. And I do not wish for Jean to regret it, either."