The Way Back Home: A 1917 Fanfic

Chapter 30: All I Need is You

April 24th, 1917

Later that evening, Amelia sat on the twin bed in the spare bedroom of Madeleine
Schofied's house, brushing out her long hair after her bath. She felt a slight chill in the air, enfolding her arms around herself despite the thick white nightgown she wore and the cotton stockings on her feet. She would need to buy herself a robe, at least while she was staying here.

The golden lamplight illuminated the small room around her, giving it a welcoming coziness that she hadn't felt in so long, yet she had felt a sense of apprehension from Will's beloved sister aimed at her for the majority of the evening.

Not that the older woman had expressed as much in words so much as with her occasional glances with her blue eyes in her direction when William wasn't looking. And Amelia didn't blame her. She was a stranger in the house and Madeleine had two children to take care of and protect...

And Amelia had still yet to ask about Mr. Johnson, Madeleine's husband. She hadn't asked William, having a feeling he wouldn't want to explain such details on his sister's behalf.

As she contemplated on how she would approach Madeleine on that subject as well as the Englishwoman's true opinion of her, a knock from the other side of the bedroom door alerted her to another presence. She grabbed a woolen shawl from the chair in front of the small vanity and placed it around her shoulders to give herself some cover, wanting to keep herself somewhat modest.

Amelia opened the door to the sight of Madeleine standing in the darkened hallway, her silhouette giving the older Schofield sister a poise that made the American Blonde feel hawkish and unappealing by comparison. She opened the door wider to give Madeleine access in case she wanted to come into the bedroom.

Madeleine was the first to speak before Amelia could form proper words. "I just wanted to make sure you were settled for the night, Miss Hunterson. Is this room to your liking?"

Amelia cleared her throat, looking down at the floor before meeting Madeleine's vigilant gaze. "Yes, it's perfect, thank you, Madeleine. And please, call me Amelia."

She kept her voice to a low murmur, knowing little Edith and Eleanor were asleep in the other room next to hers.

"Very well, Amelia." Madeleine gave a half-smile as the lamplight in the room glowed upon her face, revealing a few freckles along the bridge of her nose, similar to that of Will's if anyone had doubts about their relationship as siblings. "While my brother is here as well, he'll be sleeping downstairs on the chaise lounge in the living area. And with my children here, I expect you to show an example of ladylike behavior regarding your physical bond with him."

Amelia held her head high as she held Madeleine's gaze, knowing exactly what she was referring to. "Madeleine, I know you've only heard about me through Will's letters to you, but please hear me out through my own words. I understand we just met today in person and you've yet to judge my character and you've your two girls to think about. I don't mean to compromise anybody in this house, especially your brother. He's been nothing less than a total gentleman to me and I'm the last woman in the world to deserve a wonderful man like him. For reasons I can't fathom, he returns my affections and we've respected one another's boundaries. I may seem like an unwelcome intruder in your home and you're entertaining me for Will's sake, but please don't presume to think that I'm some hussy he found from the streets because he got lonely back in France."

Molly stared unblinkingly at the petite woman in front of her, clutching onto the wood-paneled doorway with one of her hands, the other clutching onto the skirt of her dressing gown.

Amelia concluded her defense of her formidable hostess.

"I may have skeletons in my closet and demons in my past, but who doesn't? I've done things I'm not proud of, but Will loves me despite all that. And I love him more than I've loved anyone in my whole life, and he gave me the courage to open my heart to happiness with someone who loves me for just being myself and not for what I can give them." Amelia took one more breath as she finished her speech. "I would very much like for the two of us at least to be amiable to one another, and your girls are lovely and well-behaved. If you would give me a chance to prove myself as being worthy of your brother's love, I think you'd come to view me as a friend. I swear on my life I mean you, your girls, and your brother most of all, no harm."