Hopeless Romance

10 | Stranded

Addie jolted as thunder crackled and roared, following a bright flash of lightning she witnessed from her bedroom window. Glancing at Tiana's empty bed, she felt a surge of worry for her beloved sister who had not returned from Mr. Forsythe's manor.

Mrs. Joyner was delighted that Tiana would have to spend the night at the manor due to the harsh storm that had erupted shortly after Mr. Crandall's departure. However, Addie feared it might positively affect Tiana's budding relationship with Mr. Forsythe. Addie imagined them sharing laughter and growing closer at the manor, intensifying their already strong feelings for each other. She grimaced at the possibility. She dared to face the storm's fury if it meant bringing her sister home.

Amidst the thunder's growls and the howling winds, frantic knocking sounded at Addie's bedroom door. Addie, grasping her candle, made her way to the door. "Who's there?" Addie asked, approaching the door.

"It is I, Grace. Please let me in! I've come to check on you," she said, her voice carrying a sense of restrained panic. Before the door fully opened, Grace brushed past Addie, nearly charging for Tiana's bed. "The storm is absolutely terrifying!" she whimpered sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm afraid the wind and rain might destroy the house. May I sleep in Tiana's bed tonight?" she asked, pausing after acknowledging her vulnerability. "...Since Tiana isn't here, that is. I presume you're not accustomed to sleeping alone, as I usually am," she rationalized. "I thought I could keep you company tonight, in case the storm frightened you."

Addie smirked. "How thoughtful you are to come to my aide, Sister. I would feel most at ease having you here in Tiana's absence. Please, Sister, won't you stay and protect me from the menacing storm?" she teased.

"If you insist," Grace said swiftly as she aggressively pulled back the covers and buried herself in them, peeking her head out as Addie chuckled making her way back to her bed. "How can you be so calm during a time like this? It sounds as if the world is ending," she said as the lightning, thunder, and rain increased harmoniously.

"This is nothing," Addie said. "In Trotter's Ridge, we experienced at least three such storms each summer," she recalled, remembering when she and Mr. Benjamin's children would play in the rain, only to be reprimanded by their parents who feared lightning strikes.

"I'm sure you're doubly grateful Papa took away from that place," Grace said, seemingly distracted by the conversation and less frightened by the storm than she had been. Addie ignored her sister's presumptuous remark.

"Do you suppose Tiana is all right?" Addie asked. "Do you think Mister Forsythe and the others are treating her well?"

"Tiana cannot want for anything at the manor. I'm confident she is quite content with Mister Forsythe and his group's company. She should have no complaints," Grace expressed. "Were I stuck in the manor with Mister Forsythe and Mister Crandall during this storm, I'd graciously accept the blessing and make the most of it," she said with a suggestive smirk.

"Gracey!" Addie said.

"But, of course, Mister Forsythe would be impervious to my charms as his attention is singularly fixed on Tiana," she remarked, rolling her eyes while playing with her long braid. "But that still leaves Mister Crandall for me," she said with an eager, giddy tone, eliciting a sour expression from Addie.

"I thought you hated him for calling you a flirt."

"I've had a recent change of heart," Grace said. "Since I've learned of Mister Crandall's infinite wealth, I'm certain I would make him a suitable wife. If he were to make me an offer of marriage, I could save the family and become the Lady of Lancaster." Addie struggled to suppress her laughter. "I hear he has a younger sister around my age, Miss Theodora Crandall II. I've heard she's the epitome of beauty, grace, class, sophistication, and elegance -- just like me. I can see it now, the two of us becoming the dearest of sisters upon my marriage to her brother..."