If Only You Knew

7 - Big Sister

January 8th, 1863 - Whitehall Manor, Northern England

Scarlette and I stood on the front porch of our house, rugged up in our winter clothing, my short brown curls tickling the base of my neck and my face red and numb from the cold, dry wind. Lettie's hair was pinned back from her face as the wind whipped through her curls. I smiled widely as I watched her.

A few bright blue sparks, like tiny electric currents, flashed between her fingers as the snow in front of her balled together and then fell apart again while she made numerous shapes and spelled my name. All the while, I stood there giggling, making my face even redder than it already was.

"Again, Lettie, again," I smiled and giggled loudly as my 8-year-old sister performed her magic in front of me.

"Shush, Alice, otherwise mama will make us play inside, and there's no snow inside," she gave me a tiny smile and pressed a gloved finger to her lips.

"Sorry, Lettie," my 6-year-old voice was high-pitched and quiet over the howling wind.
She gives me an adoring smile before beginning her magic again as the snow begins to swirl and the wind howls.

She smiles at me affectionately and the snow continues to swirl around the both of us and my eyes widen as I watch in wonder. Scarlette smiles proudly at her skills, her face bright red from the cold, matching my own.

Other mother suddenly bursts onto the porch. "Scarlette, Alice, you're going to catch your death, inside, quickly girls."

"Yes mama," I giggle a little as she hurries us inside and Scarlette sighs. Mother quickly closes the door behind us before guiding us into the drawing room.

We walk into the huge room and over to the huge fire burning in the hearth and mother kneels on the carpet in front of us. She begins to pull off our gloves and fur hats, as well as our cloaks, laying them on the back of the lounge.

"Scarlette, Alice, can you girls please stay here for a while and warm up? For mama?" She smiles down at us.

"Yes, mama," we both nod and smile up at her.

"Alright, I'll come back when it's lunch time, be careful, Scarlette." She gives Scarlette a stern look and Lettie looks down at the floor and nods.

Mother walks out of the room, in the direction of father's study and Scarlette and I sit on the floor in front of the fire, our dresses spreading out around us.

"Can you do any fire tricks yet?" I pick at the seam of my dress and watch my sister.

"Yes, I've been practicing. Want to see?" Lettie smiles cheekily at me.

"Yes!" I nod excitedly and smile widely.

She laughs a little before concentrating on the flames in front of us. They soon begin to move as a lion dances through the flames, chased by a swan flying in the smoke. Scarlette smiles proudly at her creation. "Do you like them, Alice?"

"I love them Lettie, keep going!" I smile widely, giggling crazily like the 6-year-old I am.

And she continued until mother came to collect us for lunch, my giggles continuing all the while.

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August 4th, 1874 - Whitehall Manor, Northern Europe

Scarlette wore a pale green summer gown and I wore an identical one, but in a lilac, as we wandered through the gardens out the back of our home. Some of the plants were a little withered, but Scarlette touched them lightly as we walked past and they picked themselves up and into full bloom once more. Roses, petunias and tulips became more vibrant as we passed and I smiled at the plants, still in awe of my sister's magic after all these years.

"So, what's going on with you and Jonathan?" Scarlette inquires, but she knows more than she's letting on. It sounds more like an accusation than a question.

"What do you mean?" I watch the flowers, failing to meet her gaze.

"I've seen him sneak up to your balcony more times than I can count." She gives a playful, accusing look.

"Oh, you did?" I meet her eyes before quickly looking away again.

"Yes, Alice, stop playing dumb," she rolls her eyes. "Don't worry, I'm not going to tell mama and papa. Now, spill it all."

"Oh, Lettie, we're in love! Completely in love!" I smile widely and meet her gaze.

"Of course you are," she smiles and laughs a little at my reaction.

"We are, Scarlette, why don't you believe me?" I frown and look down at the rock path.

"It's not that I don't believe you, it's that you're only 17, Alice, are you sure about this?" She looks at me, concerned.

"Yes, Lettie, I'm sure."

"So, what next?"

"Jonathan is asking papa for my hand on my birthday, after dinner." I smile happily as I spill the news, and Scarlette's eyes widen in shock.

"Are you serious, Alice?" She raises her eyebrows at me.

"Why wouldn't I be," I frown down at the path. "Alice, I've known him for so long. He's good for me. And I'm sure papa will agree."

"No doubt he will, he adores Jonathan." She smiles a little. "Sorry I reacted the way I did, I truly am happy for you. I was just, well, shocked."

"It's fine Lettie, you don't need to apologise." I smile warmly at her.

We walk in silence for a while before getting to the arch which leads into the 'secret' area of the garden. The secret garden is cut off by walls of thick hedges and isn't that easy to find. It's almost always dark in there, except at midday and midnight, when the sun and moon are directly overhead.

We enter through the archway, into the scattered sunlight, leaving most of the garden in shadow. Scarlette and I shriek and spin around when we hear a voice from the shadows opposite us.

"Alice, Scarlette, what are you two doing out here?" Freddy's voice is quiet, breaking through the silence.

"We could ask you the same thing," I smile cheekily.

"We were talking about how Alice is going to marry Jonathan," Scarlette talks quickly and excitedly before covering her mouth once she realises what she's done. Her cheeks go as red as her name to match my own as I whirl on her.

"Scarlette!"

"Oops. Sorry. Freddy wont tell mama and papa, relax Alice," she laughs it off and so do I before we both look at Frederick.

"That's adorable," his tone is almost patronizing, but I don't mind. "You'll actually be really cute together."

"They will be? They are, I see him sneaking into her room every few nights -" Scarlette's cut off by my hand covering her mouth and she laughs into my palm.

"Alice! What the scandal," Freddy laughs at my embarrassment as my cheeks flame red. "You're worse than Scarlette, and she's dated half the village."

"Freddy!" Scarlette's mouth drops open and Frederick and I start to laugh.

We continue to laugh for a few more minutes, not noticing the storm clouds gathering and the sky darkening to grey. Until the first few raindrops fall, quickly followed by another few. Scarlette forms a shield over her head and mine and Frederick looks at her, bewildered.

"Scarlette, a shield my way would be great," he widens his eyes at her.

"Shouldn't have made that comment then Freddy," she looks down at him smugly and we all laugh before she extends the shield to cover our brother.

We all walk home, arm in arm with my big sister.