Serenity

The Realisation

Smelling salts fetched Rose around. By then, she was already in bed, surrounded by her mother and Doctor Hawley. His grey moustache had a life of its own as he packed up his case and announced that the excitement of the evening was to blame for her fainting. Everyone moved in slow motion; everyone had an opinion of what could have caused Rose to fall apart when she had been so together beforehand, and yet, none of them could be farther from the truth.

Cal loitered outside the bedroom door, brandy in hand, and he was heard thanking the doctor. She lethargically turned her neck to see his figure in her bedroom doorway. The first thing she thought was simply how he must feel, not being able to invite her into his bed tonight. The second was...surely she had honestly imagined seeing Jack outside the hotel at her sister's cotillion; it seemed--haunting. It was almost unreal. It cannot have been so real. Impossible really. The mystery of Jack's presence lingered in her mind, casting a spell she couldn't shake off. It was strange to her how their mind was cast back to him almost daily. It was as though he was a significant part of her life, embroidered into the fibres of her being and causing such a traumatic reaction that she genuinely felt like a fool. Rose was certainly not one to faint, especially at social events.

"You must rest," Cal said slowly, his eyes moving between Ruth and her. How different she must look in comparison to the cotillion ball. "Ruth, perhaps you should turn in, too. The night's exertions have surely affected us all."

"Indeed," Ruth was still dressed in her evening gown, with a look of weariness lining her face. At that moment, she appeared older than her forty-two years. "It has been an eventful evening."

Ruth rounded the bed, glancing back at Rose once more. From within the bed, she felt like a child. No one had even asked how she felt, how she had taken ill...nothing. It was as though it had been a minor diversion, and by tomorrow morning, they would all be back on track. It was all swept beneath a large rug, which threatened to spill all of its secrets soon.

"Mother?" Rose's voice came out as a croak. "Would you please ask Elizabeth to come to me? I want to ensure she had a wonderful evening despite my mishap."

"Of course." Ruth agreed hesitantly, perhaps only because she knew it would cause Elizabeth to keep the excitement of the evening alive and to allow the focus to remain on the debutante, not the ailing sister.

Elizabeth appeared not thirty minutes later, her toes peeping from beneath a long, white nightgown. Her hair was braided down one side in a glorious plait. Beneath her arm, she carried a well-worn copy of Pride and Prejudice.

''I know it is not usually to your taste,'' Elizabeth clicked the door closed, ''but there is something quite special about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet's relationship that may cheer you up this evening, even though you are not usually one for romance.''

''You know I prefer Anticipations by HG Wells,'' Rose didn't move from her laid-back state upon the pillows. ''His musings about living in the year 2000 are fascinating.''

''Well, I am the reader tonight; you can entertain yourself with that...nonsense tomorrow.''

Rose could only smile at her sister as she hopped onto the high, finely upholstered mahogany bed. The lace trimmings of the bedspread were peeled back, and Elizabeth stuffed her cold feet inside, but Rose did not gasp; instead, she welcomed it.

''How do you feel?''

''Better with your company.''

Elizabeth smiled. ''Good, I could not sleep with the excitement of it all.''

''Did you enjoy this evening, tell me truly?''

Elizabeth was quiet for just a moment before answering. ''Of course, it was different, but...I never enjoy being the centre of attention, nor could I tolerate it long term.''