True Beauty

Four

"No wonder you and Melinda live in that disgusting tenement! Look at this!" 

James lifted up one of Melinda's extravagant dresses, wondering where she'd wear this in Doncaster. No girl in the town dressed like this, but no girl would refuse nobility for a man less wealthy than her family, either. 

Harry punched his younger brother in the shoulder, taking the dress from him. 

"Melinda didn't buy this herself; her mother sent it to her to marry me in." 

"The dress isn't white," James pointed out, confused. "It's black and deathly." 

"Exactly," Harry sighed, placing it in the back of the closet. "You know Melinda's family is practically royalty; her parents didn't like her leaving them for me." 

"That explains the rest of her wardrobe. You never mentioned Melinda's status until a year ago. Are you ashamed of it?" James asked, examining a soft pink dress made of the finest silk. His mother couldn't afford the thread this dress was made with; who paid for it? 

"I'm not, but Melinda prefers being disliked just because she has distaste for Bel. I don't mind; it was her past anyway." 

"I swear, Stacia doesn't even have this much stuff. I should know, I helped her escape-I mean move-to Paris." 

Harry laughed, wishing he could take Melinda and Bel to Paris for a few weeks.  

"How was Paris? You came back and acted as if you'd only gone to Sheffield." 

James shrugged, grunting as he picked up a heavy box. "It's overrated. I'd choose Doncaster any day." 

"Only because Amelia is here," Harry winked cheekily. 

James blushed feverishly as his older brother laughed. He was madly in love with the frizzy, strawberry blonde girl who was only Bel's age. She acted as if she was 25, and was well aware of her beauty. Why would she possibly care for him? 

"James," Harry caught his attention. He gave his younger brother a knowing look and raised a brow. "You still haven't approached her, have you?" 

"Maybe, maybe not." 

"Talk to her before someone courts her, mate! I'm not letting you rot here forever alone. Amelia is beautiful; she could have any man she wants. Tomorrow we are going into town, finding Amelia and you are going to talk to her." 

James looked down, blushing again. Harry lifted his chin up, ordering, "Don't do that. Look Amelia in the eye and tell you how you feel. You're supposed to be the romantic one, yet you're the last one to be married." 

"Stacia and Bel still aren't-" 

"You and I both know Stacia will never marry, and Bel; she doesn't believe any man would look at her that way," he admitted, more to himself. "So, that leaves you. Like I said, approach her, gaze into those gorgeous crystal eyes, and talk to her. Don't even say what you feel; just have a civilised conversation. That's how I got Melinda." 

"No; you got Melinda by taking her into the woods after-" 

"We agreed to never speak of it," Harry reminded him. "Just be confident and act like a gentleman. Every woman likes a nice gentleman." 

"That doesn't explain why Melinda married you," Bel entered the giant castle their father had built decades before confidently. She grinned and kissed each of her brothers on the cheek. Harry felt her head for a fever and asked, "Are you alright?" 

"Why wouldn't I be?" she asked, smile not fading.  

James turned to Harry and whispered, "When did our sister learn to smile like that?" Despite her mood being refreshing, he still worried for her. Silence and shyness were the norm for Bel; even with her family.