Fortune's Fool

Chapter 4

"Evelyn dear, can you come downstairs please?" Anne called up the stairs.

"What is it mother?"

"Come through to the drawing room, your father and I have something to discuss with you."

She felt an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach as she apprehended what they were going to say to her.

"Sit down dear."

She sat opposite them, looking down to her clasped hands.

"I think you know why we need to speak with you Evelyn," Treves began, "I know this is hard for you dear but...a decision must be made."

"No Father, you don't know how hard it is." her eyes glistened with tears.

"You couldn't possibly begin to imagine how hard it is!"

"We just want to help you dear." Anne said.

"I know you do, but how on earth do you expect me to make a decision like this?" she sobbed.

"We know you love John but think of the kind of life you'd live with him. You don't deserve to live that way." Anne looked with sympathy to her daughter.

"You can grow to love William in time, and you can have a happy and stable family with him. Think of all he has to offer you." she leant forward and put her hand on Evelyn's.

Treves let out a sigh, hating to see his daughter be pressured into a descison.

"I know he can offer me all I desire but I cannot deny my love for John. I don't want to marry William and spend my whole life wishing to be with John. But equally I don't wish to marry John and think of how much better my life could've been with William."

"You may forget your feelings for John with time."

"And what if I don't? What if every time William holds me, kisses me, looks into my eyes I wish it were John?"

Anne tried to speak, but she didn't know what to say to appease Evelyn's worry.

"I don't know dear, but you can't go on this way forever."

"You think I don't know that?" she looked to her mother with distress.

"I think you know what's best for you." she went to embrace her weeping daughter.

"Why does it have to be this way?" she said in a whisper.

"I know dear." tears tricked down Anne's face.

****

John was in his room like always, reading one of his favourite Jane Austen novels again. He hadn't seen Evelyn since the dinner party five days ago. It was clear to him now that she loved him but whether or not she would choose to pursue that love remained a mystery to John.

The threat of William taking her away from him filled him with terror. She was his only source of true joy, without her his life would be meaningless. He could only wish that she followed her heart and chose to he with him.

"Come in." he put his book aside as someone knocked on the door.

"Evelyn..." he was surprised that she would ever want to speak to him again.

"John, we need to talk." he saw the sorrow in her eyes.

"Please Evelyn, I know William can give you everything but I love you so much." he walked over to her.

"William has proposed."

"He's proposed? Oh my goodness. Well, have you accepted?" John grew teary eyed.

"I'm going to." she met his gaze.

"But...I love you. And I know you love me too." he came closer, their bodies almost touching.

"Oh John." she wept.

"We can still have a life together. It may not be pleasant but it will be one of love." he put a hand on her face.

"Don't make this any harder than it already is." her lip quivered.

"William is a cruel and selfish man. Do you really want to spend your life with him?"

"Don't you see we aren't meant to be together? This world is too unforgiving for the two of us."

"Don't say that Evelyn. We can make this work." he cried.

"Know this John, I love you, and I will never forget you. Now let me know what real love feels like." she planted her lips on his with all the passion in her heart.

He deepened the kiss, the two of them intertwined in one another's arms as they shared the only moment of love either of them would ever know. They stayed like that until the need to breathe became too much.

She pulled away, staring into his eyes and caressing his face before walking towards the door.

"No Evelyn please! I can't live without you!" he cried out fervently.

"Goodbye John." she could barely manage the words through her sobs.

"No, you mean everything to me! Please, stay!" he broke down, crying his eyes out on the floor as she closed the door for the very last time.