A Vindication Of Miss Everlee

Chapter 18

They met on Friday at noon. Midge had seen her last year when she came with Calogan with her siblings. It was kind of her to come (but such a bore for the rest of them). She had been as lively and fluttering as always, though in that moment a different energy surrounded her. There were a joy about her now, rather than merely a desire for everything beyond her. It made her much for pleasant to be around.

"So, cousin, what is it that you have been simply dying to tell me?" she asked.

Unable to maintain anymore mystery, Esther squeezed Midge's hands and said, "I'm to be married this summer!" She looked like she was floating on air. "It was all agreed three weeks ago. Oh, I'm so happy! I have loved him for so long."

Her voice disappeared as her initial happiness fluctuated to a shock of worry. Her memory faded to Esther's flirting with Gideon and her admiration of his idiosyncrasies; at the time she had thought nothing of them (instead rather making fun in her mind), but Mrs Milevetz had been fond of her and Gideon himself always demonstrated a gentleness indicative of his good feeling. It would be a sinless match, opposed by none.

And Midge would be happy for them. After all, it was a long time ago and her peculiar discomfort was hardly a valid reason for any disruption.

In fact, she found herself a little amused. Hadn't Esther always been the one who was so jealous over Midge's position? Now she was the one who was marrying for affection, something Midge had sacrificed for security. She had always known she was destined to lead an easier life and she had been for the past four years. Didn't she want it to continue forever?

"Congratulations! Who...um, who is it that you're marrying?" Midge asked, trying to keep her voice as sturdy as she could. Sensing that she had been a little withdrawn, she quickly added in a teasing tone, "Oh, I know. You're to wed Elijah from Hebrew school back home!"

"And what if I am?"

"Esther, you're not. I was only teasing!" Midge said, slightly taken aback. Anyone would be preferable to Elijah!

"I'm not," she confirmed, "His name is Chaim. Midge, he's the rabbi's son! I cannot believe my luck, that I love him and he's of such a secure position,"

Midge relaxed. For all her flirting, she should have known Esther never could have married someone as poor as Gideon. Still, despite this restriction she had found herself a wonder which Midge was sure rested largely on the fact that Chaim himself was a lovely man, and his father being the rabbi's son was just a minor detail of course.

"Then I am envious, of you and your happiness," Midge told her. "When is the wedding?"

"One month, but you must come to the service tonight! Mrs Milevetz would love to see you again, I'm sure, and you can meet Chaim," she said.

"I cannot. I have taken the afternoon off, not the evening," Midge replied. Esther took no notice of her response, saying that last time she was in Bath she always came to the service on Friday. Surely Mr Walden would allow her to come just this once? And of course he would, but Midge had little intention of displaying this information.

However, Esther begged and begged. "I really would like you to meet him, Midge. Nobody else in our family can until the wedding but I would like you, at least, to see my fortune!"

And so she relented. Mr Walden certainly needed no persuasion and he promised to extend her apologies onto Mr Bishop and Amelia for not going to the lower rooms despite her assuring them she would. While she felt no disappointment at not being able to go to the lower rooms, the thought of going to synagogue weighed heavily upon her, mainly because she knew Gideon would be there. The last time she had seen him had been through tears.