Forever Elle (Regency Romance) by Heather Chapman

Author:Heather Chapman [Chapman, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Victorian Era, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Christian Stories, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Beautiful & Feisty
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: 2018-12-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

THOMAS ALLRED HAD OFFICIALLY ASKED TO court Clara. She had announced it at dinner the previous night. The news came as no surprise; the details of their backyard kiss burned in my memory each time I saw Thomas and Clara beside one another. It had only been a matter of time. Yet it stung. Would we sisters be forever distant? If I did not recover Clara’s confidence soon, would it ever happen?

Restlessness became me. I was losing Clara indefinitely. I might have already lost her. She sat across from me, sipping her soup.

The late winter sun had finally peeked through the dining windows. I glanced at my midday meal of leftover potato soup and rolls and cleared my throat.

She smiled. The year since our arrival had been good to her. She had grown even more beautiful, but it was a solemn, subtle, and sweet beauty—all things I had never equated with Clara before this year. She had once been lively, joyful, lighthearted. “Is Julia coming over today? It seems you are never without her,” she said.

“Not today,” I said. I pressed my lips together and summoned my courage. “Are you planning on marrying Thomas?”

Clara started. “What a thing to ask, Elizabeth.”

“It is just that we never speak anymore, not like we used to.” I inhaled.

Clara folded her arms across her chest. “I am sorry.”

I swallowed and shook my head. “Do you blame me for leaving home?”

“No.”

My throat grew itchy and hoarse. Emotion teetered at the edge of my lashes. I blinked a few times. “I will not deny it; it is my fault.”

Clara reached across the table. “Father sent us here to better our education. You must not believe it was to punish us.”

“Then what has happened? We used to tell each other everything. Back in the valley, I would climb into your bed, and we would talk late into the night. You would tell stories, and I would ask questions. But something has changed. Even now, I feel as if we are strangers. Why will you not talk to me the way you used to?” I held my breath. The words had flowed far faster than I could have anticipated.

Her brows curved downward. “It has nothing to do with you—that I can promise you.” She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes. “It is difficult to explain, but something has changed. It has been excruciating and isolating and utterly confusing.”

“What has?” I asked. My chest burned, and I dreaded what would follow if I did not restrain myself. “What has been so hard for you? Truly, I have no idea what you have endured, because you never speak of it.”

Tears slid down her cheeks and dropped to her collar. “The internal struggles, of course. I am sure you think me weak. I have tried to be happy. But there are days when putting one foot in front of the other is all I can do. It is only around Thomas that I feel at ease.”

I swallowed, wishing she had not added that last part about him.

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