The Spinster & The Coquette (2 page)

“Aunt Hyacinth?” Cordelia spoke up. As she waited for her aunt to respond, she chewed on a carrot as delicately as she could.

“Yes, dear?”

“When was the last time you saw our father?” Cordelia asked. “Has it really been fifteen years? It’s such a shame that siblings should allow so much time to pass. Hester and I are so close, I could not imagine being parted for so long.”

“Your father did visit me once… perhaps five years ago? But he and I were never as close as the two of you.” A small white dog toddled into the room and sat at Hyacinth’s feet, presumably awaiting scraps from the table. His beady black eyes were mostly concealed by a tangle of fur, and his tiny pink tongue dipped below his chin as he panted. When Hyacinth ignored him, he whimpered pitifully. “Nevertheless, the infrequency of our visits is utterly inexcusable.”

“I believe our father agrees with you,” Hester said, “and he sends his apologies.”

“Does he?” Hyacinth slipped a bit of roast duck to the dog at her feet. “How is your father?”

“He is well,” Hester replied. “He is in good health.”

“And his temperament?”

“He has been a bit irked by Cordelia’s recent behavior, but other than that, he is well.” Hester’s comment earned her an angry nudge from the sister sitting beside her.

Before their aunt could press them for more information, Cordelia swiftly changed the subject. “Why is Frank not joining us for supper?”

“Oh, he never does, dear. He rarely ever leaves his room,” Hyacinth explained. “Truth be told, I was surprised he surfaced long enough to introduce himself to you.”

“Why does he hide himself from the world?” Cordelia asked.

“That is a question I have often asked myself. I shall never understand that boy… I gave up trying to understand.” Hyacinth shoved a bit of meat into her mouth and sighed as she chewed. “Perhaps you will have more luck with him than I do.”

“If anyone can get him to emerge from his shell, it is Cordelia.” Hester smiled at her sister. “She is so kind and warm that no one can resist adoring her.”

“You are too kind, Hester.” Cordelia felt a nudge on her ankle. When she looked down, she saw Hyacinth’s dog nudging her leg with his nose. “Who is this adorable fellow?”

“That is Nomad. Do not feed him, no matter how much he begs! He is already overfed, in addition to being horrendously lazy.” As the maid brought cake for dessert, Hyacinth added, “And do not, under any circumstances, feel compelled to share your cake. Sweets make him ill.”

“Will Frank get cake?” Cordelia asked.

“I daresay you seem
very
concerned about Frank, Cordelia.” Hyacinth sounded a bit vexed by that fact. “Frank will get cake when he decides to grace us with his presence. As long as he chooses to remain cloistered in his room, he should not be granted the luxury.”

Hester swore she saw Hyacinth slip some cake to the dog, even after warning them against it. She suspected her aunt wanted to be the sole owner of Nomad’s heart. To her sister, Hester whispered, “Our aunt is a bit… eccentric? Or am I imagining it?”

“A bit,” Cordelia quietly agreed. “I am relieved to hear you say that. Not long ago, you were chiding me for my less than favorable opinion of her.”

“You seem to be very good girls. Very good indeed.” Hyacinth narrowed her eyes and added, “And as good girls, you should know better than to whisper amongst yourselves. It is terribly rude!”

“Oh… I am very sorry, Aunt,” Cordelia was quick to apologize. “I… I was simply telling Hester I would prefer to eat my cake in our room. I am feeling a bit light-headed, you see, and I would like to lie down for a bit.”

“Is that so?” Hyacinth’s bushy eyebrow was raised. “Of course, you may excuse yourself at any time.”

As soon as she was granted leave, Cordelia sprang from her chair and seized her sister’s arm. “You would not be offended if Hester goes with me?”

“Not at all.” Hyacinth’s words were accompanied by a smile, though it was tight-lipped and obviously false. “Though I will not say I am hurt by your early exit, I do hope that tomorrow you will stay for supper in its entirety?”

“Of course.” Cordelia practically dragged her sister from her chair. “Good night, Aunt Hyacinth.”

The sisters fled from the room, and as soon as they were alone, Hester hissed, “Why the sudden urgency? It was as if you could not leave quickly enough!”

“I wanted to offer my cake to Frank.” Cordelia gripped her plate in both hands as they headed down the hall. “Our aunt seems a bit cruel in her treatment of him. Don’t you think he would like some cake as well?”

“I… haven’t the slightest idea,” Hester replied.

“Well, I believe he
would
like cake. Sacrificing my cake is a very kind gesture, and I would like to establish myself as a friend.”

“And how do you plan to deliver the cake? Shall we visit him in his room?”

“Pre-precisely…” Cordelia sounded a bit reluctant, as if she had not taken the time to consider the thought.

“Does that not strike you as a bit improper… visiting a young man in his bedchamber?”

“He is not just
any
young man, Hester. He is our cousin!”

“He is no blood relation of ours.”

“True enough. But he is only a boy.”

“He’s nineteen,” Hester objected. “Practically a man.”

“If you are so averse to the idea, Hes, you need not accompany me.” When they arrived at Frank’s door, Cordelia raised a fist to knock, but hesitated.

“And leave you with a young man…
alone
? Perish the thought!” Though she ceased her argument, Hester crossed her arms in silent protest. She knew her sister would not be dissuaded once she set her mind to something. “What makes you think he would be willing to receive us? Hyacinth
did
say he preferred his solitude.”

Before her sister could respond, the door opened. Propped up by his walking sticks, Frank appeared in the doorway. “Pardon the interruption,” he began, “but I heard a bit of your conversation, and I am almost certain that Hyacinth has made me out to be a hermit of the highest order.”

“This is already the second time you have spied on us,” Cordelia noted. “Do you always eavesdrop on the conversations of others?”

“I am really not an eavesdropper… the walls are very thin. Besides, I believe I have every right to defend myself.” Frank wandered away from the doorway, granting them entry. After hobbling to his bed, he turned around and watched them enter with a bemused expression on his face. “So, to what do I owe this… pleasure?”

Hester did not miss the sarcasm in his voice, but Cordelia’s spirits were unsinkable. She held out her plate to him and exclaimed, “we brought you cake!”

“Did you?” He accepted the proffered plate with a sigh. “That is very… kind of you.”

“And I thought, perhaps, you might like a companion. Or, as the case may be,
two
companions!” Cordelia smiled at her sister as she spoke. “I was under the impression you were a bit lonely, and I daresay my sister and I are very good company!”

“I have no compunctions about living in self-imposed solitude,” Frank insisted. “Nevertheless, it is refreshing to enjoy the company of those who are much closer to my age than Hyacinth.”

“I am not so close in age to you, I am afraid.” Hester gently stroked the lines around her eyes—she was certain they gave away her age. “I am more than a decade older than you.”

“Are you? I never would have guessed. You look very young, Miss Waverly.”

“The general opinion of society is that it is preferable to look young and silly than old and wise, so I should thank you for what is apparently a compliment.” Hester, who was often thought of as a stern woman, flashed a rare smile at the young man sitting in front of her. “And please, call me Hester.”

“And I would prefer to be called Cordelia, especially by someone who is practically family!” the younger sister chimed in.

“Very well.” When Frank took a bite of his cake, his hand shook slightly. Hester wondered if he was nervous or if his condition plagued him with unintentional trembling. “I shall endeavor to do so.”

“Do you really never leave your room?” Cordelia asked. “
Never
?”

“I am not as hermitic as your aunt would have you believe. I simply have no reason to venture outside.”

“Perhaps you should look for a reason?”

Cordelia thought she was offering encouragement, but her words brought a frown to Frank’s lips. “The world hasn’t been very welcoming to me. People, in general, have not been very kind to me. I find that, in most cases, they are not worth the effort.”

“It sounds as if you’ve had terrible luck with people, but Hester and I are very kind! Will you join us tomorrow in the garden? If we could have your company, I would like that very much!”

Frank stared at his cake as he murmured his answer. “I would rather not.”

“Perhaps I should put it another way.” Cordelia raised her chin defiantly and said, “You
will
join us tomorrow in the garden!”

Frank’s eyes narrowed, silently challenging her. “Will I?”

“Yes! You shall!” Cordelia’s lips dipped into a practiced pout, simultaneously precious and pitiful. “I would be so very disappointed if you refused!”

“Well, I would certainly hate to disappoint you, Cordelia.” Frank turned toward the older sister, whose slight smile was somewhat reassuring. “If you insist on having my company tomorrow, I will find it within myself to be there.”

“It is very kind of you to cede to my sister’s demands. When Cordelia gets an idea in her mind, she never relents. She is very… formidable.” Hester took her sister’s arm and tried to steer her in the direction of the door. “Now, we have burdened you long enough, and we should take our leave.”

“But we only just arrived!” Cordelia protested. “Why don’t we—”

“Enjoy your evening, Frank.” Hester gave her sister the lightest push. “And more importantly… enjoy your cake. We shall see you tomorrow.”

When they were alone again, heading in the direction of their own room, Cordelia said, “He’s quite handsome, isn’t he?”

“
Frank
?”

“Yes! Frank! Why do you sound surprised? It should be obvious! He has very pretty brown eyes.”

“I suppose I can see the appeal. But he is
very
young.”

“Perhaps
you
are very old?” Cordelia countered darkly. “Oh, Hes, do not look so cross! You know I am only teasing you!”

“Are you?” Hester hardly sounded convinced.

“I am! And as for Frank, I find myself intrigued. ” Cordelia gave her sister a playful nudge. “Perhaps our time in Plymouth will not be so very dreadful after all.”

“Are you absolutely certain you should sit on the ground, Mr. Boswell?” Hester asked. “If it is easier, I am sure we could find a bench or—”

“I am fine, I assure you.” Frank was already lowering himself to the ground. “It is really no trouble at all.”

“But surely it is much less difficult to rise from a bench? The ground is so very… low.”

“The ground is
low
?” Cordelia threw back her head and cackled loudly. “I don’t believe I have ever heard a more obvious observation. My sister’s nonsensical utterances are most amusing! I am sure Frank does not need you to fret over him, Hester. I am sure he knows what he is capable of.”

Nevertheless, Hester’s brow was pinched with concern. If walking was such a labor for him, she was worried he would be unable to rise from such a low position.

“Your sister’s concern is touching… in a way,” Frank said. “I am more concerned as to why she has reverted to calling me Mr. Boswell.”

“My apologies.” Hester sat on the ground beside Frank and watched him set his walking sticks aside. “I am not accustomed to being on such familiar terms with men, particularly men with whom I have not been very long acquainted.”

“My sister is so fussy today!” Cordelia grumbled as she sat on the other side of Frank. “Clearly she has gotten too old.”

“Too old for what, exactly?” Hester asked.

“Too old to appreciate spontaneity,” Cordelia explained, “too old to be swayed by whims.”

“I would rather
not
be swayed by whims!”

Cordelia pulled a basket onto her lap and extracted the fruit she packed. She tossed an apple to Frank and handed her sister a pear. “I’m assuming you like apples?” The question was directed at Frank, who had already bitten the apple to its core.

“Indeed. Is there anyone who doesn’t like apples?”

“My sister,” Cordelia said. “She detests apples… and yet she loves pears. Is that not the most absurd thing you have ever heard? They taste entirely the same!”

“They most certainly
do not
taste the same!” Hester objected. “Pears are much softer, sweeter, and less bitter.”

“They taste the same,” the younger sister quietly insisted. While they bickered over fruit, Cordelia reached into the basket and claimed a peach.

“Very well… perhaps they are not
so
dissimilar. I believe my aversion to apples may stem from having once bitten into a large worm that was living inside of one!”

“That sounds dreadful,” Frank said.

“It
was
dreadful! It was the sort of thing you never forget, even though it happened to me as a child.” Hester’s teeth sank into her pear and she took a moment to chew. “I also have a terrible fear of spiders. If I see one, do not be alarmed if I run away very quickly.”

“My sister is afraid of many things,” Cordelia said. “Ghosts.”

“If you were subjected to the same ghostly encounters as me, you would fear them too!” Hester defended herself.

“Water.”

“Only if the water is very deep. I nearly drowned in a lake when I was a child. You cannot blame me for being apprehensive!”

“Snakes.”

“Honestly, Cordelia, that one is unfair! Is there anyone who is not at least somewhat afraid of snakes?”

“You should not be ashamed of your fears, Hester,” Frank defended her. “Fears make you cautious, and it is always wise to err on the side of caution.”

“Thank you, Frank.” Hester saw movement in the grass, and it took her a moment to spot the very large, black beetle ambling between the blades. She watched it for several seconds and hoped it did not come closer. She felt no need to confess that spiders were not the only bug she feared. As soon as the beetle disappeared and her pear was consumed, she reached for the book she brought with her. “Do you like to read?”