Heartache and Waiting

In the days that followed Max wrote Aurelia so many letters claiming his love for me and how sorry he was about Evelina's meddling.

I hardly ate or slept and my siblings were worried about me and my future. Thankfully they were on my side but had to keep up appearances for the sake of our family's reputation.

Evelina would not stop tormenting me and trying to ruin my life. I paced my room as I tried to decide how to put out this most recent fire.

She thankfully didn't see the part right before we started to hug again so that was in my favor, however being in a room alone as an unmarried couple was ruinous in its own ways.

Winona came out of my bathing room and looked at me worriedly.

"Miss can you please stop pacing," Winona pleaded. "It won't change what has happened."

"You know this is how I like to think," I mumbled, irritated she said anything to me about it. "I have the options of stooping to Evelina's level and telling everyone what she did to Jacob or I rise above the situation like nothing ever happened."

"It shall be a tough choice to make, both have their dangers."

"Hence why I am pacing the room," I said curtly. "Can you please bring my sister to me?"

Winona nodded her head and was gone to look for Willa. By the time the door shut and I was alone again I was in tears. The cold streaks of wet trails down my face made me shiver.

I laid down on my chaise and buried my face in the pillows. I sobbed until Willa's gentle knock at the door revealed her face.

"My dear, what a mess," My sister said gently. "Evelina really has it out for you huh?"

"I am supposed to be engaged this week but I somehow don't think that will happen now," I blubbered. "I want Evelina to pay for what she did to Max and me."

Willa nodded in agreement and held my hand tightly while rubbing my back. We sat like this for some time until Ben waltzed in the room without a knock.

"Sisters, don't look so sad," Ben cajoled. "Aurelia, things will turn right in the end, I can feel it."

I glared at my older brother with contempt. "Until I hear from Max I will have no idea what my future now holds."

~

I was a mess for the next several days, I barely left my room let alone my bed. My siblings tried to cheer me up to no avail. Which is when they understood the difference between my feelings from Jacob to Max.

I was over the news of Jacob marrying Evelina within about three days, it had been almost a week since I had heard from Max and I was worried that he didn't want to marry me.

I didn't want to marry anyone else but Max.