During breakfast, one person was missing.
"Where's Roy?" Isa asked when she, her sisters, Celina, and Jack sat down.
"Yes, where is my brother?" Celina asked.
Lucy and Minnie looked up as well and waited for Jack to answer.
"To tell you the truth, I have no idea, and it scares me. I have not heard any news but Roy outranks my officer position as a lieutenant so he might hear things before I do. He received news this morning that he could not share with us and left."
Celina dropped her silver cutlery on the table. "Oh my God. Brother, tell me that nothing bad will happen. Or will there?" Celina asked with frightened eyes. "What if war comes? And you and Roy--"
"Let's just stay calm. There might be nothing, perhaps he was just summoned for something else."
Lucy looked at Isa and she saw the worry in her older sister's eyes as well. What if there really was a war coming? Why would Roy just leave like that?
"Ok, I'll wait to worry until I know the time for worrying is there," Celina said. "Let us eat."
~
The carriage ride home wasn't a long one, because the Wilson's land was next to the Dearhorn's land, but Lucy almost couldn't keep her eyes open.
"Lucy."
"Hm?"
"My God, you look so tired, have you slept that bad? " Minnie asked.
Lucy thought back about last night. The truth was she hardly slept at all. Luckily none of the girls had missed her during the night. Before the sun came up, she had crawled back, satisfied beyond needs...
"Oh, I didn't sleep that well, but I'll just catch up tonight. You know I never sleep so well in another bed," Lucy replied.
The redhead looked out of the window and smiled, knowing who was in the carriage that followed hers. In the near distance, she saw her house already and it didn't take long before they stopped in front of it.
"There are my girls again." Mama Dearhorn came rushing outside the moment Lucy and her sisters stepped out of the carriage.
"Hello, mama," Isa replied.
"How was it?" Mother asked while they walked inside. "Are you hungry? Would you girls want some soup?"
"It was super fun and yes, mama, we would like some soup," Minnie spoke for all three.
~
That night, Scarlett was very strict and she said that Lucy needed a good night of sleep. She said that the younger one looked even paler than before. Lucy had objected but in the end, Scarlett got her way, like she often got and Lucy had to admit she slept like a baby. When she'd woken up it was Scarlett's smile she first saw. There was no better way to start the day.
It was afternoon now and Lucy was busy painting a portrait of the other and she was happy with the outcome but Scarlett shouldn't spoil it now. This was the first time she tried to paint a portrait, instead of a landscape or a still life. She had to admit that her first attempt was pretty good. Of course, her muse was so beautiful that she could hardly ruin any portrait of her.
"Scarlett..." Lucy shook her head.
"Yes?"
"You need to sit still."
"Oh...such a commander you are, Lucy... So strict. What will you do to me if I don't listen to you then?" Scarlett teased. "Will you punish me?"
Lucy looked up from her canvas. "Scarlett, please...stop." The older woman giggled and smelled the red flowers she held in her hands. "I just need a little moment longer. I know that when I'm done with this painting, you'll like it a lot," Lucy explained.
She understood that sitting for hours wasn't fun but Scarlett was the one who had suggested it, so now she simply had to fulfill the task.
"Ok, ok," Scarlett said and sighed. She was silent for a while until she said, "so, this Roy... I have seen him at last. He's the man that showed interest in you, is he not...?"
Why did Scarlett want to talk about Roy? "He did, yes. But he knows he shouldn't pay attention to me anymore."
"He's a handsome man," Scarlett said. "Don't you agree?"
"I suppose he is..." Lucy looked up from the canvas again. "Why are you asking about him?"
"What do you mean?" Scarlett asked, smelling the flowers again.
"Ask me if I find him attractive. Telling me that he's handsome."
"Well, he is handsome."
"Are you trying to make me jealous?" Lucy asked.
Scarlett started to laugh. "No, why would you think that? It was just an observation. He's a handsome man and quite a good catch being a lieutenant and a rich man. Successful, respected, crazy about you..."
"Well, he is not the person for me."
"Because you want to live with me?" Scarlett asked. "Lucy... You know we are no option together for your future..."
"Damn it, Scarlett, now I've ruined the painting!" Lucy cursed when she accidentally brushed a line too thick, that shouldn't be there. She instantly regretted her words. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you."
Scarlett stood up and walked towards her mistress, laying her hands on top of Lucy's head and gently caressing the soft hair.
"You didn't ruin it. The painting is very beautiful," the older man praised.
"Well, it was better before you started asking things and saying things... Now it's not so lovely anymore..."
Lucy knew that what Scarlett just said was right, but that didn't mean she wanted to hear any word of it. She'll just simply never marry any man and Scarlett will be her maid forever and ever!
"Nonsense, it's still lovely. You have a unique talent."
"Thank you." The younger turned around and wrapped her arms around Scarlett's waist, hugging her while laying her head against Scarlett's stomach.
"But about what I said, the things that upset you...you know I'm right about them." Scarlett wrapped her arms around Lucy too.
"I know you are. It's not like I don't want to marry Roy because I don't like him. I know he's a fine man. I just don't like him the way that I like you... You know? And that's why I don't want to marry him because I like him as a person and I feel he's worth more than that. He deserves a woman that loves him truly."
"Love can grow," Scarlett whispered.
Lucy let go and leaned back. "It feels like you want me to marry someone else!"
"Oh, little Lucy..."
Now the younger was even more irritated. She stood up, grabbed the painting, and pushed it in Scarlett's hands. "Here, this is for you. I'll go out for a walk."
"Lucy!" Scarlett yelled while Lucy walked away. "I just want you to be realistic and look at your options."
Lucy slammed the door and went outside, clearing her head. While she walked into the garden, tears rolled over her cheeks. This was the first time they argued. It was also the first time that she didn't like Scarlett.
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