“We love having you here,” Fiona said.
I certainly did.
“Flynn was by earlier.” Cymbeline held up her cards for Fiona to choose one. “He wondered if you wanted to come out for dinner tomorrow night. Shannon’s feeling much better.”
I glanced at Louisa. Dinner with Flynn and Shannon? Would she want to do so? I’d ask her later when we were alone. “I’m glad Shannon’s feeling better.”
“Me too,” Fiona said. “She’s normally such so robust. Flynn told us she couldn’t keep food down if it was before noon.”
“Another reason not to get married,” Cymbeline said under her breath.
“Mama gave Lizzie and Mrs. Wu the night off since it’s so hot. We’re having sandwiches for dinner,” Fiona said. “Out here on the porch.”
Sandwiches for dinner? That gave me an idea. “Louisa, would you like to go out to the lodge for dinner?”
“The lodge? I’d love to. I’ve never been.” Her face lit up for a second, followed by disappointment. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
“We have something you can borrow,” Fiona said. “Right, Cym?”
“Golly yes, between the two of us, I’m sure we can find something.” Cymbeline tugged one of two of Louisa’s remaining cards.
“If you’re sure, then yes. How exciting. Only look.” Louisa set down her last card. “I’m the old maid.”
Not if I had anything to do with it.
14
&nb
sp; Louisa
* * *
After finishing up playing cards, Cymbeline and Fiona said they were going up to rest for a while before supper but said to come up in an hour to pick out a dress from their closets. Even Cymbeline seemed worn out from the heat.
I went to check on Mother. I found her and Quinn in the sitting room talking quietly together. The little girls were there as well, reading on the window seat. They faced each other, one on each end, with their feet entangled. The two younger sisters were as close as Cymbeline and Fiona obviously were. A tinge of envy hit me. I should have liked to have siblings. If I married Theo, they would all be mine. I’d be part of a big, bickering, beautiful family. Mother too, if it came to fruition. I put that thought aside to focus on the present.
“Hello, Louisa,” Quinn said. “Is everything all right? You have a pensive expression on your face.”
“Yes, everything’s fine.” I walked over to where they were sitting across from each other on the couches. “Mother, is it all right if I go to the lodge for dinner with Theo?”
“You don’t have to ask my permission, dear.” Mother patted my hand that rested on the arm of the sofa. “You’re a grown-up lady.”
“Have you been before?” Quinn asked.
“No, I haven’t. I’m happy to be asked.” I flushed, suddenly shy.
“What will you wear?” Mother’s brow creased. “You don’t have anything formal enough, I don’t think.”
“The girls said I could borrow a dress from them. We’re all about the same size.”
“We should get you fitted for an evening dress of your own,” Quinn said. “You’ll need something for the fall and winter seasons.”
“No, thank you. We’re enough of a burden.” How could I ask them to pay for a wardrobe when they were letting us live with them for nothing? I didn’t like charity. “I have everything I need. It’s not like I’ll be out every night.”
“There’s no place to go, for one,” Quinn said with a laugh. “But what about the end-of-summer party? You’ll need a dress for it, won’t you?”
“I have one,” I said. The same dress I’d worn the year before and the year before that. Why hadn’t I realized how tight our finances had become? I’d been too worried about Mother’s health to care much about what I was wearing. I should have been concerned about Father’s, too. I should have been learning a skill. All of this had slipped by me. I’d acted like a child, oblivious to what was right in front of me.