Sister’s Worries

"Of two sisters

one is always the watcher,

one the dancer." ― Louise Glück, Descending Figure

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Without knowing Mr. Anonymous's condition, Rose went back home while wondering if the man was truly alright. They didn't spend more than ten minutes and it made Rose wonder why that man continued to linger in her mind despite the brief meeting?

"It must be a concern," claimed Rose to herself. When she arrived back home, she was quickly greeted by Josie whose hair was tied in a bun. There were a few men who gathered around the fence and talked with her but once Rose appeared and Josie excused herself, the men scattered. Rose noticed how most of the men appeared to be peeved that they had to part away with Josie that caused Rose to smile.

Since she was young, Rose noticed how her sister had always been the most beautiful in the village but her sister didn't seem to notice how the men regarded her as an apple to their eyes. Being the younger of the two, instead of being jealous of her older sister's beauty like how most children would feel in her shoes, Rose rather admired her sister who would always be at the center of attention and felt proud to have her as an older sister.

"Have you delivered the letter?" Josie asked when she arrived to greet Rose who was standing near the fence.

"Perfectly. What were you talking about?" Rose then asked and her sister stopped on her heels, shaking her head.

"They were talking about Mr. Hearst again. I say, it was a very tragic accident and I think it's better if they dampened the rumors by talking less about them rather than wasting their time gossiping. Truly, I can't understand why they would like to rub other's wounds with salt when they could have helped it heal," said Josie with a roll of her eyes. "It was hard standing and hearing them saying how pitiful Mrs. Hearst is."

"People can't help but talk," answered Rose. Compared to her older sister's who often made snip remarks; Rose tends to speak more calmly as she prefers to keep things in her own mind rather than voicing it out unless necessary. "Do you think Mrs. Hearst will leave the village?"

"She won't stay here in Clovelly again for sure, after such a traumatic accident. Didn't you remember how we saw her crying and screaming until she fainted?" And Rose nodded, truly it was a very tragic accident that took the life of an innocent man.

"Sometimes other than humans, nature is frightening," said Rose and her older sister agreed with a nod.

Living in the village near the forest, their life was often threatened by wild beasts, however, with the fence, it soon stopped until the last attack on Mr. Hearst. Rose wondered what was different with the last attack and she can't help but recollect about Mrs. Eleanor and her mother's words of a larger beast that was a mixture of bear and wolf. Were there any animals that hold both characteristics of bear and wolves? wondered Rose. It couldn't be werewolves as Mrs. Eleanor had said, she thought in her mind when she heard Josie spoke,

"Then there were these absurd rumors whispered amongst the villagers."

"What absurd story?" Rose asked her older sister who then replied,

"That there are werewolves amongst us living in Clovelly," Josie said and she shrugged her shoulders after crossing her hands against her chest, "Absurd, isn't it?"

It was the same as what she had heard, thought Rose to herself.

"I think it is impossible," agreed Rose, ""I heard that Mr. Ulyss was the witness who saw when the accident took place. I don't want to doubt but if I wasn't wrong Mr. Ulyss was sick from an illness that caused his memories to be affected," Rose said as it was possible Mr. Ulyss was wrong.

"Which is why I said it was absurd. There is nothing like werewolves or things like vampires. Those are beings we only see in books and myths." Rose agreed; When they were still children they had heard whispers about night creatures, but she learned that it was all but a story human made up and that it's simply a fable.

As they got inside the house, Josie then stopped, "Um, Rose, can you help me with something?"

Rose readily offered a nod, "What kind of help?"

"It is embroidery. I plan to embroider a handkerchief," Josie said with her lips pursed, her cheeks were bright pink and Rose could made an immediate guess.

"For Mr. Harding, isn't it?" It turned Rose to be excited knowing that her sister was trying to improve the relationship between her and the man she fancied. "Is it his birthday?"

Josie bite her lips so she won't smile too wide, and nodded, "During our last talk I subtly tried to ask for his birthday and it is just right around the corner. You know how I am terrible in handiwork, don't you?"

"Then we can work at it tonight," say Rose positively and the two sisters went to continue to walk as they had stopped in the hallway. Rose had went to her room, untying her hair while Josie who seemed to remember something said,

"Speaking of which, remember the umbrellas you brought out when fetching papa? You didn't bring back one of the two."

Rose paused, recalling the man she met for who she had spared an umbrella. That day she had truly brushed a stroke with death. It was both frightening yet oddly enough not to the point where Rose would look back at it and find herself shivering in fear even though that moment should be very terrible for her. Was it because she wasn't alone at that time? Because of that unknown man. He was indeed a person who can have others to depend on them, thought Rose to herself and she replied, "It broke on the way, I threw it before walking back home."

"Hm," Josie hummed in thought while still staring at her, "You should have brought it back home, we can perhaps fix the umbrella. You know how expensive it is do you?"

"It was beyond saving," replied Rose. She could tell the truth to her sister, but knowing how Josie was, her older sister would instead scold her for giving the umbrella, which was expensive for a stranger who they won't meet again.

"If you say so. I was wondering if you had given the umbrella instead to someone in need," Rose flinched, thinking how frightening it could be for her elder sister to almost guess about her. "It's good to help others but not to the point it would cost you something. At times, cruelty is also needed to strive in this world," her sister gave her advice and perhaps Josie was correct. There was no telling what would have happened if she had insisted to save the man but she would feel very terrible and haunted by her choice if that day she chose to ignore the man.

"I know," Rose answered, veering the discussion, "Do you think Mr. Harding would hold a birthday party?"

"Only those who are privileged and of a higher class often hold birthday parties especially for males, Rosè," Josie replied, "I think he would not hold one. Though I am honestly worried."

"About what?" Rose came closer toward her sister in question.

"I heard that Lady Georgia often bought shoes from his shop. There are rumors that said they are both in a relationship," Josie's eyes sunken as she spoke.

"You don't know whether it's true," said Rose who went to support Josie. "I don't think Mr. Harding is in relationship. You can ask him if he has someone he love instead in a subtle way. People talks and unless we ask the person themselves, we can't trust what we only heard."

Josie gave a thought of what Rose said and her head nodded, "Yes, you're right. I will do that."

"Wonderful!" Rose was excited to see her sister finding her happiness as now everything seems to be going on the right path. "I will go to tell mama about the letter I've delivered."

"Mhm," Josie answered. Rose maneuvered to the door when she heard Josie spoke again, "Rose?"

"Yes?" Rose turned her face, meeting her sister's eyes with her lively green ones.

"What do you think of Mr. Harding?" Josie questioned, her eyes turning sharp and narrowed which Rose didn't notice with the subtlety.

"He is a dashing man, I suppose," and nothing else too notable, thought Rose. She didn't see how the man was special like her sister. What Rose didn't know was that Josie suspect otherwise.

"I don't mean in that way. What do you think about him as a man? Do you like him?" Josie became more forward.

When Rose met her sister's eyes, she noticed the narrowing gaze, "I don't sister, silly you," chuckled Rose who felt a bit awkward, "Why would I like the same person that you do. I support you entirely. If there is anything you wish to tell me or ask me for help, I will be there anytime for you. You are my sister after all," said Rose sincerely while holding to her sister's hands.

To Rose, her family placed first in her heart. She was someone who was selfless for herself.

Rose, however, didn't know how the words she said that afternoon would lead her to the future.

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A/N: If you found the book interesting, please do put the book in your collection, review, and vote (for the "the demon's bride" readers, you can continue to vote the book there and don't switch here) every comments, review, and vote helps the book a lot.