He ran off with it, I took after him, and Milly took after me. I dare say, we shocked more than one bystander on the street with our behavior – but it was fun. By the time I caught up with him in the garden behind the hotel Milly had given up the chase and I was out of breath. Elijah looked as though he had just taken a leisurely stroll. He was pleased with himself beyond measure.
I warned him that I would tell his Grandmother about his boyish behavior and he reluctantly consented to return my shawl to me. He has been teasing me like this since I was six. Only, back then, I was less concerned with decorum and could chase him down.
He took my arm and we walked around the little garden as we waited for Milly. His company, when he is not behaving badly, is usually very comforting. This time he seemed distracted.
He stayed silent for a few moments then said he had seen the announcement of my engagement in the paper. He told me I should have waited for him. I laughed and said it would be unseemly to be engaged to my own dear brother. I meant it as a joke and he laughed, but it didn't sound natural. Then he said there was no possible way I could be his sister. I think he was just about to say something else when Milly came around the corner.
We spent the rest of the afternoon together. Milly and Elijah did most of the talking. She informed him of all the arrangements that had been made. He asked a lot of polite questions between teasing Milly and me.
It was a very entertaining afternoon. I felt like a little girl myself. The shopping, laughing, cheerful conversation has put me into a wonderful mood. Everything seems much brighter and more beautiful – especially my future.
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on Wednesday, November 11, 2009
at Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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The diary of Elizabeth Whetherby - A gothic mystery.
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