Eliza let out a long sigh. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“I don’t want to marry.” Eliza let out a long, jaw splitting yawn.
Her sister held her tighter. “And what will you do instead?”
“Be an adventurer.”
Isabella’s breath blew into the back of Eliza’s hair. “Then I shall miss you terribly while you’re gone. I always knew you were the strength of this family. So like father.”
Was she leaving her family like he’d done? “I’m not like him,” Eliza fired back. “I’m here when my family needs me. I’ve always been here. He left me to do his work years ago.”
Isabella squeezed her sister harder. “I meant that you have his spirit. And you’re right. We’ve been so lucky to have you to protect us. You deserve whatever future you dream of and I’ll support you no matter what.”
Her shoulders sagged. Why didn’t those words sit well with Eliza?
She wanted to go away, didn’t she?
But as her sister pressed close, she thought for the first time about how much she’d miss her family. How much family meant to her. Had always meant. What if they needed her while she was gone? What if they didn’t?
They’d have husbands. Children.
And she’d miss them, she realized. She’d been so focused on breaking free she hadn’t considered what she’d lose.
“Isabella.” She looked back at her sister. “Your kindness is as deep as your strength.”
“So is yours.” Then her sister slipped from the bed. “I’ve gotten it all warm for you. It’s time for you to sleep. When you wake, you’ll tell me everything, won’t you?”
“Absolutely,” she answered, closing her eyes. She couldn’t keep them open another second. “Thanks for being patient.”
Isabella chuckled. “Look at you. How could I not?”
Then Eliza pried her eyes open and lifted her head. “If I tell you, will you share with Emily and Abigail? I don’t think…” She wasn’t sure she had the strength today to tell her sisters they couldn’t court, something they’d been enjoying a great deal, and that they’d lost their father.
Isabella gave her a tight nod. “Whatever you need.”
Eliza shook her head before laying back down on her pillow.
In the past few months, Isabella had become Eliza’s rock.
Her sister’s loving presence had filled Eliza in her weaker moments. Like now. “Thank you.” Then she lifted up, pushing her hands down in the mattress. “I love you.”
Isabella stopped and then turned back, crossing the room and tossing her arms around Eliza. “I love you too.” She held her sister tight. “No matter what you just learned, you know we’re going to get through this together. Right?”
Silly tears sprang to her eyes again.
Perhaps Eliza wasn’t as strong as she’d always believed. She certainly wasn’t now. But that’s what family was for. Would this have all been different if her father had believed in their bond? If he’d confided in them? Stayed and faced things together?
She eased back from Isabella. “You are the best sister a woman could ask for.”
“The feeling’s mutual.” Isabella gave her one last squeeze. “Go to sleep. We’ll talk in a few hours.”
Eliza nodded and slid down into the bed. Sleep overtook her before the door had even closed.
Dylan woke trying to figure out where the hell he was. He sat up and looked around, scrubbing his eyes.
Then he remembered.