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When Madeleine reached them, they did not exchange any words but mounted their horses quickly, commanding them at a steady canter. They found their horses full of energy, completing the trail much more quickly then they had began it. The ride itself was silent; Madeleine noticed that both Helena and the servant were glancing at her somewhat oddly. The wanted to ask about her helping the young man with the packages, but they didn't know how to go about it, Madeleine guessed. She did not want to challenge that.
“Do you think Sarah will have started to worry?” Madeleine finally asked her sister as they were approaching the premises of their estate.
“I think we should be fine.”
Helena seemed to forget about the man nearly the second after they put their horses in the stables and went back into the house, as the first thing she noticed was the overwhelming smell of food coming from the kitchen. “It smells delicious,” she told her sister. “I wonder when it will be ready.”
“I as well,” Madeleine said, who was beginning to notice how hungry she seemed to be.
“Probably soon.”
Across the hall they noticed a servant dusting a table. “You,” Madeleine called, getting her attention. “Can you go into the kitchen and tell Sarah that Helena and I are home and that we'll be in my bedroom?”
The servant nodded without saying a word. She placed the rag neatly on the table and left toward the kitchen.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes, let's,” Helena said. “Can I go into the parlor and get my blanket?”
“Sure,” Madeleine said. “I will go up to my room and you can find me there once you've gotten it. Unless,” she added jokingly, “you've forgotten where it is.”
Helena laughed a little. “I haven't been gone that long.”
Madeleine smiled in return and started toward her room. When she got in, she ran toward her bed and nearly jumped on it, embracing its warmth and comfort. She gazed up at the silk fabric,lime green in color, that was draped over the top of her bed, and she thought about everything that happened so far to her today.
Helena was home; Madeleine could still scarcely believe it. She was looking forward to spending more time with her sister in the coming weeks – just like when they were young. When she would eventually leave and go back to her husband, she wouldn't despair, because there was a baby that would make Madeleine an aunt. She did not doubt that Helena would make time to see them when her baby was born. Despite everything, however, Madeleine could not help but notice that her sister's behavior on the ride had seemed rather odd. The way she had snapped at her and yelled when she wanted to help the man; it just didn't seem like her. Helena did that way sometimes, like she was ages older then Madeleine. There was only about two and a half years of difference—Madeleine would be eighteen in April, and Helena would be twenty come December. However, it never seemed to be to that extent. Madeleine started to wonder if it was because of Helena's marriage, but the thought dropped quickly from her mind; it was not right for her to think about things like that.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Helena's entrance into the room. She was carrying her blanket in one hand and the box with the spools of thread in the other; she had a smile on her face. “I think I've decided what I would like to do with the blanket,” she said.
“What do you want to do?”
“Well,” she said, sitting down on the bed and spreading out the blanket between them. “I was thinking of pinstripes.” She started to rummage a bit through her box before finally pulling out thread that was deep maroon in color. “You see, I think I'm going to make them maroon. It will be easy to do, and it will turn out a nice neutral pattern yet will still be pretty.”
Madeleine smiled. She could visualize the finished blanket now; her sister had always been a magnificent sewer, and she could make the hardest patterns seem like nothing. Madeleine herself was alright at it, but was nothing compared to her sister. “I will trust your judgment,” she said.
“I had another idea, Madeleine,” Helena said.
“What?”
“Did I tell you that I brought my violin?”
“You want to play with me?” Madeleine could feel her face becoming hot. It was not that she didn't want to play with her sister; this was not the case at all. But she did not like doing it, for what seemed, in her mind, to be a rather frivolous reason. The fact was that her sister was much better then her; she always had been from the minute they each began playing. Playing the violin next to her sister made her feel weak and humiliated.
“Well, yes, but I had something specific in mind as well. Madeleine,” Helena said. “What would you think if we were to pick out two or three songs and practice them? When Father and George return, we can surprise them with a performance before I have to go back.”
“That might be nice,” Madeleine said. “Would you want to do this by ourselves? We might be able to get Mr. Kent to help; instead of our traditional music lessons we could have him help us practice! I'm sure that he would be very happy to see you again.”
“I wasn't thinking of that,” Helena replied, her cheeks becoming somewhat rosy. “But I do suppose that it could work. It would be just like old times; I miss taking my lessons with you.”
“Alright,” Madeleine said. “When lessons recommence on Monday, I will bring you with me. Mr. Kent could help us select what songs we want to perform.”
Helena responded by bringing her sister in a tight embrace. “Thank you, Madeleine,” she said. “I'm so glad you want to do this with me. It means a lot.”
Madeleine let escape a slight laugh; she could feel her cheeks becoming red once more. It wouldn't be that bad, she thought. She wouldn't try to let it bother her, and instead focus on the fact that they would be having fun and spending time together.
And so they did. Because it was still Saturday and lessons did not recommence until Monday, Helena brought out her violin and played a few simple, short tunes for her sister. Madeleine took out her violin and did the same; the rest of the weekend passed by lazily after that. Helena worked on her blanket and they went for two more rides with their horses.
Then Monday came and when Madeleine went to her music lesson, Mr. Kent was, just as she had guessed, happy to see Helena. They relayed their plan to him and he quickly found two perfect pieces for them to play. One was calm, soft, relaxing – almost like a lullaby. The other was slightly faster, louder and majestic. It seemed like something that would be used to salute a hero.
Once the songs had been selected, the actual lesson was a somewhat mystical experience for Madeleine; it was like taking a trip back in time. Even though what they were doing now wasn't technically considered to be a lesson, they were still playing together at the same time period they always used to. She didn't have to worry much about her sister upstaging her as it was the first time for both of them that they played the music and were still learning it.
The rest of the week passed by somewhat lazily. While Madeleine went to her morning lessons, Helena rested in her bedroom or continued to sew. They joined each other for lunch, rode their horses and then came back to go to the music lessons; in the evenings they relaxed in the parlor. By the weekend Madeleine was beginning to grow very relaxed and enjoying the simple way that they were living. Her favorite part was when they rode their horses; they would laugh, talk and just have fun. It really made Madeleine miss her sister, and each day, in the back of her mind, she knew that she would dread the day when she would have to go back.
That Saturday morning, Madeleine was alone in the parlor, reading. Helena was still sleeping – she often slept until ten-thirty or eleven. She explained that her pregnancy tired her out. Sarah had made glazed buns and had brought them into the parlor; Madeleine was just taking a bite into one when she heard the door-knocker come from the front. Someone was there. She paid no mind to it at first, figuring a servant would get it. But no one did, and the door-knocker sounded again. Madeleine sighed and got up to answer the door. Her eyebrows were raised when she realized who it was.
He was young and his hair was unkempt and light brown. His clothes were clean and unsoiled, but simple. He was carrying a white package made of the same material as before, except this time it was bigger and he carried only one instead of four. Madeleine also noticed something that she hadn't noticed about him before – his eyes. They were gray, but definitely not in an ordinary sense. They were glistening, almost silver.
“Hi.”
“Hello,” the man from the beach replied, “The candle holders are done.” He motioned to the package he was carrying. “I just came over to deliver them. Is your father home? I need to collect his payment.”
“Oh, no,” Madeleine said softly. Why hadn't she processed what he had said at the beach last week and told him that her father wouldn't be home for quite a while? “I'm sorry, no.”
“Oh,” he said blankly. “Do you know when he'll be back?”
“No.” He sighed and buried his face into the box. Instantly, Madeleine felt guilty for not telling him earlier and making him come all the way to her home for nothing. “I'm very sorry,” she said, “I should have told you before, but I just wasn't thinking.”
“It's quite alright,” he said. “What if I come back this Wednesday or Thursday? And if your father isn't back by then, we can arrange another time, alright?”
“Alright,” she said, “That sounds wonderful. However, you know what I just realized? I don't know your name.”
He laughed. “It's Matthew Simmons.”
“I like that name,” Madeleine said.
“Thank you,” Matthew said. He waved and started to head out, but then he turned back. “Would you like to see what the candle holders look like? I spent a long while making them.”
“Okay,” she said. Matthew opened the package, and instantly Madeleine was stunned. The silver had been very intricately shaped, with little floral designs stretching up the the sides. “Oh, it's beautiful. It's beautiful.”
Matthew smiled. “And soon they will be yours.”
“You're very talented, sir,” Madeleine said, noticing that her cheeks felt hot.
“Thank you,” he said, “Well, Madeleine, I must get going. Have a good day.”
“Yes,” Madeleine replied, “Good day to you, Matthew.” As he disappeared down the pathway, out the gates and into the town, Madeleine couldn't help but sigh.
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