I Will Love You

Chapter 5

Diana was right when she said the library was amazing, she’s really charming, and the amount of books you have here, the moment I stepped into that room, it was like I was in heaven, with so many recognized authors and with so many amazing works that I’ve always been curious to read. This is definitely the best of the house and I don’t need to know any more, I already plan to spend my whole stay here.

The windows of the room overlook the back part of the house, a beautiful open field with what I assume is a stable and some trees delimiting its space.

More surprising than the library and its beauty, I was left with the literary knowledge of Nicholas in presenting me two different works, with different premises. I decided to start in English literature with Emma, from Miss Austen, it seems to me an exciting adventure of a woman who likes to be a matchmaker, but faces some disagreements.

Some of the library books are very dusty, which shows that almost never anyone comes here, leaving the place completely abandoned, but I am willing to change that and visit the room many times.

I hear footsteps approaching and I discard being one of the boys, after recognizing the sound of Diana’s usual heels. I divert my attention from Emma’s initial plot to the door, where my sister appears with a beautiful smile on her face.

- In the way?

- No! - I say calmly.

Diana then enters the library looking around, she probably stepped here once or twice, considering her lack of interest in reading.

- I’m sorry about lunch. - My sister says sitting in the armchair that some time ago was occupied by Nicholas.- Dinner was to be a surprise.

- All right. - Calm down. - I loved the surprise, even if I haven’t received it yet.

I close the book and put it on the table, next to the first option that Nicholas offered me to read.

- If you want we can go to the center to order a dress for you! - Diana offers. - Actually I need an excuse to leave home and go for a walk, maybe meet some acquaintances...

Since lunch, despite the distractions, I keep thinking that Diana lives in a sad and unhappy home, where her only companions are the employees, considering that she doesn’t have much affinity with her brother-in-law. I’m sure I’ll feel much better knowing that somehow I helped her breathe quietly away from this bad weather.

- Of course, I would love to. - I agree.- I really need a new dress.

- Perfect, I’ll tell Sipp and have Maddie send someone to dust this place off while we’re gone.

Diana gets up and walks lively. I didn’t lie in a way, I really need a new outfit, especially if it’s for a welcome home dinner where I imagine all of Diana’s high society friends will be here.

I get up right after your departure, picking up Jane Austen’s book, to let you inmy room, so that when I have time I continued my reading. I leave the library listening to the voices coming from the room next door, ignore and follow my way to the room that I still don’t know which is mine, but I trust that my memory will help me. After climbing the stairs, I turn right in the corridor and choose the third door, as I open it smiling seeing exactly everything I saw earlier from my room. I place the book on the table next to the bed, while I repeat mentally as a mantra "third door on the right". 

The center of Spiez is lovely, the fabric and dress shops, the educated people and Diana’s acquaintances who greet her every time they see her. Diana cheerfully tells me about each establishment and shows me which ones a lady should never step on, which stores she knows the owner and who will be at my dinner and who is cranky or annoying enough not to have been invited.

- Honey! - A woman tells Diana as soon as she sees her walk through the door.

The gray threads stuck in a flawless bun, the pearly dress on your trunk and grayish on your skirt. Her right hand is covered with rings and on the left only one diamond on her ring finger, saying she’s married.

- Abigail! - Diana says nicely. - That’s my sister, Lily, the reason for dinner.

- Pleasure! - I shake your hand.

- God bless your genetics, those eyes... - Abigail sighs. - I wish. - The three of us laughed. - I am Abigail.- She shows an inviting smile. - I imagine you didn’t just come to visit me, say, what kind of dress you want.

I explain to Abigail how I want mine while she measures me and Diana takes a look at the fabric colors.

Pink, light, with ruffles and a low-key heart neckline, well accented at the waist. Abigail sits down to every detail I say about the dress.

As soon as she finishes writing everything down, it’s Diana’s turn to talk about the dress and take the measurements.

The afternoon that I imagined was only about the dresses, turns out to be a very fun tea where Diana and I tell our childhood stories and she and Abigail tell their recent stories, since Diana often comes here. Abigail suggests a jewelry store, where we could find some that would match our dresses and Diana wasted no time dragging me there.

It was a fruitful and fun afternoon, and I couldn’t remember how nice it was to have a moment with one of my sisters, to remember the nights when we didn’t sleep because we were talking about school and the cute little boys that we saw there, even though we’ve never kissed one and some have tried to kiss us.

Diana has always been my favorite sister, and knowing that now I will have more moments like this next to her, removes some of the anguish and worry my heart, trying to imagine how Mom and Dad would be at home. In the end, she ended up coming to Diana’s home, turned out to be really good...