Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 15
“Lady Cecilia.”
Cecilia had just formed a small smile on her lips when a maid called out to her.
“His Lordship is calling for you.”
“I’ll go now.”
The conversation went as expected. He had summoned Cecilia to restrain Lillith.
Since everything was within Cecilia’s expectations, she became even a more thorough malefactor than usual.
She did this to make sure that the selfish and greedy man felt even a slight discomfort at his own child’s excessive submission.
If she made a small request at that moment, Adam would easily agree.
He wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to cheaply absolve and discard his guilt.
***
The next day, Caroline, the eldest daughter of the Lasphilla family, came to see Cecilia.
“What brings you to my room, Sister?”
“Why so surprised? Do sisters need a reason to have tea together?”
It was just yesterday that Caroline had tattled on Lillith’s tantrum. Yet, her attitude entering Cecilia’s room was as natural as flowing water.
This wasn’t an act. She truly was confident. Of course, it was ‘a matter that would benefit father’.
Cecilia smiled, looking at her upright and honest sister.
“I’m just delighted to have tea with you, Sister. It’s been a long time.”
“Really, you know how to say such words now?”
Caroline sat down at the small round table.
“It’s quiet today, isn’t it?”
The nineteen-year-old girl sighed deeply, holding her teacup on its saucer.
“Margaret won’t come out, and with my younger sister acting like that, I don’t feel like going out alone.”
Margaret had since locked herself in her room. Not only did she get reprimanded, but she was so upset that she was outsmarted by Cecilia, too.
‘Well, it’s none of my business.’
“It’s worrying that she’s skipping meals at an age when she should be growing.”
Caroline let out a bitter laugh, her eyebrows drooping. But she seemed not genuinely worried, quickly changing the subject.
“Father mentioned you need a new maid.”
“Oh, I don’t need one right away…”
“If it’s okay, I’d like to recommend someone. What do you think?”
Cecilia smiled graciously at Caroline’s kindness.
“Thank you for thinking of me, Sister. But what to do? Mother has already said she would send me a maid.”
“Mother…?”
Cecilia carefully watched Caroline’s twitching lips. If Margaret was jealous of Bernarda, Caroline was wary.
It was common for the eldest daughter nearing adulthood to compete with her father’s new wife over household matters.
But Caroline, prioritizing her role as a virtuous lady, didn’t openly reveal her true feelings like Margaret.
Cecilia put down her teacup and continued.
“Mother has decided to assign a maid to me. You don’t need to worry about it, Sister.”
Dealing with Bernarda was easier and more straightforward for employment matters, given that she was the officially acknowledged lady of the house.
Caroline’s expression stiffened momentarily, then relaxed.
“That’s true. It’s a concern that Mother would normally deal with. But it’s different this time. Father accepted my suggestion.”
“Suggestion?”
“Yes. I proposed that Margaret and Nathan’s nanny could become your maid. He thought it was a good idea. What do you think?”
“I’m fine with it, but… wouldn’t that be too much work for the nanny?”
“Considering Margaret’s age, it’s time she had a maid instead of a nanny. This could be a chance for Margaret to get a new maid, and you can train the nanny to expand her duties. Father will surely be pleased.”
“Oh, Sister. You thought all that through?”
“Why are you surprised? It’s just a good idea that came to me.”
Caroline smiled sheepishly. Cecilia, looking at her sister’s nineteen-year-old self, was reminded of how she was at twenty-nine. She seemed like a different person.
That face, so certain of her own goodness, was not a mask. She was even deceiving herself, lost in the role of a virtuous and wise eldest daughter.
This naivety was why she had fallen so easily into her younger sister’s trap.
Cecilia sipped the lukewarm tea, recalling her conversation with Adam from the day before.
“Yes, Father, you’re right. It’s all my fault.”
When she had said that, Adam had looked away, a sign that he felt some guilt for shifting parental responsibilities onto his child.
