Eloise had never felt this completely petrified in her life before.
She was sitting anxiously in the carriage, as it made its way to the market, where Eloise was hoping to retrieve the letter back.
Her lady's maid, Mrs. Wilson, who sat across from her, often glanced at Eloise wondering why the young girl seemed so skittish as she continuously fidgeted in her seat.
Well unbeknownst to Mrs. Wilson and to everyone else in the ton, Eloise was feeling completely miserable as her worst nightmare was finally coming true.
When she woke up up this morning, she was greeted with the most distressing news that the letters she and Penelope had written were accidently sent out.
Of course, Colin finding out that Penelope fancied him wouldn't be the greatest thing in the world, but that revelation could never compare to Eloise's.
Being a girl who didn't want to pursue the traditional ideals of marriage and who always spoke her mind, Eloise was already on the receiving end of getting repeatedly scolded so what were they going to do if they knew she had feelings for another girl?
Eloise shuddered in her seat, not even wanting to think about the horrific consequences.
This nightmare was something Eloise didn't know she was even possible of having until a few weeks ago.
For her, this newfound feeling of emotion wasn't something she was particularly shocked about having, but she wondered why she was only discovering about it now.
Was she always like this or was it something that was only now being brought out in her?
Was there even a word for what Eloise felt?
Her thoughts were disrupted when the carriage came to a sudden halt.
The loud voices and the sweet smell of fresh food had suggested that they had reached the market.
Eloise pushed the door open and started breaking out in a run.
"Eloise!" she heard Mrs. Wilson call out, but she didn't pay any mind.
She had to find that letter.
The thought of anyone reading it was utterly destroying Eloise.
The entire morning, she thought hard and long about someone finding the letters and she ran the possible scenarios in her head, but there was one person who Eloise couldn't even bear to think about reading the letter.
Mabel
Eloise's mind felt different when she thought about Mabel.
The good kind of different though, a kind that made things make sense.
For the first time in her life, Eloise didn't feel like shouting just to be heard.
For the first time, the parts of her identity that she always believed were never going to fit in, slowly began to feel right.
Eloise finally had something to look forward to.
Dressing up and going to parties didn't even sound so bad anymore if it meant she was able to see Mabel.
But what if she doesn't feel the same way?
that thought overwhelmed Eloise.
What if Mabel didn't reciprocate her feelings?
What if Eloise misread all the signs?
What if Mabel laughed at her, or worse, got angry?
What if Mabel never wanted to talk to her again?
Eloise would rather the whole world find out the truth about her than Mabel never talking to her again.
But perhaps, as Eloise began to realize, the two were synonymous. And this truly was the beginning of the end of Eloise's life.
Eloise continued to run through the market, desperately trying to find Mabel.
Eloise didn't even think about what would happen if Mabel's parents or her brothers found the letter.
She would have just as easily ruined Mabel's life as well.
She was panting heavily, her feet blistering, feeling ready to give up, when she saw a glimpse of dark brown hair.
She ran towards the familiar figure and turned her around.
"Eloise, is everything okay?"
"We have to talk. In private," Eloise muttered with a severe look in her eyes that had never been there before.
Mabel nodded back and Eloise took her arm as they quickly made their way to their spot.
~~~~~~~
"Eloise, what's going on?" Mabel questioned, as they carefully walked down the hill and towards the lakes.
Eloise took a deep breath: whatever she was going to say next could possibly change the rest of her life.
"Mabel," she started softly. "Before you say anything, I need to know something. Did you receive a letter this morning?"
Mabel silently looked back at Eloise, her brows tightly knitted together.
"Mabel, I need to know."
Without saying a word, Mabel pulled out a letter from her purse.
Eloise sighed in relief, smiling, knowing that at least the letter was right there in front of her and not anywhere else.
However, her smile began to turn into a frown when she realized the worst was yet to come.
"Mabel, did you read it?" Eloise asked so quietly that she was barely heard over the sound of ripples coming from the lake.
"Yes," Mabel murmured with a blank stare in her eyes.
Eloise could practically feel her heart beat out of her chest, her worst nightmare actually forming itself into reality.
"I'm so sorry Mabel. I'm so sorry," Eloise whispered as tears started to burn in her eyes. "I can't even explain how sorry I am."
Mabel looked back at Eloise confusingly and then proceeded to set her gaze on the lake in front of her.
Eloise begged for Mabel to say something, but she didn't. Instead, her brows were furrowed together as she watched the water intensely, as if they were having a conversation.
"I'm so sorry Mabel." Eloise ranted,
"You see, when I wrote that letter I was sort of drunk....well actually I was very drunk. And there is a chance, that I was just feeling very sentimental. And Mabel, what I wrote in that letter, I didn't mean it......it was a joke, nothing but a complete joke."
There was nothing about the last phrase that was true at all, but Eloise would rather lie about her feelings than risk ruining her friendship with Mabel.
Mabel looked back at Eloise, her eyes widened.
"Say something please," Eloise pleaded softly, "So I can stop rambling like an idiot."
Seconds of silence passed before Mabel spoke.
"Who's Colin?"
"What?" Eloise stood up. "What do you mean?"
Eloise was completely perplexed. Was Mabel talking about her brother?
"And who's Penelope?" Mabel continued.
"Wait, what are you talking about? How do you kn-"
Mabel handed Eloise the letter, "the envelope was addressed to me, but the letter inside was meant for someone else. Someone named Colin written to by someone named Penelope."
Wait this doesn't make sense
Eloise's heartbeat began to increase, and her breathing became hitched.
What was happening???
Eloise snatched the letter and her eyes skimmed the paper in front of her.
Dear Colin, it read, and Eloise instantly recognized the familiar handwriting.
"I don't understand," Eloise muttered. "If you received Penelope's letter, then where is mine?"
Oh no
Oh my god
Eloise realized the answer to her question as soon as she said it out loud.
"Mabel, I have to go!"
"Eloise, wait!" Mabel exclaimed, quickly grabbing Eloise' hands. "Tell me what's going on."
"I can't explain right now I have to go home. I'm so sorry Mabel, but that letter wasn't meant for you. It was a mistake."
"I don't understand."
"I have to go," Eloise repeated as she started to run back towards the market.
"Eloise wait!" she heard behind her.
"I'm so sorry!" Eloise shouted back as tears began streaming down her face.
This was worse than any nightmare she could have possibly imagined.
~~~~~~~
A/N
ohh man
things just keep getting worse don't they
hope y'all enjoyed & are taking care of yourselves
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love y'all
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sincerely
violet
04/02/21