Eric breathed down heavily. "I told him in a year or two. Gwen must still be hurting from what that bastard Cossington said to father about her. I don't want to remind her about it so soon. She is finally opening up."
She nodded. "It came as a surprise to the entire family. And I'm sorry she had to hear that. She shouldn't have to go through such pain." Her younger sister was only thirteen. Why was the world unfair? "And how did she come to such conclusion?"
"Do you have to look that far?" He asked. His finger waved over her face in accusation. "You and your books are to blame." He pulled her leg.
Beth crossed her arms defensively and pulled her legs to herself. "I had no knowledge she was interested in my books. She loves sitting at the piano with mother. Naturally, I thought she preferred piano to books." He ignored her excuse. After a while, she said. "For what it would matter, I am grateful for my birthday gift, for this." She opened her arms wide and gestured at the sky above, which was starting to turn blue, and the hill on which they sat. "It is beautiful."
He laughed. "You are very much welcome." When her eyes narrowed, he asked carefully. "What is with that look of mischief?"
"What look of mischief? It is a look of curiosity." She adjusted herself when she felt the wet grass through her skirt. "What do you intend to give to Gwen on her eighteenth birthday? You gave me mine, what's her wish?"
He inhaled and exhaled deeply. As he shook his head, Beth waited for him to reject her. She began to think of words to say to him to make him tell her, but he surprised her. "She wants to learn how to defend herself. I'll teach her to fight."
She was taken aback, equally by the fact that her brother had told her about Gwen's wish and about how odd the wish was. "And I am called the preposterous because I insist that one can travel through books." She deadpanned. "Mother would … she would never allow it."
"Father would. I would make certain of it." He stood up and stretched out a hand to her. Taking it, she rose and began to brush off her behind. He did the same. "It is beyond absurd, I realize that, but I suppose learning how to defend herself would put her mind at peace." He paused. "She came to me the night Cossington insulted our family."
Beth's heart broke. Was her younger sister still troubled by the words of that vile man? At that moment, it struck her. "Marriage is overrated Eric." He stopped. She did too. "I would never wed."
He spared her a look which soon turned into a full-on stare. "You are uttering nonsense. Marriage is not overrated." He waved a finger at her. "And you will wed."