Hello everyone! Sorry you guys, it's taken me forever to get anything out! First I had a writer's block caused from too much school work (I know, I know, I'm making excuses) and then my computer died on me. It's still dead, and the only times that I'm going to be able to work on here is when I'm on my dad's laptop. So please be patient with updates! Thanks!

Also, since this isn't going through Word, it's probably not going to be the grammatically correct piece of work, but oh well. :)

Chapter 14

I wake up the next morning groaning, putting a hand over my face to stop the sharp sunlight from getting in my eyes. One of the servant's probably came in to open it earlier this morning... Oh, why did I feel so tired...

Suddenly, I sit up in my bed, my eyes wide, as memories of last night flash through my head. No. Had that really happened? I touch my lips with the pads of my fingers, as if traces of his kisses were still there.

Oh no. What have I done?

How could I have done that to Simon? To my life, to my parents? If word got out about this...

But it won't. Nobody saw us, and that's the end of that.

"You'll see me again? Tomorrow, by the lake?"

My mind drifts to last night, how simply happy it was to be with him, with Christian. His face, so open to all of my feelings... It was as if ti was a dream, it was so perfect save for my tears, but I know that it wasn't. It couldn't be.

So what do I do now?

Should I sneak out of the house, risk my mother's suspicion? Go out to meet Christian by the lake, hide away our love from everyone around us?

Or do I stay here, possibly go out for a walk with Simon? Make up to each other, laugh, enjoy our love...

It's so impossible! I want to scream, putting a pillow up over my face. I'm feeling horrendous! Maybe I can tell everyone that I'm feeling ill, and then stay in bed, not having to worry about anything for a day...

I hear the door opening downstairs, and a sudden call from the entryway that still holds some womanly grace. "Charlotte! Oh, Charlotte! Where are you, love?"

My heart immediatly lifts. I would recognize that voice anywhere.

"Sophie, I'm up here!"

I can hear her quickly climbing the stairs, tittering all the way gayly. "Really, Charlotte! What are you doing still in your room? It's 9 in the morning!" She opens the doors wide to reveal herself in all her splendour.

Barely 5 feet 4 inches (A/N: Hm... What measurements would they use back then.... Anyways, that's just the measurement in inches. :)) Sophie is as tiny as a pixie, even with her curls wound tightly on the top of her head and stylish heels. With her pale, healthy skin and thin bones, she could pass as a fairy as well, and is one of the most lively people I know. At the moment she's wearing a light blue spring dress, a simple bonnet resting on her curls.

"Charlotte!" She exagerates her gasp of shock. "Not even out of bed? Shame shame! What are we going to do with you?" I hastily draw my covers closer as she flits towards me, a dissaproving look on her face.

"Sophie," I say weakly, bending forward so that we can kiss cheeks. "It's been too long." And I really have missed her; my life seems dull without her liveliness.

"Only since two days ago, remember!" She taps her finger playfully on my nose, and I immediatly remember our 'meeting'.

"Oh, that reminds me, thank you so very m-" I'm cut off my Sophie's jingling laugh.

"Don't be absurd, you have to reason to thank me! I'd do anything for you in a hearbeat!" She sits down on my covers, drawing me close by the shoulders. "Now get ready. We're leaving soon."

"W-What?" I sputter out, still fully waking up. "Where?"

"Wherever we want, of course!" She lets out a light, tinking laugh, jumping to her feet once more and gracefully put me up and out of bed. Still disoriented, I dazedly stumble behind Sophie as she leads me to my dressing quarters.

Before I know it, and with Sophie's help, I'm fully dressed and ready for the day. I'm matching Sophie in light blue, although mine is a fair bit more intricate. Giving me no time to rest, she then drags me down the stairs and to the dining hall, where my parents are already eating and look a little startled to see Sophie.

"Oh... Good morning, Sophie darling. Your family is in good health, I hope?" My mother delicately taps the shell of a hard-boiled egg.

"Yes, very good indeed. My mother is the same revolutionary french woman, fighting for women's rights, while my brother is squandering his allowance on girls and drink in Montmatre." She smiles gleefully and sets herself down in a chair next to mine, happily setting to the egg that is placed in front of her, not noticing or caring about my mother's thin line of a mouth. For what seems like the hundreth time, I wish desperately that I could have been born as Sophie's sister. To live in France, with her lively and hilariously disjointed family...

"So, Charlotte," Sophie turns to me while we're opening up out eggs, "where do you want to go on this fine morning?"

I have to stop eating to think about this. Since we're going out alone... Can I chance it?....

"How about the lake?" I say it hesitantly, trying not to raise any suspicions.

"Oh, no, I've had enough water since our last trip." Sophie dismisses the idea with a wave of her hand, and my hopes drop into my stomach. I hadn't noticed it, but I really had been hoping to see Christian today. What will he do when I don't show up?

"How about going to shop for dresses?" She tosses out a suggestion, and I try to nod enthusiastically, not showing any dissapointment. The truth was, though, that I had no hopes of enjoying myself the entire day.

~*~

Once we're finished with breakfast, Sophie and I stepped out into the bright sunlight to be greeted by the carriage that had been called around to the front. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unhappiness as I lift myself up into the carriage and wave to my parents, feeling the door close behind Sophie.

She taps on the glass to get the driver's attention. "To the lake, please," she says pleasantly, falling back into her seat and turning to grin at my startled expression as the cab starts up.

"Sophie, what-?"

"I couldn't rightly tell your parents where we're going, now, could I? They might get suspicious." She lets out a light, excited laugh. "We're off to see your sutor!"

Again I stare at her in disbelief. "What- Sophie? How did you-"

"Oh, please, Charlotte." She's still grinning, wrapping an arm around me. "As if I didn't know when I got your letter what you were doing when you said to leave Simon out of it as well!"

I'm still trying to figure everything out, and a slight blush of chagrin touches my cheeks at her words. "Wait... So you knew from the start....?"

Sophie gives out an excited giggle, hugging me tighter. "Yes, of course! I am your loving cousin! I couldn't leave you in distress, because I knew you would be, indecisive darling as you are. So I came over to give you an excuse!"

"I..." I'm lost for words, staring at Sophie with warm eyes. Sophie really is the sweetest person I know. "Oh, thank you!" I hug her back as well, hearing her laugh near my ear.

"No worries, darling! I couldn't leave you in trouble! Now," she says, pulling back with a devillish look on her face, "what does this man of yours look like?"

End of Chapter 14

Thanks for reading! Again, sorry for the poor grammar/spelling, I was in a rush. Don't know when I'll get the next one out! *groans and looks tearfully at notebook* Don't leeeaveeee me, writing ideas!!!!! I WANT TO FINISH THIS STORY!!!!!