Chapter VIII

Ariana left her sister's house with no fixed destination, she thought it would be best to be at her sister Danielle's house, so she walked to Witley Court.

Danielle was having afternoon tea in her favorite room when she heard her housekeeper talking to someone she knew.

-Martha who you talk to, you know you shouldn't entertain visitors... -Danielle was amazed she didn't wait for the person at the door.

Ariana, is that you?

-Hello Danielle," said Ariana with a shy greeting.

- What happened to you? -said Danielle when she saw her sister in bad condition, she was thinner and paler.

-Michelle has other ways I can help you," she said with a weak smile.

- Oh, my God! Martha, take my sister to get something to eat and then walk her to the guest room to rest, please.

-Yes, Mrs. Bradford.

Ariana ate a little and agreed to take a break, when she woke up it was about to get dark, I didn't expect her to have stayed asleep that long.

Danielle was having dinner in the company of her beloved husband, she adored him, and enjoyed the conversation they were having, when she turned around she saw that her sister was at the entrance of the dining room.

- Ariana! Honey, I'm glad you finally woke up," said Gabrielle with a warm smile.

-Yes," said Ariana shyly, "I'm sorry if I interrupted your dinner.

-Of course not, Ariana, please sit with us," said Danielle's husband politely.

-Thank you very much Lord Bradford.

-Lord Bradford nodded and went on to dinner.

-How do you feel, sister?

-Well, thank you Danielle.

-I'm glad, my husband and I say that you will be treated in your stay as what you are, my sister.

-You have always treated me like your sister Danielle. You are the only one who has," said the latter in a weak tone.

-Not always, and I apologize for that," said Danielle, a little melancholy and sad.

-But you've been nicer than Michelle, Marissa or Michaela.

-Yes, let's forget about that for a moment, what I mean is that we'll buy you dresses, one of my ladies will help you get ready and many other things - I was very excited to tell Ariana that and I was also grateful that her dear husband had that idea, he was very kind in agreeing to spend on her sister.

-We hope you will accept this detail, Danielle has decided to take you to her dressmaker tomorrow.

-Really, thank you very much.

-We just want you to be comfortable and recover your health.

-Ehm, yes, I am very grateful to you for everything you are doing for me.

-Don't worry, Ariana, we won't talk about it if you want to," said Danielle, somewhat worried.

-Yes, thank you.

In the morning Danielle lent Ariana one of her old dresses - with the pregnancy she couldn't use them any more - and accompanied Danielle to the dressmaker's, they spent a pleasant afternoon drinking tea and reading in a room decorated in pastel shades and subtle flowers on the wall coverings.

Danielle enjoyed her sister's company as if they were great friends - something she couldn't do when she lived with her parents because Ariana was unfairly punished.

-I've enjoyed these days by your side, Ariana, I couldn't ask for better company.

-Thank you Danielle, not only did you welcome me into your home, you also raised me to be a lady.

-You are of the Ariana nobility, like all young nobles, you must be educated to be a lady.

-Ariana smiled at her sister's comment.

-I am very grateful to you and your husband, you have been very kind to me.

Michelle was happy that a few weeks ago she had taken that bland young woman who thought she was her sister away from her home, only bringing her problems, like when she was little - something she preferred not to remember.

One afternoon while she was enjoying tea in a small room, she was surprised to hear her housekeeper say that her mother had come to visit - it wasn't very good that her mother was there, she would be angry when she found out that Ariana was no longer with her.

-Hello, darling, how are you today? -said Lady Christine to her daughter.

-Good mother, it's a pleasure to have you here," said Michelle with great respect.

-Thank you," said Lady Christine as she waited for the cook to serve her tea.