Chapter VII
Aunt Anne watched over her shoulder as Ann scurried out the door, closing it behind her. before she turned to her niece who was resting propped up against the pillows in bed.
“How are you feeling, dear?” Aunt Anne asked, worry laced her voice and Anne smiled wide to calm her,
“I have been better. Then again, I have been worse too!”
“Ann said, about the memory loss.” Aunt Anne began and Anne opened her mouth,
“Ah, yes, unfortunate business. But I believe that I shall make a full recovery.”
“Do you really think that or are you just saying that to make me fret less?” Aunt Anne inquired, sitting down slowly in the chair. Anne sighed, the tiniest bit amused,
“I’m positive, if not, then we are lucky that I have recorded my life in great detail for nearly thirty years.”
“Well it would be a good thing if those journals of yours finally came of some use.” Aunt Anne teased, and Anne scoffed,
“They have been useful! They make sure I don’t make the same mistake twice.”
“Is that entirely true though?” Aunt Anne questioned and Anne bit her tongue, it wasn’t. She had lived through many disappointments that had went down pretty much the same way. Anne shrugged the sad feelings off and smiled up at her aunt instead,
“Tell me, has Ann settled well here at Shibden?”
“Ann? Why yes! She’s a dear. We adore her, all of us.” Aunt Anne said with great delight, and Anne was happy to hear it.
“I’m happy with her?” Anne raised a quizzical brow and her aunt smiled,
“I have never seen you happier than you’ve been with her. Of course, you’ve had some hardships. But I suppose that’s only natural – everyone does.”
“Mm, she really is a sweet person is she not?”
“We are all fond of her, she has been a great asset to this family. And great at putting an end to most of the bickering between you and Marian – she has brought peace to the house.” Aunt Anne told her with a great, warm smile and Anne felt that, deep within her. She had done it, she was happily married, and her family was happy for her. Anne was pleased beyond measure.
“Nothing too drastic has happened these past three years, hm?” Anne eyed her, trying to detect if she would lie or not,
“Well, nothing too drastic no. You were off travelling for a while. For a few months; Paris, Switzerland, and Rome were the great destination during your travels. Ann was delighted. I have scarcely enjoyed so many letters as I did then – from both of you.” Aunt Anne said excitedly, and Anne laughed in disbelief – she had got Ann to go abroad, and she had enjoyed herself! This was great news, everything Anne had wanted seemed to have become a reality. They did have, just as she thought they could have - a rich life together! Anne was more excited than ever and desperate to get out of this sickbed as soon as was humanly possible.
“That is wonderful. I’m…”
“I know you are, and it’s nice to see you settled, and content. Not on the run anymore.” Aunt Anne gave her one of her special looks, the mothering kind, that made Anne warm on the inside. She never need fear not being loved; her aunt had loved her through it all.
“Now, dear child, you must be ravenous, and I will not leave until you’ve had at least some broth and bread! We must get you better!” Aunt Anne stared at her seriously and determined, and Anne sighed,
“Fine, I will have some. What time is it anyway? Where’s my pocket-watch?”
“Oh, I’ll ask Ann to bring it for you – she’s kept it safe and working. She is nearing…” Aunt Anne was interrupted by the door swinging open to reveal Marian, Anne fought the roll of the eyes that almost instinctively came whenever her sister barged in and disturbed her.
“I thought our ‘chief’ might need something to eat.” Marian gave her a pointed look and sat down the tray on the nightstand. Anne picked up the bowl of broth, breaking the bread to dip in it before putting it in her mouth. She closed her eyes as she tasted the food – she hadn’t realised how famished she was until now. Marian’s scoff brought her back though, and she opened her eyes to look at her sister,
“Hm?”
“Do you know what time it is?” Marian asked amused and Anne rolled her eyes at her,
“I’ve been unconscious for three days, I have no watch, how am I supposed to know? As you see, I haven’t got a sundial in my room either.”
“It’s lunchtime.” Marian smirked, and Anne raised a confused eyebrow at her, bringing another small piece of bread to her mouth, swallowing it slowly,
“Why is that so amusing to you, Marian?”
“Oh, nothing, just the fact that you’ve made a claim on never eating lunch for twenty years – and here we are… ending that streak.” Marian told her, clearly finding too much enjoyment in that, Anne thought; the poor thing should really get herself a life, or at least a hobby.
“I have literally been out cold for three days, and you think I care about whether it’s lunch or not? It’s never been about that. I just don’t eat so close to breakfast. I don’t need it and it’s a waste of time.”
“You are such a sore loser!”
“How come this is the second time I’ve been told that today? I’m perfectly well at owning up to my mistakes. And this was never a competition! This was an unnecessary fight because you’ve been ridiculous for twenty years, trying to mother me, when I clearly need no help from you.”
“Uh!” Marian huffed and took a breath to continue arguing but Aunt Anne held up her hand,
“Now is not the time, Anne needs to get better before you can start fighting with each other again!”
“I suppose.” Marian swallowed her argument and Anne stuck her tongue out behind her aunt’s back and Marian gasped again, pointing her finger at her sister,
“You are such a…”
“Marian, get out of her! You are disturbing, Anne’s peace, and she needs the rest.” Aunt Anne lectured and Marian stomped out of the room, huffing and puffing all the while.
“You shouldn’t tease her like that, Anne.” Aunt Anne told her when the door slammed shut, and Anne looked at her surprised,
“Me? I would never!”
“You think I don’t know that you stuck your tongue out at her in malice behind my back?” Aunt Anne said and Anne gasped, quietly,
“You really do have eyes in the back of your head!”
They laughed with each other, though Anne had to control hers not to upset her aching head too much. It was awful not being able to move about, talk and laugh as usual. Anne couldn’t wait to get out and about again.
The door opened and Ann popped in, closing the door softly in comparison to Marian who had slammed it.
“How’s the invalid?” Ann asked in an overly-jaunty voice, and Anne groaned at her, stuffing her mouth with another small piece of bread – not to upset her stomach.
“I’m not an invalid!” Anne growled at her, and she laughed, shaking her head,
“Oh how the tables have turned.”
Aunt Anne laughed with her, and Anne glared at them miserably, eating her bread and broth.
“Sorry, I’ve just always wanted to say that to someone else.” Ann smiled at her, laughing when she saw her grumpy face.
“I’ve never called you an invalid!”
“I’ll leave you two to it.” Aunt Anne declared then, and Ann helped her up from the chair, and helped her out the door before turning her attention back to her ‘invalid’ wife on the bed.