The Victoria Era

A Raven in our House

I sat in my chair watching the window for a sign of something. The candle flickered and I focused on my breathing but when the door creaked I launched up so fast I had to pause to let the stars dance out of my vision. It was Caleb as expected. "Caleb, I wad wondering where you were." I said going in for a hug but a girl was behind him and I froze. "Raven? What are you doing here?"
"Harriet and Alistair was chasing us. But Caleb saved us! Oh joy, you should be grateful you have a good brother like him!" She sighed happily.
"Well, you can stay here as long as you like. Let me show you to your room." I said taking her hand before winking discreetly to my brother.
"Yes ma'am." She saw the room and seemed genuinely pleased. "It is wonderful!"
"I know it is not much but you will be treated well here and that I think is better than the size of a room." I responded.
"It is so much better than the basement at Harriet's." She settled in and as she did a small shape rose from a pile of clothes. A small cat mewed happily.
"You have a cat?" I said smiling at the kitten.
As if it was her calling Marie popped into the room. "Did I hear a kitty?!?!?!" She saw the cat. "Kitttttttttttttttttttty!" She picked up the bundle of fur and petted it happily.
"Oh my, I hope you don't mind." I laughed.
"Oh, no, she love kids." Raven said with a big smile and the kitten echoed her happiness with a pleased mew. Marie sat down and played with the feline.
"So tomorrow night is the ball!!! I am so excited to meet people yet sad that I have not met a man to take me. I feel as though if I do not find one soon my chances will become very limited."
"Yes, I too, am very excited! Caleb and I are going together...! He is such a beauty with is blonde wavy hair, blue eyes that sparkle like the ocean, oh, he is just right for me!" She squealed and I could see in her eyes she was daydreaming. She laid on the bed and lazily pet the cat who had easily evaded my sister who had left for bed.
"Don't make me sick! That is my brother!" I said laughing. "He is a good man though and he seems very taken with you. I would not be surprised if he feels the same way you feel about him."
"Oh, my deep apologies for pondering about your brother..." She froze in the middle of her sentence and stared petrified at the door where I could just barely make out my brother's shirt. She squealed and hid under the blanket, quickly, surprising the slight animal off bed and out the room.
I laughed, got up, winked to my brother who stared at me in confusion, and closed the door. "You can uncover yourself now. And do not fret about telling me of my brother, it only makes me happy for you and him."
"Oh, phew. I'm sure you shall find the right man for you, like I did. Oh, now I'm TOO happy. Well, no one said there was too much happiness. Let us see your dress. Well, actually, today sure has been a fussy one, I must say. It's time I shall rest." She let in her cat and we bid each other good night.
"Good night, Raven! I will see you in the morn." I said closing the door behind me.