In the spring of 1911, at Drevolre Manor.

Though Enzo and I see each other often, our relationship remains in the shadows. I have not yet mustered the courage to speak of it to anyone, and at present, it does not seem quite appropriate. I sense a change brewing within my family, but I cannot put my finger on what it is. All shall proceed according to plan, and I shall reveal my intention to marry when I turn twenty to the entire household. Until then, our secret shall remain just between us.

I have found a new pastime: knitting. My mother taught me the craft, which surprised me greatly. I never imagined that my mother, a woman of high standing, would enjoy such a hobby. But being a woman, it is understandable that we have ample free time, and knitting is an efficient way to pass it.

I sit at the balcony, engrossed in my knitting, occasionally glancing down at Diana painting below. As a tea addict, I always have a cup at hand. I enjoy the spring season, though it is not mine to claim. My parents call me their winter, and the spring belongs to Thena. David is the warm summer, while Diana is the bountiful autumn. I pause mid-stitch, lifting my teacup to my lips. I inhale a long breath before sipping, then roll my tongue. Why am I the winter?

Suddenly, Thena bursts into my room, her face contorted with panic, paying no heed to my disfigured expression. She hastily brings a chair to sit beside me, ignoring my queries. Once she calms down and takes her seat, she rapidly asks me:

"Are you and Enzo in love?"

My pupils dilate, and in that moment I do not know how to respond. I am like a soldier shot in the heart, and immediately sacrificed on the battlefield. How could she know? I do not speak, Enzo speaks even less, so who spread the news? Could it be that our clandestine meetings were seen by someone else? I am completely vulnerable and afraid in front of my younger sister. I am completely silent to the point that I cannot even form a grammatically correct sentence. I can only resist with a denial:

"We didn't... Who told you that?"

"You're lying to me!" Thena screams. Her face becomes excited when she catches my tail. "I know everything!"

I immediately rush forward and cover her mouth. At this point, I do not care who is right or wrong, or whether she knows everything correctly or not. I only care that if this matter is exposed and falls into the wrong hands, my reputation and that of my family will plummet. My face is serious as I look at her. I quickly pull her inside and ask sternly:

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"What do you know?"

"Well then tell me what these things are?" Thena puts a pile of letters that he wrote to me, as well as the letters that I did not send, on my desk. Obviously, I kept them in an extremely careful place. I clipped them to romantic books that, according to Thena's judgment, were sentimental and unreasonable. I thought it was a safe place to keep them, when the books became completely harmless and not worth thinking about. People will turn to drawers, desks, or chests when referring to precious items. For many years, “Pride and Prejudice” has become a "forbidden object" in my family, when no one in my family, except for me, of course, loved it. I am sure that Thena has read everything we wrote to each other, and now I just want to dig a hole and bury myself.

I hastily take the letters and turn around. I dare not face my younger sister. At this moment, the sense of guilt in me envelops my whole body and mind. I am a hypocrite, always preaching about ceremonies and virtues, but I myself let desire take over me. How can I look at them again? How can I face this truth?

But when I feel desperate, Thena steps forward and embraces me. The little girl is not bitter or contemptuous of an older sister like me, on the contrary, I can feel the warmth in her hug. Thena leans her head on my neck and says in the gentlest tone possible:

"Why did you hide from us?"

"I don't know either…", I shake my head. I really do not know why I did that. Even now, I still cannot find the answer for myself.

Thena pulls me back to face each other. She holds my hand tightly as if to create a support for me. Thena looks at me with sincere eyes and says:

"No matter who you are with, I will support you, as long as you really love each other."

"Really?", I smile. That í the warmest thing I have heard from Thena.

"I'm glad it's Enzo. I was afraid you would marry those gentlemen from outside London."

"I won't," I pat her head to reassure her. "I will tell you everything about us. But Thena, I want to ask you one thing…"

"Will you continue to hide from the whole family?" the little girl looks at me in confusion.

"For now, Thena. But don't you worry, I will soon tell everyone about this decision. You don't know how much I want to be with him."

I embrace her, my hands stroking her soft back. Thena has grown taller and is about to surpass me. She promised to keep everything a secret, which makes me feel at ease. We sit together for a whole afternoon, and I tell her everything that happened between us. Of course, I will omit some details that I feel are inappropriate or should not be disclosed. Now I understand the impermanence of life, that anything can change. Who would have thought that Thena would lay her hands on that book one day? And who would have thought that I would be recounting my intimate moments with Enzo to her now? I could not imagine it, yet it happened. My tea outside has gone cold, and my unfinished cardigan is still hanging loosely.