Bella swept. She didn't fancy a forced fast tomorrow, like her mother had threatened, and didn't doubt that they'd levy the punishment. Both parents seemed agitated and hell bent on getting the place in order. It wasn't until they'd gone to the bedroom to tidy up there that Bella got an explanation out of Grace Ann.

"He's coming."

It wasn't much of an explanation. "Who's coming?"

"Colin, of course." Grace Ann said, with delight. "That's why I told Mother and Father tonight, because he's coming to court me."

So that's why the place had to be perfect. Bella grinned, carefully looking away from her sister in the process. Not that the older girl was paying any attention, but there was no point in annoying Grace Ann. "Do I have to be here for this?"

"I wanted to send you away, but Mother and Father wouldn't allow it." Grace Ann complained, sighing deeply. "But you'd better behave."

"Of course." Now Bella faced her first while smiling. The temptation to torment was too great.

"I mean it." her elder sister glared. "Don't mention my other men, whatever you do. And try to act like you weren't raised in a barn."

"Don't worry, Grace Ann." Bella resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "I want this just as much as you do."

"You don't understand what I've been through."

Thankfully, their parents returned then to bark more orders, interrupting Grace Ann's lament about her lack of luck in love. Bella might have been grateful, had she not been sent to fetch pails of water from the well, so that they could offer the drink to their guest. She'd just returned with the third pail when the young man arrived.

He was funny looking.

"Sir, ma'am." he greeted their parents, bobbing a silly but oddly respectful bow to the adults in the room. "And you must be the little sister."

Bella managed not to resent the 'little' comment and smiled.

"This is Colin." Grace Ann purred, like anyone had any doubts about that.

"Hello, Colin." Mother smiled, looking nothing like the frantic dictator she'd been moments before. "Would you like some tea?"

"Just a glass of water would be lovely." he said and took a seat next to Grace Ann.

No one had to tell Bella that it was her job to fetch the beverages. She disappeared into the kitchen, to pour water into chipped glasses and pout over missing the opening conversation. But it did give her time to consider this man, this Colin. He stood tall, nearly a head higher than Father. His pale hair was thin and covered a pointed head with strange, dark eyes. Certainly, he was not a city boy - not in those clothes. Perhaps he had wealth. Or perhaps Grace Ann was drawn to him for the same reasons that Bella found herself pondering him here.

Or maybe Grace Ann had grown so desperate that she threw herself at the first man to finally show interest.

The water poured, she went back into the room and delivered it. Colin took his glass gratefully and smiled before taking a sip. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Bella took her seat and watched him.

"So I understand that you've known my daughter only a few days." Father led the discussion, of course.

"Yes, sir. And I want you to know, I've no plans to rush things. I want to woo Grace Ann as she deserves to be wooed." Colin reported, calmly. The other men had cowered before Father, but this one sat still, unafraid. It was enough to make Bella ignore the implication of a long courting period, which meant still a long wait for her.

"And I suppose you can tell that my daughter has passed the customary marriage years." Father continued. "There are plenty of young women in the village."

"Father!" squeaked Grace Ann, appalled. But the words their paternal parent spoke were true. Colin could walk out the door and find himself a young girl, with many birthing and working years ahead of her.

"I find myself impatient with the little ones." the young man explained, a small smile crossing his lips. "I seek a mature woman."

"Bella! I would like more water." Mother held up a half full glass, anxious to send away her youngest daughter before Bella could have time to snort.

And so passed the evening. She fetched water back and forth, listening to her elders talk. Mother and Father had all sorts of reasonable questions, which Colin managed, surprisingly, to answer in his quiet, serious tone. Grace Ann perched nervously on the sofa, as if her entire fate hung in the balance here, which it very well might. But Bella soon tired of the conversation and the hurrying to and from the kitchen. All that mattered to her was that her sister married, so she could take Jonathan's hand.

"It's late." said Father finally, signaling the end of the discussion.

"Stay a while and chat with me?" Grace Ann requested, either completely missing their father's command or choosing not to obey.

But Colin knew what Father meant and shook his oddly shaped head. "I mustn't stay any later."

"We are very glad to have met you, Colin." Mother smiled demurely and shook the man's hand. She wished him well and watched, pleased, as he kissed Grace Ann's hand and departed.

"Isn't he lovely?" Grace Ann fairly danced about the room, joyfully.

"Where did you meet him?" Bella wanted to know, strangely curious.

"The fair." For a moment, it seemed that the older girl would offer no more information. But gradually the story spilled from her lips. She attended the fair after chores, excited to see the dancers and performers. In fact, she had been so distracted by all the excitement that she'd walked right into Colin, dumping her drink onto his nice clothes.

"I'd have put you in a lake." Bella could just see her silly sister, crashing into people while her head was in the clouds.

"Do you want to hear the story or not?"

Bella wanted to hear the story, but they'd run out of time. Father returned from seeing Colin off and gave a grave nod. "He's a quiet lad, but nice enough. I give you my approval."

"Oh, thank you, Father!" Grace Ann threw her arms around him, as though this was a great accomplishment. But by this point, it was very unlikely that Father would turn down any man who looked towards the girls.

Mother sent them both to bed, then, exercising her parental rights over unmarried children in her home, even though both had grown to the age of majority. Bella made no argument; she didn't relish the thought of sitting up, babbling about Colin either. She followed Grace Ann to the back room, which consisted of two beds shoved against the wall. One belonged to Mother and Father and the other held both daughters. Bella had slipped into her faded nightgown before Grace Ann made it far past the doorway.

"I'll need new clothes."

"Well, Mother will have Grandmother fix you a wedding dress." Bella pointed out.

"And go to my husband on our wedding night in this tattered rag?" Grace Ann held up her nightdress and scowled.

"Then make yourself a new one." her younger sister suggested.

"Mother will never allow me to use the fabrics so." Grace Ann sighed. She was right, too. They needed cloth to repair the few torn outfits they had, not for silly things like a special nightgown.

"Worry about it tomorrow?" Bella was suddenly tired.

"Maybe if I could just patch this one up a bit, with silk."

Bella rolled her eyes. "And where do you expect to find silk?"

"Not sure, but could you imagine?" her sister's eyes shone. She pressed the garment to her body and began to step the waltz. "I'd be the talk of the land."

"You already are." Bella muttered, unkindly. She rolled over and closed her eyes before Grace Ann could make her retort.