Fiction

Judge Milton's Daughters

by Kayla James 
06/01/23
For Sale
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Judge Milton died on a Saturday evening. He collapsed from a bad heart on the head of the staircase.. His daughter, Connie, found him on her way to bed.

After the funeral, Edward Pemberton, the Miltons’ lawyer, read the will to all residents of the house. The few servants received monetary remembrances.

“To my daughters, Connie and Gabriella,” read Mr. Pemberton, “I leave the house and an annuity to last them all of their days or to end should they ever marry again.”

Gabriella, the wife of Judge Milton’s son, said little. It had been like that since she arrived from Cuba the year before.

“Surely that can’t be right,” Connie said. “Did Edward even marry the girl properly? Daughter, indeed.”

“According to her church records, they were,” Mr. Pemberton replied.

When the news reached townsfolk ears as all gossip does, Connie was embarrassed and annoyed.

She flashed back to the day the letter stating Edward’s death from typhoid fever had arrived. A scrawled request from Edward asking them to look after Gabriella and for Connie to be a sister to her came with it.

Well, Connie thought, then it is my duty to finally teach the girl to be a lady.

After the funeral, Connie began Gabriella’s lessons by teaching her English at breakfast. The younger girl stumbled through the meal but she learned a handful of words. Instead of Gabriella running to the kitchen to help Belle, the housekeeper, with cleaning up, Connie insisted she stay with her in the parlor to receive callers.

That first day was a halting mess with Connie’s usual friends trying to keep polite to that “Spanish girl.” Gabriella stuttered and kept her eyes down on her needlework until the grandfather clock struck two..

As months went by, however, Gabriella began to relax and learned steadily. Yet there was no warmth nor affection from Connie. Gabriella tried by making conversation and sometimes offering her little presents.

The wall around Connie’s heart began crumbling and it frightened her. She only requested Gabriella to come to the parlor and at mealtimes and let her work with the servants after.

Soon however, townsfolk began to ask after Gabriella, questioning why she wasn’t with Connie.

So the two Milton girls were seen at church although Gabriella sat with Belle. While out shopping, Gabriella walked a few paces behind. Even at the few parties Gabriella attended, Connie remained politely distant.

Those who were once polite now found Miss Gabriella charming and one day while planning the church bazaar, she was put in charge of the baby clothes sale along with Jemima Settles, Connie’s dearest friend.

Jealousy pricked at Connie but she remained composed until the meeting ended. Gabriella came up to her, smiling.

“You will help me, por favor?” she asked. “Sénorita Set-tals says yes. Come, mi hermana.”

Jealousy mingled with quiet fury as Connie turned from the church building and walked home. Gabriella followed, mixing Spanish with English, asking what was wrong and if she had done anything.

“Why don’t you just go away and leave me alone? I wish you’d never come here.”

Connie walked in the park for hours and did not return home until late that afternoon. Belle met her at the door with a furrowed brow.

“Miss Gabriella was crying. She won’t leave her room and you are late coming home. What has happened?”

“Never mind it,” was all Connie said.

Gabriella refused supper and any attempts from Belle to bring her out of her room. Connie  ate little and went to bed early.

The routine was off in the Milton house for a few days. The two girls took their meals in their rooms and seldom left them.

On the third day after the bazaar meeting, Connie emerged, wrung out from crying and self-pity. She walked to the drawing room to play the piano which always made her feel better when she paused at Gabriella’s bedroom door.

It stood ajar. Gabriella knelt in front of a burning candle on her dressing table, praying. Connie heard her own name and “mi armana” mentioned in such tenderness that it almost broke her heart. Edward had said for Connie to look after her and be a sister to her.

Edward, forgive me, she thought. Please, God, help me make it right.

Gabriella never did know what changed her sister in law’s heart towards her. She had never felt so at home since coming to America.

At church on Sunday, everyone admitted that the Milton girls looked quite the picture as they both beamed from one of the front pews.