I moved our conversation to affairs of the heart

Whilst I am sure that her motivations are good, as ever I failed to see what she expected me to do to right all the wrongs of the world. These conversations passed pleasantly enough, but they always seemed so grounded to me. And grounding denies us the higher arts and pleasures.

After some time, there was a lull in the stories my sister had been recounting. I took a moment to look carefully at her, seeing my own features reflected in hers, though with enough difference to work in her favour. I have always been handsome, but Anna has always been beautiful. I ventured: "But what of love?"

This caught her up short, and I caught a slight blush on her pale cheeks. She apologised and asked "What of it?"

I steadied myself to continue. Whilst we both knew that our family wanted her here so that she might have chance of greater prospects in marriage, her sensibility and my sensitivity towards it made it a difficult subject to broach.