She smoothed her hands over her skirts, a soft and silky fabric that the family might never own again.

While this was not her conversation, nor her business, she still paid attention to it as if she was the one being told her fortunes were gone and her commerce shut down.

"Evelyn!" It was a harsh, commanding tone, and Father was making it clear that the meeting was only for the grown menfolk to attend. She looked beseechingly at the person beside the curt, respectably dressed man, but Uncle Theo shook his head slightly. There was nothing he could do; she was not welcome at the discussion of finances and family matters.

Rising, she curtsied at the indifferent lawyer who was the bearer of unfortunate news, and fled the room as quickly as possible. Breathing deeply in an effort to calm herself, Evelyn made her way to the Corridor of Windows.

Outside, the pitch-dark sky was illuminated by the street lamps and the candles left in the windows of every home. This was the Remembering Week, where all would light and show candles to remember those lost to ruin or drink or death. Trust bad news to come now, when all was grim and in mourning.

"What did they say? What is it? Oh, 'Winter, you must tell me!"

Evelyn flinched at the mention of the name her family, save Father, called her by, but she still turned around and offered a wan smile. She was no good at smiles, even during regular times, but it was her promise to herself that she would always greet others this way.

"Oh, the news are terrible," Evelyn moaned, clasping her hands together, her smile gone. "I'm afraid the moneylenders and owners told the lawyer exactly what to say, because he is not sympathetic one whit."

"But, what is it?" Darcia's voice was high-pitched and nervous, a sure sign she was worried about the rumours and Father's silence and grim face.

"It is true then," Ed called out, her eldest brother, now striding towards them. His face was pale, and his coat was covered in sticky snow from outside. Ed looked resigned, defeated, though anger glinted in his eyes.

"I... am afraid so," Evelyn started. "The lawyer works for the head of Dale Shipyards, and he made it clear that the cargo from the ships that were able to return to port was insufficient. We are – that is, Father is being taxed with the loss of those ships that were caught in the storm and sunk."

"I feared as much," Ed said grimly. "However, surely the ships are not all responsible for our current situation? We have other businesses, assets! I mean, it seems that we have nothing left, but why have not the other things kicked in?"

"I do not believe it is only the ships," Darcia said in a small voice.

"I concur. The lawyer made it clear that we had outstanding debts, and only the house will not be taken away."

"So, we are destitute? What about the honour of the family? What about –"

"Calm down, Darce," Ed said authoritatively, using his pet name for her.

"I know it is not my business –"

"That has never stopped you, sister," Ed cut in with a tiny smirk.

"But what about friends? Family? They ought to be helping us, to be standing by us!"

"Oh, sister, surely you know by now that Father has no friends, and that the only acquaintances he has are purely motivated by wealth? No, we are alone in this. Our splintered family must come together, for it is all we will have." Grimacing at her, Ed pivoted and headed for the study, to claim his place as eldest and find out exactly what was going on.

Evelyn and her sister looked at each other, united in their worry and helplessness.

"Well, we must ready for supper, and start thinking about adapting ourselves to the new reality," Darcia said before turning around and heading for the stairs.

Just as always, she was organizing things and being responsible. Yet as she stood there, watching her sister walk away, Evelyn was gripped with the sudden fear that things might be changing for the worst. There had been a wobble in Darcia's voice, and her face was so pale and drawn.

"Oh, what do we do now? What shall happen if the only pillars supporting this family give up, and crumble to salt and sand?" she whispered to herself.

Attempting to ignore the dread clawing at her stomach, Evelyn headed to her room. Soon, she would no longer sleep there. It all felt...surreal. Unsure of what to do with herself, she sat herself by the window and gazed out, unseeing. Unfeeling.

Exactly three hours later, Evelyn was dressed for dinner and awaiting Father, Ed, and Darcia. They had all come down together, faces sombre. The meal of chicken with herbs and assorted cooked vegetables was eaten in silence. The mansion of the Villiers was a tomb.

After a quick glass of wine, their dishes were cleared away by the last remaining servants. Father started to talk – purely for Ed's benefit, but she and her sister also had ears.

He explained a bit more of their current situation, and that because he had invested in folk of dirty repute, they did not even have honour left. Father also talked of all the losses, and how they would have to move away. How they would now have to lead a different life, and how their name was now forever sullied.

Father's voice was softer than she had ever heard it, and yet there was no apology in his words. Only statements of fact, as if it were another family's fate he was discussing at the dinner table.

Halfway through the meal, which she had no appetite for, Evelyn could not stand it anymore.

"If only you had listened to Mother, and not invested anything in others, we would not be losing everything!"

She stood up with a screech of her chair, face red, and went fleeing to her rooms. She slammed the door and dropped to the ground, tears running from her eyes down her face.

Father's words had pierced through her numbness, and Evelyn was left to mourn a life she would no longer lead, and a mother who had left much too soon.

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So, what do you think of Evelyn so far? Comment and vote, please! :)

A shout-out to Em_Won who has helped me a lot with my writing for the last few weeks.