Free Lily (Song of the River) by Aaron McCarver, Diane T. Ashley

bed. Jasmine lay facedown across the bed, her pillow muffling her sobs.
    Lily sat on the edge of the bed and ran a hand through Jasmine’s thick hair. “What happened?”
    Jasmine sat up and threw herself into Lily’s arms.
    “Master Samuel Marvin bit her.” Camellia took Jasmine’s hand in her own and held it so Lily could see the circle of teeth marks.
    “How barbaric.” She rocked back and forth, whispering words of love and sympathy.
    Jasmine’s tears slowly abated, and she hiccuped.
    Lily put her hand under Jasmine’s chin and tilted her face upward. Dark eyes ringed by darker lashes stared at her. “I’m sorry, Jasmine. Do you think we should bandage it?”
    Jasmine’s eyes grew larger. She nodded.
    “Tamar, go see if Alice has any bandages in the housekeeping supplies.” Tamar turned to do her bidding. “And check with Mary about the strawberry-rhubarb tarts she fixed for tea yesterday. If she has any left, bring them back with you. I know how much better I feel when I eat one of her fruit tarts.”
    Camellia hovered around them, alternately patting Jasmine’s shoulder and fussing with the bows on her own dress. “Those boys ought to be whipped. They were nasty to Tamar, and they rushed around the nursery, pulling all our things onto the floor.”
    “I don’t like the way they acted.” Lily got up and dipped a cloth in the washbasin next to Jasmine’s bed. She handed it to Jasmine before turning her attention to Camellia. “But perhaps they have some excuse since they have no mother to care for them.”
    “We have no mother,” Camellia declared. “But do you see us tearing up our rooms or terrorizing little children?”
    Was this a foretaste of what her life would be if she allowed her family to coerce her into marrying Mr. Marvin? Lily wondered. Her resolve hardened. She would not bend, no matter the cost. But for now, she needed to calm her sisters. “We are blessed to have Grandmother and Aunt Dahlia to teach us how to behave.”
    “Lily, I know why they’re so bad.” Jasmine’s voice was dreamy, like she was about to fall asleep.
    “Why is that, little one?”
    “Cuz they’re made of ‘Snips and snails and puppy dogs’ tails.’”
    Laughter bubbled up. “That’s right.” Lily hugged her sister close. She glanced up at Camellia and saw her lower lip protruding. She no longer looked like she was on the cusp of becoming a woman—she looked like a little girl who needed comforting. “Come over here, Camellia. You’re too old for cuddling, but I think Jasmine would appreciate an extra hug, and I know I would.”
    For once Camellia forgot her dignity. She crowded onto Jasmine’s bed.
    Silence filled the room, and contentment spread through Lily as she put an arm around her middle sister. She wanted to save this tender moment for future remembrances. It had been far too long since the three of them had sat together with their arms wrapped around each other. Although Lily was sorry for the trouble that had arisen, she would much rather be up here than downstairs with the adults.
    Tamar bustled in with a tray laden with treats and bandages. “Those boys are in the kitchen running around like a couple of heathens.”
    “I hope they’re not causing Mary too much trouble.”
    “She has plenty of help down there. More than your sisters and I had when they attacked the nursery.” Tamar set her tray down on a piecrust table and handed the roll of bandaging to Lily.
    Jasmine lay back against her pillows while Lily and Camellia cleaned the wound and wrapped it in soft cotton.
    “Can I have a tart?” Jasmine’s eyelids looked heavy, as though she would fall asleep at any moment.
    “Of course, dearest.” Lily nodded to Tamar, who took a plate from the tray and put a tart on it. “If you can stay awake long enough, that is.”
    Camellia rolled up the bandaging while Jasmine took a few bites from one of the treats.
    “Thank you, Sissy.” Jasmine handed the plate to Lily before