7. Chapter Seven #2
Margaret couldn’t put down Jane Eyre. She had always adored the Bront? sisters, especially Anne Bront?’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
She loved its chilling, gothic elements of labyrinths, ghosts, insanity, and mysterious castles, all of which made the story engaging.
Now that she was living in a large mansion with traces of death and gloom, the novel was perfect.
She remained in the garden, overlooking the James River, fully immersed in the scene.
The cold and frightening woods from her book transformed the quiet garden into a desolate gothic moorland.
Margaret bit her fingernails as she continued.
“Margaret!”
Alas, Margaret was taken out of her novel. She sighed and grasped the open book against her chest. Always some distraction. “Over here!”
She hadn’t expected to see Grandmama of all people, especially in her time of mourning.
She spent the past few days locked away in her bed chamber.
Seeing her in all black with a veil over her face was awful.
However, the veil wasn’t thick enough to cover her tear-stained eyes.
The woman could hardly speak from her constant weeping, but her grinning appearance was quite unexpected.
Grandmama appeared from the corner of the garden with her arms open, and her eyes sparkled as the sunlight shone on her pale face. “My darling, Margaret!”
Margaret set her book on the bench and embraced her grandmother.
Grandmama filled the air with the strong scent of lilacs and lavender, as if she had applied nearly a full bottle of her finest perfume.
The fresh wind carried her fragrance, spreading it around them.
Margaret held her breath, fearing she might cough and offend her dear grandmama, who was in a sensitive and delicate state.
Perhaps the perfume gave her the confidence to step out of mourning without wearing bright colors.
“Good morning, Grandmama.”
Grandmama pulled away. “Oh, dear child. It’s not morning. It’s quite early in the afternoon.”
“Oh.” Margaret touched her cheeks as they flushed. Time had passed since she began the first chapter of Jane Eyre, perhaps hours. From the position of the sun, it appeared to be noon. She was surprised no one had retrieved her for lunch. Maybe Grandmama had come to inform her.
“Sit down, my dear. We have a lot to chat about.”
Grandmama took hold of Margaret’s hands as they sat on the bench. An eerie silence lingered between them for almost a minute. A nearby fountain babbled, providing a soft background noise. Grandmama touched Margaret’s loose strands of hair and pulled them behind her ear.
“Your hair looks different today. Are you trying something new?”
Margaret touched the back of her head. She had dearly enjoyed the finger waves from the ball and requested to have it styled that way again. She believed that doing her hair differently helped her blend into this new world she was experiencing.
“Why, yes. One of the ladies' maids attempted it. It was Marjorie’s suggestion.”
“Well, it looks lovely,” Grandmama complimented. “I see you have come a long way since you arrived. Richmond must be rubbing off on you.”
“Perhaps,” Margaret answered, but it wasn’t true. With Grandfather’s passing and the unheard words from Eugene, she needed a distraction. Creating a new profile and reading novels in the garden worked rather well. With her mind consumed by her fantasy world, she had fewer worries.
“Tell me, Margaret. Be honest with me. How do you like it here in Richmond?”
“Well, it is quite different from Charlottesville. I hardly remember much of Richmond since I left many years ago, but it seems like a nice city.”
Grandmama’s smile grew with each passing moment. “How would you like to stay here with me?”
Margaret’s heart skipped a beat. “Stay?”
“Only a few more weeks. I could use the companionship. Your mother and I have never seen eye-to-eye, but I’d love for us to get to know each other. What do you say?”
Margaret was speechless. She had been overlooked by her Grandmother Martin for many years. Grandmother Martin had devoted her time to Marjorie, but Grandmama Nicholson was a wealthy socialite, asking for Margaret to stay. There had to be a mistake. How could she be favored over Marjorie?
“How about four weeks?” Grandmama pressed. “My health should be improved by then. All this mourning has made me feel rather poorly.”
“Four weeks? My birthday is in four weeks.”
“More of a reason to throw a party!”
“Wouldn’t my family miss me?”
“Of course,” Grandmama said. “But you can’t stay in their home forever. It’s time for you to grow some wings and fly!”
Margaret’s thoughts were jumbled. She had left the nest before, and it hadn’t been the best experience.
However, that was nearly five years ago.
What about now? Could she leave her family for a month?
Could she survive in such a place? She thought about Eugene.
How would he find her if she were to leave?
After the funeral, she hoped he’d come by and see her, but maybe everything was too soon.
She had to think about Grandmama. Margaret couldn’t imagine what the woman was going through.
If Margaret had lost someone close to her, she wouldn’t want to be alone either.
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“What’s there to think about? You must stay with me, Margaret. You must.” Grandmama’s voice squeaked at her last word, and she turned away, dabbing her eyes with her fingers. Would turning Grandmama down be the right choice?
Margaret gripped Grandmama’s hand. “I’m sorry, Grandmama. If you’d like me to stay, I will.” Margaret reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. Grandmama took it with gratitude, and her tears fell fast as she wiped each one.
“What’s wrong?” Margaret asked. “Have I offended you?”
Margaret’s grandmother shook her head. “No, it’s not you. I’m just . . . I’m ruined.”
Margaret scooted closer and pulled her arm around her grandmother’s shoulders. “You’re not ruined. Whatever do you mean?”
Grandmama revealed her tear-clouded eyes. “You’re my only hope, Margaret.”
Grandmama wasn’t making sense—perhaps grief had overwhelmed her. Why would she think herself ruined, and how could Margaret be seen as hope? Maybe being Grandmama’s companion was an intelligent move. She needed comfort during her days of grief and confusion.
“What are you talking about?”
Grandmama gripped Margaret’s hand tighter.
“You, my dear. You can save us.” It took a moment for Grandmama’s breathing to settle and stop her tears.
“When your grandfather died, he left me with hardly anything. We met with his lawyer about half an hour ago. Your grandfather’s will . . . he named you his heir.”
Margaret’s world spun like a dizzying carousel. Surely she hadn't heard correctly. Either Grandmama was going mad or Margaret was deaf.
“That doesn’t make sense. Why me?”
“Because he saw wonders in you. Don’t doubt yourself, my granddaughter. I would have chosen you in a heartbeat, too.”
“But how would we be ruined? I’m the heir, right? I can give it all back to you. Just give me a pen, and I can sign my rights away.”
Grandmama shook her head and squeezed Margaret’s hand. “Margaret, you don’t understand. You can’t gain your fortune unless you’re married. That is, you must marry a suitable match by your twenty-first birthday. He must be of a great fortune and have prosperous property.”
The words stung Margaret, sending a wave of shock through her.
It seemed her parents’ horrors were coming back to life.
But wasn’t Grandfather a changed man? How could he do something so treacherous?
Margaret placed her hand on her stomach as it churned at the thought.
I’m not ready to be married. An heiress?
There’s a mistake! Margaret tried to draw a breath, but it seemed as though panic had wrapped its icy fingers around her throat, constricting her airways.
“Married? I can’t get married. My birthday is four weeks away. How can I find a husband by then?”
Grandmama brushed Margaret’s cheek with her gloved hand. “You are so beautiful, my sweet granddaughter. I have no doubt you can do this. I believe in you.”
Margaret’s body erupted into flames, heat radiating from her as stress and anxiety crashed over her in relentless waves.
She hardly ever thought of marriage, especially so soon.
The only time she thought about the matter and came close to considering it was when she was in the arms of Eugene Ashcroft, but there had been no word from him.
Whatever turned him away would likely turn any other suitor, too. The situation was hopeless.
“Leave the matchmaking to me,” Grandmama said with a smile. “I will make a list of eligible bachelors as soon as possible.”
Margaret was frozen in thought, her mind racing as she struggled to comprehend how a harmless family visit had spiraled into chaos overnight. How could her entire future unravel so quickly?
“Ramona.” Margaret looked up to see Mama at the corner of the garden. Her arms were crossed, facing Grandmama. “I see you have discussed the matter with my daughter.”
Grandmama’s face turned red as she fidgeted with her skirt.
Mama knew of the will, too? Margaret’s heart pounded, now knowing the will was indeed true and not one of Grandmama’s falsehoods.
But that didn’t make it better! This will was more than a piece of paper.
Margaret was holding the family fortune in her hand, a fortune her great-grandfather desperately worked for.
It was the fortune her father was supposed to have. She couldn’t let it all die, could she?
The very thought sickened Margaret, knowing she’d be the cause of giving it up completely.
Despite the thought of her parents hating wealthy lifestyles, she knew deep down her father cared.
It was his birthright, one that stood the test of times—the Civil War, Reconstruction, Industrialization, and the Great War.