Chapter 26 #2
Yes, she had always known that the death of her mother in childbirth had been a profound tragedy in their household.
And she always feared that on some level it was the reason why her father treated her in a more distant and condescending manner.
She had always hoped that, by being the perfect daughter, she would prove to him that his first wife’s death had not been in vain, for her ideals would live on in the form of Elspeth, who rarely took an action or said a word without first asking herself if it was something that her mother would endorse.
But to hear him say so baldly that he blamed her for her mother’s death was like ripping open a wound she had thought long scarred over.
* * * *
Mairi came home just before dinner, and at least she was legitimately overjoyed to see her sister.
But it wasn’t until late at night that Elspeth and Mairi could speak in private, both of them sequestered in Elspeth’s bedroom, the door closed with a chair slid in front of it to prevent surprise arrivals.
After Mairi applied a cool cloth to Elspeth’s stinging cheek, the two young women sat together on the bed in the corner of the room opposite the door, their heads close together.
Mairi said, “It’s been horrific living here since I discovered the truth.
Of course, I never said anything to him directly, but I fear he’s got some inkling that I know.
But in all honesty, both Father and Susan are so bound up in the preparations for all the festivities that they have ignored everything else, including me.
But that won’t persist beyond the wedding breakfast.”
“Oh, she’s getting a wedding breakfast?” Elspeth asked, her stomach turning at the idea.
“She’s getting everything. But I suspect Father’s creditors will visit the next morning. Or evening. For his lenders seem like the type who rely on the cover of darkness.”
Elspeth couldn’t help but wonder what time of day it had been when her father traded her to Struan. If she were still speaking to Struan, she might ask him. Then she let out a short laugh, contemplating the absurdity of inquiring of her husband exactly when he had purchased her.
Mairi gave her a strange look, and Elspeth waved her bout of levity off. “I agree we cannot trust to Father’s better angels. Have you decided on any course of action?”
“Well, the League is composed of women who are sympathetic to my situation. They had the usual suggestions of finding a position as a governess, or a schoolmistress somewhere. Scotland is fortunate to have a great proliferation of schools now. However, the fact remains that I’m legally in Father’s care while I’m unmarried, so he could force me to either marry some man I’ve not met, or ship me off as an indentured servant—whether formally or no—to a location I would have no say in.
My only sure escape is to flee the country, or disappear from public knowledge. ”
Elspeth said, “Linneliath is such a vast house that I honestly believe I could tuck you away in an upper floor, and no one would even know you were there.”
Mairi shook her head with a sad smile. “Your husband’s home is no better than this house, if he is of the same mind as our father, and believes that women are chattel. I must say, I thought—I’d hoped—he was better than that. He seemed better than that when I spoke to him at the wedding.”
Elspeth was bitter as she spoke. “Oh, Mairi, how I wish I had listened to you these past few years, when you were attending your meetings and trying to get me to come along with you. I trusted that if I acted the part of the perfect lady, I would somehow be rewarded with a lady’s perfect life. You saw what I didn’t.”
“It’s a hard truth to learn. And I wasn’t the most welcome of messengers. I was so confident in the obviousness of what my society was sharing that I never took the time to view the news from the perspective of anyone else.”
“Perhaps the ladies of your society should start a fund,” Elspeth suggested, “to provide aid for those women who must strike out on their own, without the blessing of their fathers, or husbands, or brothers.” She spoke in jest, but part of her wished there was some alternative other than capitulation.
Now, Mairi laughed. “Perhaps you could ask your husband to donate. He’s wealthy enough.”
“I doubt he would be sympathetic to the cause. I could sell my jewels to become an initial funder—not Mama’s pearls, though, of course.
Jewels do belong to a woman outright, if they have been given as a gift.
I brought some jewels with me, you know, because of all the parties and things. They’re surely worth a great deal.”
“And what would happen to you when your husband learned of it? While you may theoretically have the right to sell them, it would be foolish to think there would be no punishment for doing so. And I fear that selling jewelry in haste leads to a poor return.” Mairi got a guilty look on her face.
“I attempted to sell a few pieces of my own jewelry already. The offers I got, even from reputable businesses in the city, were shockingly low. Perhaps one fifth of what one would expect the price to be as a buyer of the same jewels. Other offers were closer to a tenth. We can’t buy our way out of this predicament. ”
“I’m not giving up. It’s too late for me, but not too late for you. Speak again to the ladies of your society. One of them may have some fantastic idea that will prove the perfect solution.”
“I may as well wish upon a star to meet the perfect man at my stepsister’s celebrations,” Mairi grumbled.
“It could happen,” Elspeth said, feeling hope, that intimate enemy, rise in her chest. “It’s an era of enlightenment, is it not?”
“My darling Elspeth, I envy your gentle heart. How is it that you can be treated so shabbily, and yet maintain your cheerful air?”
“Practice. Isn’t that exactly what I have done my whole life?”
Mairi laughed, then said, “Well, show me all your new things. I see we’re surrounded by fripperies.”
Elspeth showed her everything. Day gowns, evening wear.
Sumptuous ballgowns in fabrics too priceless to touch.
(She touched them anyway.) A stunning blue satin empire gown with jet beads.
A pink velvet gown with a flour-sack train that trailed eight feet behind her.
A ballgown rendered in golden silk, somehow holding all the light of a sunset within it.
“These are…” Mairi whispered, shocked into speechlessness.
“Wasteful? Symbols of woman as mere object?”
“Art.” Mairi’s tone was reverent. “You didn’t say you have the wardrobe of a Persian empress.”
“I didn’t know! I’ve never seen half of these before. Struan did tell me he paid for a whole new wardrobe for me but…”
“These must have arrived later than the first items, and you never had a chance to wear them up there. And everything just got sent down here together. Pest, you will be the best dressed woman in the isles.”
“I don’t want that.”
“Well, you have it anyway. Best make use of it while you can. Averill is holding half a dozen events. Outshining her at every single one will be amusing, if nothing else.”
“She’ll be enraged,” Ellie noted. Then she smiled. “Perhaps it will build character. After all, if she were in London, there must be a risk of running into a better dressed lady.”
“Ah, London!” Mairi trilled. “If only she could go back there…forever.”
“She’ll be married to Mr Farquhar soon enough. She’ll be out of your life within weeks.”
“I count the breaths,” Mairi muttered. “Well, let’s plan your outfit for the first party. What gown will make Averill the angriest?”