always went through this ritual whenever she called, even when she was expected. ‘Well, Mildred,’ she said, as her sister-in-law finally ceased her flutterings and sat down opposite her, ‘you have no doubt been expecting me?’
‘Why no!’ A pale flush suffused Mildred’s thin neck above her narrow white collar. Her hair, coiled in a low chignon, was covered by a crocheted net, and she patted it nervously. ‘As I just said, I was expected at …’ Her voice trailed away as Ellen looked directly into her eyes.
‘But you knew I would be coming sooner or later?’ Ellen persisted. ‘Surely, neither you nor Isaac expected William or me to accept the situation as it stands?’
‘I really don’t know what you are talking about, Ellen.’ Mildred’s round and once-pretty face shuttered, and she primped her lips firmly.
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, Mildred.’ Ellen spoke impatiently. ‘Of course you know what I’m talking about. Don’t pretend. I’m referring to James and his child, the child that Sammi has brought home to us because you refuse to acknowledge it.’
‘The woman was lying!’ Mildred’s voice became shrill and she rose to her feet. ‘It has nothing whatever to do with us. We are a respectable family. The very idea is totally abhorrent.’
‘Then why are you sending James away?’ Ellenspoke more quietly, she wanted this matter settling as quickly as possible and she had obviously touched a raw nerve with Mildred’s sensibilities. ‘Why can’t he stay, find the woman and give the child back? Explain – if there really has been a mistake?’
‘James is going away to avoid embarrassment, and I don’t wish to discuss it any further. As far as I am concerned the incident is closed.’ Mildred sat down again breathing heavily, the ruches on her bodice rising and falling rhythmically.
‘The incident! The incident!’ This time Ellen rose from her chair, her passions aroused. ‘You can’t call a child an incident! You can call what leads up to its conception an incident if that is how you see it, but we are talking about a human life.’
Mildred got to her feet once more and the two women faced each other, both their faces were flushed, their hands clenched. ‘How dare you speak so!’ Mildred’s voice was low and scathing. ‘I never thought to hear such things in my own home, especially from someone who is kin.’ She put her hand to her chest and breathed heavily. ‘Thank goodness Isaac isn’t here to witness this, or my daughter.’
‘A child who is reputed to be
your
grandson is at present under
my
daughter’s care and protection, and you worry over how Anne would feel?’ Ellen fastened her cloak and prepared to leave. ‘I just don’t understand you, Mildred. Where is your compassion? Would you leave it to a young and inexperienced girl to accept what should be your responsibility?’
Mildred’s face drained of colour and she seemed to be fighting for self-control. ‘I will say once more, and only once, this has nothing to do with us.’ She took a deep breath. ‘If Sarah Maria wishes to indulge herself over a child, then she should marry and have some of her own instead of collecting others’ waifs and strays. Good day to you, Ellen. You must excuse me, I have a busy afternoon ahead of me.’
Ellen didn’t answer. She picked up her reticule and whirled out of the door, the feathers on her small hat bobbing and bouncing, and it wasn’t until she was back in her carriage and heading back down the drive, her mouth clenched in anger and her eyes filled with tears of fury, did she realize that, although Mildred had offered her refreshment, she hadn’t actually given her any, and she faced the long drive home without the prospect of food or drink.
I shall visit the company
, she decided.
I will speak to Isaac, he surely will come to some arrangement; and if he is not there, then at least I shall see Billy and he will give me tea
.
Their younger son, Billy, had
‘Why no!’ A pale flush suffused Mildred’s thin neck above her narrow white collar. Her hair, coiled in a low chignon, was covered by a crocheted net, and she patted it nervously. ‘As I just said, I was expected at …’ Her voice trailed away as Ellen looked directly into her eyes.
‘But you knew I would be coming sooner or later?’ Ellen persisted. ‘Surely, neither you nor Isaac expected William or me to accept the situation as it stands?’
‘I really don’t know what you are talking about, Ellen.’ Mildred’s round and once-pretty face shuttered, and she primped her lips firmly.
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, Mildred.’ Ellen spoke impatiently. ‘Of course you know what I’m talking about. Don’t pretend. I’m referring to James and his child, the child that Sammi has brought home to us because you refuse to acknowledge it.’
‘The woman was lying!’ Mildred’s voice became shrill and she rose to her feet. ‘It has nothing whatever to do with us. We are a respectable family. The very idea is totally abhorrent.’
‘Then why are you sending James away?’ Ellenspoke more quietly, she wanted this matter settling as quickly as possible and she had obviously touched a raw nerve with Mildred’s sensibilities. ‘Why can’t he stay, find the woman and give the child back? Explain – if there really has been a mistake?’
‘James is going away to avoid embarrassment, and I don’t wish to discuss it any further. As far as I am concerned the incident is closed.’ Mildred sat down again breathing heavily, the ruches on her bodice rising and falling rhythmically.
‘The incident! The incident!’ This time Ellen rose from her chair, her passions aroused. ‘You can’t call a child an incident! You can call what leads up to its conception an incident if that is how you see it, but we are talking about a human life.’
Mildred got to her feet once more and the two women faced each other, both their faces were flushed, their hands clenched. ‘How dare you speak so!’ Mildred’s voice was low and scathing. ‘I never thought to hear such things in my own home, especially from someone who is kin.’ She put her hand to her chest and breathed heavily. ‘Thank goodness Isaac isn’t here to witness this, or my daughter.’
‘A child who is reputed to be
your
grandson is at present under
my
daughter’s care and protection, and you worry over how Anne would feel?’ Ellen fastened her cloak and prepared to leave. ‘I just don’t understand you, Mildred. Where is your compassion? Would you leave it to a young and inexperienced girl to accept what should be your responsibility?’
Mildred’s face drained of colour and she seemed to be fighting for self-control. ‘I will say once more, and only once, this has nothing to do with us.’ She took a deep breath. ‘If Sarah Maria wishes to indulge herself over a child, then she should marry and have some of her own instead of collecting others’ waifs and strays. Good day to you, Ellen. You must excuse me, I have a busy afternoon ahead of me.’
Ellen didn’t answer. She picked up her reticule and whirled out of the door, the feathers on her small hat bobbing and bouncing, and it wasn’t until she was back in her carriage and heading back down the drive, her mouth clenched in anger and her eyes filled with tears of fury, did she realize that, although Mildred had offered her refreshment, she hadn’t actually given her any, and she faced the long drive home without the prospect of food or drink.
I shall visit the company
, she decided.
I will speak to Isaac, he surely will come to some arrangement; and if he is not there, then at least I shall see Billy and he will give me tea
.
Their younger son, Billy, had
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