Read Online Mariel by Jo Ann Ferguson - Free Book Online Page B

the teacher. “Thank you for coming, Reverend Beckwith-Carter. I trust you enjoyed yourself.”
    Ian smiled. “Without a doubt. She certainly speaks her mind, doesn’t she?”
    â€œYes!” he snapped. His frustration found an easy outlet with the clergyman. “She comes in here with her strange ideas and thinks she can change what has worked for years. It all comes from allowing women to vote in local elections. As soon as that happened, she convinced some fools to nominate her for the school board. Since her victory at the polls, she has been creating havoc at each meeting.”
    With studied nonchalance, Ian asked, “I am sure the election results were close.”
    â€œThe first time,” admitted Gratton reluctantly. “She was challenged last winter for a second term and won by a wide margin.”
    â€œYou might wish to listen to the opinion of the voters, Mr. Gratton. It may be that only the school board is upset by her so-called newfangled ideas.” He smiled as the man regarded him with shock. Deciding he had made his point, Ian added, “Good evening, sir. I trust I will see you on Sunday.”
    Mr. Gratton mumbled something and heard Lady Mariel’s lighthearted laugh as she approached. He stepped back to watch while she greeted Reverend Beckwith-Carter. His eyes narrowed when he noted the visible softening of the unyielding edges she presented to the school board. Instantly he knew the new minister would not help them in keeping Lady Mariel from railroading her plans through the school board.
    He should have guessed. The pastor was a young man, just the right age to have his head turned by the beautiful Lady Mariel. With a spurt of malicious glee, Mr. Gratton decided it would be gratifying to watch the minister receive his comeuppance. Lady Mariel, in the barkeeper’s opinion, was destined to be an old maid. She had turned away too many suitors of wealth and title to be interested in the village parson.
    Mariel had no such cold intentions as she smiled at the auburn-haired man who set her heart to beating too rapidly. “Ian, you have met Mr. Jones, haven’t you?”
    Ian looked at the small man, not much taller than Mariel. Mr. Jones was a pale man with a sallow complexion, nearly colorless blond hair, and drab clothes. Yet when he smiled and extended his hand to the new minister, Ian knew Mr. Jones was a man who loved people and loved his profession. Shaking the proffered hand, Ian said, “It is nice to discover Mariel has one ally on the school board.”
    â€œI am not really a member,” he explained in a voice that seemed incredibly deep for a man of his stature. “I come more as a cheering section for Lady Mariel. In her short term on the board, she has grasped an understanding of the needs of the children which others have not learned during their many years.”
    When Mr. Gratton cleared his throat gruffly, Mr. Jones bit his lip to keep from smiling. Mr. Knowles shooed them out of the building, so he could extinguish the lamps. Mariel moved to the steps of the building where she listened as Ian continued his conversation with Mr. Jones.
    The other men drifted away into the shadows, leaving the three on the stairs. When Mr. Jones excused himself with the explanation that he had papers to correct for his class, he smiled at the woman waiting with uncharacteristic silence.
    â€œI think we might be able to convince them, Lady Mariel.”
    She laughed lightly. “Your suggestion of making it sound as if it was my idea shall work wonderfully.”
    â€œI was sure Knowles would refuse to cooperate,” the teacher explained to Ian. “Then it would be a battle between the two instructors here.”
    â€œBy making it seem to be Mariel’s idea, you could maintain your working relationship with Knowles.” Ian smiled. “You two have created your idea and sprung it on the others masterfully. I think you will