Faraway Girl by Fleur Beale

Author:Fleur Beale [Beale, Fleur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780143775911
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2013-04-08T00:00:00+00:00

22

Smeaton came back and, obedient to his mother’s command, conducted the girls from the room with ill-concealed impatience. He marched them down the wide corridor and threw open a door. ‘The formal dining room.’

He clearly didn’t want his guests to linger, but Constance stepped right into the room, Etta following close behind her. He stayed in the doorway, making a great show of dragging a watch from his pocket and consulting it. Etta’s heart squeezed. That girl was wondering if she should say out loud what was on her mind, and Etta had a pretty shrewd notion about what it might be. ‘Say it,’ she whispered. ‘You’ve got nothing to lose.’

Her words gave Constance the extra bit of courage she needed. ‘Mr Smeaton, your mother told me that she will continue to run your household after we marry. I hope that will not be the case.’

He took a couple of steps into the room, just enough to snap the door shut. ‘My mother is correct. I don’t see any need to change the way I live once I’m married.’

You stupid shit. Etta wanted to clock him over the head with the big vase of gladioli standing on the sideboard.

Constance, her hands clasped tight, said, ‘But you must perceive that I will have no role if that is the case. How do you envision I would spend my time?’

He shrugged. ‘Whatever women of your class do — which you would know better than I. And once you become a mother you’ll be busy enough.’

Constance, aware of Etta’s solid support, made a desperate attempt to reason with him. ‘Mr Smeaton, I do not want to live with such an arrangement.’

He looked bored. ‘That is unfortunate for you, Miss Williston. I’m paying your parents a tidy sum to take you off their hands. Situated as you are without a dowry, you’re unlikely to get another offer.’

Take her off their hands? What a … Etta couldn’t keep silent a second longer. ‘A truly loving speech. What girl could resist throwing herself into your arms.’ She took Constance’s hand. ‘Come on, let’s look at the kitchen.’ She aimed a look of contempt at her host. ‘And if he won’t take us there, we’ll go exploring and find it ourselves.’ Oh sheesh, she needed to chill. It wouldn’t help Constance if she did the whole twenty-first-century attitude on him. She took a couple of deepish breaths. ‘Mr Smeaton, please forgive me. My comment was out of order.’ Even though you bloody deserved it — and more. ‘I’d love to look at the kitchen, if you would be so kind as to escort us there. Constance didn’t recognise anything in ours, so I’d like to see what this one is like.’ She tried a bit of flattery. ‘I’m guessing it could be more up to date than the Willistons’ one.’

‘Hurry up then. I’ve already wasted enough time today.’

So not exactly thrilled to be showing off his whiteware. Never mind, she’d do what she could to calm him down by showing great interest.

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