Lavender Lady Read Free Page A

figured out jist fine, and all ye’ve to do is what she says.”
    So fiercely did the old man pronounce this last that all James could do was stammer meekly, “Yes, sir, of course we will.”
    Once again, Hester thought it prudent to change the subject, though she could see that all the children were bursting with questions.
    “Grandfather,” she said pacifically, “I believe Alice finished your new shirt today. I shall iron it in the morning, and you’ll have it by noon.”
    “May I press it, please?” begged Susan. “I have been practising on Robbie’s shirts, and indeed I think I can do it well enough even for Grandpapa.”
    “To be sure, you may. It will be a great help to me if you can do a good job. No one could ask for a more helpful family,” said Hester, looking round the table with a contented sigh. “Susan and Rob, if you please, clear the dishes for Ivy. I must go up and see how Mr. Fairfax does. I will join you all later.”
    “I’d like a word wi’ ye, child, afore ye goes up,” requested Mr. Stevens.
    “Come into the study, Grandpapa.” Hester led the way into the tiny back room where she kept her papers. “I must thank you for saving me from an argument with Jamie. The dear boy feels it sadly that he cannot provide for his brothers and sisters. I wish you would allow me to tell him how much help you give us. I am sure he suspects that we could not manage on my fortune alone.”
    “Nay, lass, let be. I’ve enough for me needs and a bit over, I thank God. And I owe their mother summat that she brought you up a lady. ‘Tis not every stepmama’d’ve done it.”
    “She was always very kind to me, and Papa was the dearest man, only not practical. I still regret that Hilltop Manor had to be sold, though I believe Geoffrey feels the loss more than James. However, enough of repining. What did you wish to say to me, Grandpapa?”
    “Think ye this clutch-fisted aunt o’ theirn will take Alice?”
    “I tried to word my letter in such a way that she will find it difficult to refuse,” replied Hester dryly. “The family never actually broke off all correspondence, you know, in spite of their disapproval of the ‘shopkeeper and his brat.’”
    “If that’s what they call us, I suppose there’s no chance as Lady Bardry’d take you into Society along o’ Alice.” The old man sighed heavily as he abandoned his last hope of seeing his granddaughter well established.
    “Oh no, Grandfather, I’d not expect such condescension, nor want it. Whatever would the children do if I were to start gadding about to grand parties? Come, do not fall into the mopes. I’ve no pretensions to beauty and never desired to buy a husband with my fortune, so I’m happy to be able to use it for the good of the dear children. Such plans as I have for them!”
    In all Hester’s plans, there was no room for thoughts of marriage for herself. Used to regarding herself as a nondescript dab of a girl, she was oblivious to the improvements in her appearance wrought by maturity. She was aware that, in spite of her mother’s birth, a dowry of twenty thousand pounds might have brought her eligible suitors a-plenty. However, by the time Susan was of an age to be wed and Robbie to become a midshipman, her fortune would be much diminished, and at twenty-eight or -nine she would be firmly on the shelf. By that time, she had decided a little sadly, she would be so used to ruling the roost that doubtless the idea of submitting to a husband would be abhorrent to her anyway. She had every expectation of dwindling into a maiden aunt.
    Busy from dawn to dusk—running the household, cooking, teaching the children—she had no time for regrets. Her slight figure belied a resilient strength, and, serene in the knowledge that she was doing her best, she seldom lost the gentle assurance that guided her family through good times and bad.
    Now she kissed her grandfather goodnight and watched him trudge through the twilight garden to his