The Gentle Wind's Caress (35 page)

Curled up on the sofa, her slippered feet tucked demurely under the long skirts of her lemon organza dress and across from a roaring fire reclined Faith, the fifth and quietest daughter.

“Father, you are home,” she said, instantly putting her feet down.

“Have you nothing better to do girl than be idle all day?” He sneered.

Faith rose, slipping her book behind her back. “I’ve done all I was asked, Father. I’ve visited the soup kitchens in town with Grace ...”

“As if I care about that! Where
are
those other layabout sisters of yours?”

Faith blinked rapidly. “I believe Heather took Letitia, Phoebe and Emma Kate to the milliners, while Gabriella is out visiting and Grace is in the study.”

Woodruff glared at her. “Don’t let me catch you reading again. If you can’t find something useful to do, then stay out of my sight!”

He crossed the hall and entered the study, eager for a drink. “What the hell are you doing in my study?”

Grace slowly rose from behind the desk, her direct amber eyes meeting his furious scowl. “I’m writing up the house accounts.”

“This is my room! The one room in this whole blasted house where I can achieve peace away from tittering females!”

‘very well. I shall continue my work in the library.”

At five foot seven, Grace was as tall as he. Both she and Heather were the tallest of the girls and could eye him without having to look up. This annoyed him no end. “I want those accounts reduced, do you hear?”

“I don’t think anyone can accuse me of being frivolous.”

He stomped to the drink trolley. “When is dinner to be announced?”

“At seven o”clock, as always, Father.”

“Well it better be edible tonight. Last night’s meal was appalling!”

Grace paused by the door, one slender hand resting upon the brass doorknob. “Every meal in this house is edible, Father.” She left the room before his tirade began.

With an unhappy sigh, Grace went into the library opposite. She felt nothing for the man who sired her, except perhaps distaste. The library was her favourite room, with bookcases lining each wall from the gold embossed ceiling to the plush dark green carpeted floor. A large fireplace stood at one end and occasional tables of oak and beech were dotted between comfortable sofas and armchairs. By the large bay window, stood an impressive desk of walnut inlaid with burgundy leather. She ran her fingers over it as she gazed through the window, absent-mindedly watching a red robin skip from the branches of a rhododendron bush in the fading light.

Hearing noise coming from the hall, she closed her eyes momentarily. Her sisters” voices reached her even through the thickness of the library’s walls. Grace rushed to quieten them before their father roared like an enraged bull.

She was too late. Her father entered the hall at the same time, freezing the smiles on the faces of the four young women.

“Why can you not do anything silently?” He said scornfully. “Wasn’t the money I spent on your governess enough to instil some sense of decency in you? Your mother has failed yet again, I see.”

Grace stepped forward. “Take yourselves upstairs and change for dinner. You are late,” she ordered, though her eyes softened a little, taking the sting out of her words.

“Heather, my study,” Woodruff commanded.

Hesitantly she followed, giving Grace a surprised look.

“You might as well join us, Grace, for you will need to know what is happening and arrange things accordingly,” he added.

They followed him into the study and stood waiting while he sat behind his desk. He placed his hands over his extended stomach and rocked back in the chair. “I have news regarding the dinner party we attended at the Ellsworths’. Amazingly, your mother performed her duty for once and made you all a social success.”

Grace raised an eyebrow. “In all honesty, Father, your wife and daughters have been socially acceptable for many years.”

He snorted. “With the local farmers? Do you think them to be acquaintances worthy of me?”

“I do believe our circle of friends are more than just farmers. I am sure we can count the odd alderman, a doctor or two, a solicitor, a Captain ...”

“Don’t be insolent, Miss!”

“Well, Father, you make the opinion that we do not venture into the correct society.” Grace tilted her head. “Do you wish us to dine with nobility? Shall I send them our card?”

“Be quiet, you impertinent chit!” Woodruff flared. “I will rise to dine in their exalted ranks eventually, and if I can’t do it by marrying you lot into their lines, then I’ll find some other way.”

“How ridiculous.” She crossed her arms. “We are only second generation trade. Do you really expect a lord or an earl will come here and choose one of us?”

Their father’s small round eyes narrowed as he grinned. “No, not yet, although many nobles have little money. They will marry beneath them from time to time to gain wealth once more.”

“We have no fear on that account, sir. We’ve little compared to most.”

Woodruff bristled. “Do you suggest I wish to remain so?”

Surprised, Grace frowned. “Are you not content, sir, with all you have? We’re very fortunate ...”

“What do you know of finance?” He flung his short, fleshy arms wide to incorporate the whole house. “All this requires a great deal of money. Position and status requires even more! The Woodruff name might not be linked to royalty yet, but I intend to have power and eminence one day, even if I have to buy it!”

“Surely, you are content ...”

Heather stepped forward bringing the argument to a halt. “What did you wish to speak to me about, Father?”

Woodruff settled back into his chair. “I had a meeting today with Reginald Ellsworth. He has some business interests equalling mine. In fact, I own a profitable venture he wishes to take off my hands.” He waved in a dismissive gesture. “I am giving him a good price and in return he affords me the opportunity to marry one of you into his pedigree. Of course your marriage settlement from your mother’s money has greased the way a little.”

“No …” A cold shiver ran up Grace’s back.

He held Heather’s gaze. “Ellsworth has granted a union between you, Heather, and his eldest son Andrew. I believe you may expect a call from Andrew tomorrow.”

Heather and Grace stood unblinking, trying to absorb their father’s announcement.

“Come, come! No thanks? No gratitude, Heather?” Woodruff puffed himself up importantly.

“You … you cannot be serious, Father?” Grace hoped he was joking. He’d played evil tricks on them many times before.

He frowned. “And why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, Heather and Andrew have only begun a friendship. To speak of marriage to cement a business deal is unjust.”

“Nonsense! It is commonplace.”

“I had hoped our family would be different. We have seen the evidence of a marriage made solely for business reasons.”

“Still your tongue, girl.”

“But there has been no romantic involvement yet, Father. Has there, Heather?” Grace appealed to her sister before spinning back to glare at him. “Can you not let them grow to love ...?”

“This has nothing to do with romantic notions you silly fool!” He roared, rising to lean over his desk towards her. “This is two mighty families coming together. This is Heather’s duty to me, and her family. She is the age of two and twenty and will be soon beyond her use if she doesn’t find a husband willing enough to look past this error.”

Hatred filled Grace. She stepped closer to the desk. “Her age has nothing to do with this. You simply want to use her as a pawn to infiltrate a society that sneers at you behind your back! They’ll never accept you ...” His stinging slap jerked her head back. Sharp pain bit at her cheek and she put her hand to her burning face. “Heather,” she begged, “say something please!”

Heather looked apologetically at her before glancing at their father. “M … May I go now, Father?”

He spun away. “Yes, of course, but make sure you look your best tomorrow.”

In the hall once more, Grace grabbed Heather’s wrist. “What’s the matter with you? Why didn’t you make any comment or simply refuse?”

“I’m sorry, Grace.” Heather lightly touched her cheek. “Does it hurt very much?”

“Forget about it.” She shrugged. “I’m more worried about this situation.”

“Please, don’t be anxious. It’s all right.”

“All right? He’s married you off without even asking your preference!”

“Thankfully, I like Andrew enough.”

“Like?” Amazed, Grace stared into her sister’s gray eyes. “Oh, Heather, you must more than like!”

“Leave it, Grace, please. I know you mean well, but it’s my choice …”

“No, it’s not! It’s Father’s, obviously!”

“Andrew Ellsworth is a good man, and comes from a good respectable family. On past social occasions over the years I believe we got along well enough. I found we had much in common at the dinner party and although we have not met much since he came home from his tour in Europe, I’m pleased he’s offered to marry me.”

“He might have been bullied into it too!”

Heather stepped to the plush red-carpeted staircase. “Mr Ellsworth isn’t father.”

“No, thank goodness!”

“Don’t worry, Grace, please. I want to be married, I long for it actually.” She sighed. “So, I am content. I’m not as choosy as you when it comes to acquiring a husband.” Heather smiled, her kind, generous temperament coming to the fore again, making Grace feel selfish.

Grace sighed, defeated. Of all her sisters, Heather was the one who felt the need to be married most, and realizing this, Grace knew any more argument would be fruitless. ‘very well, let us inform Mama.”

Together, they entered Diana Woodruff’s suite of rooms. The rich, opulent decor of paintings, vibrant wall colours, numerous plants, abundant furniture, and plentiful ornaments were not to everyone’s taste, but then not everyone had to live within these three rooms all the time. Diana Woodruff had turned away her husband’s demanding attentions for the final time two years ago, when she suffered her last miscarriage at the age of forty-one. Afterwards, Woodruff had gone abroad for six weeks and Diana recovered enough to move out of their bedroom and into another. A doorway was knocked through to the adjoining room and it became her sitting room to entertain visitors. She went downstairs only for dinner, and should they host a party. Other than that, her whole world centred in her three rooms, and she decorated them accordingly.

“Mama?” Heather smiled, entering the sitting room. A little colour tinted her cheeks and a sudden light entered her eyes, bringing a new beauty to her pretty face. Heather positioned herself closest to Diana. The importance of the statement made the middle sister, Letitia give her room.

Grace sighed at the transformation. She felt dejected at the thought of Heather marrying a man she didn’t love just to escape their father.

“What did your father want, poppet?” Diana’s cool blue eyes sparkled in anticipation. Her still youthful face, bearing few wrinkles, broke into a small nervous smile. Diana lifted her hand to silence her other daughters seated around her. She glanced up at Grace looking for clues.

Heather looked quickly around, seemingly for once wanting all her sisters” attention. She waited, taking a deep breath. “I’m to marry Andrew Ellsworth!”

The sudden gasps broke the silence of the room.

Grace watched her mother. She knew her mother forced to keep the smile on her face, but it was difficult. She also knew her mother’s thoughts as though she had spoken them aloud.
So, the mean scoundrel has kept to his word. He will marry them all off, one by one, leaving me alone in this enormous house. Leaving me alone with him!

Within seconds, the Woodruff girls were hugging Heather. Their voices all joined as one, pelting Heather with questions she couldn’t answer at once.

“Shh, shh!” Grace calmed them. “We can talk after dinner, but it’s late and Father will be displeased if we aren’t at the table waiting for him as usual.” She ushered them out and towards their own bedrooms.

“Grace?” Diana halted her departure.

“Yes, Mama?”

“What do you think of this business?”

Grace raised her eyebrows and adjusted the lace cuffs at her wrists. “It is exactly that, isn’t it? Business.”

“Your father will do the same to all of you, you understand don’t you? I want to see you all happily married, but only to the men you yourselves choose, not men who will further benefit your father’s ambitions.”

“I know, Mama.”

Downstairs, the bell rang for dinner, causing Grace to groan. She hadn’t changed her dress. “If he complains I will say it was he who held me up!” Grace remarked, accompanying her mother downstairs.

“I doubt he will, my dear, for he has much to celebrate this night!”

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