to soak in the battered pewter basin, pouring hot water from the kettle over them.
“Fiona!” She set the empty kettle down on the hearth. “Fiona!” No reply and Alex made an irritated noise. Where was she? She’d been gone for hours, and this was not a day off, definitely not.
“Daniel will be sent off soon enough anyway.” She sighed, returning to her discussion with Magnus.
“Sent off?”
“Matthew wants him to be a minister, so he’ll be sent to study elsewhere when he’s around ten or twelve.” To Massachusetts, which to Alex was like sending her boy to a different country, to live among people she knew absolutely nothing about.
“And what does Daniel think about all this?” Magnus asked with a disapproving edge.
“Daniel will do as his father bids him. I just hope he finds some happiness along the way.”
“And Mark? Jacob?”
“Mark is needed here, on the land. Matthew will ensure there’s enough land to support two or three of his sons. And Jacob, well for now he’s also needed here, but Matthew has spoken of apprenticing him down in Providence.”
Jacob was the one with the real aptitude for books, and just the other day Alex had found Matthew deep in thought, his eyes staring straight through Jacob, who was busy reading at the little desk. Mayhap a lawyer, Matthew had confided to Alex, who agreed.
“How can you let him take all these decisions?” Magnus looked at her as if he had no idea who this strange woman might be.
“How?” Alex rolled her eyes at him. “They’re his to take. The children are his, not mine; he has sole say in what they do or don’t do. Don’t get me wrong; Matthew and I discuss this, and he does take my opinion into consideration. But ultimately it’s he that decides.” She flashed him a look. “I’m not a pushover, and I’m fortunate to have a husband who sets great value on my advice. But legally I’m without rights. I don’t exist as a separate entity; I’m only an extension of Matthew. Fun, isn’t it? Especially for a girl raised after Women’s Lib...”
“Then why did you stay here?” Magnus said. “Why didn’t you take the opportunity to go back with Isaac?”
“Yeah, that would really have made things easy, wouldn’t it? Isaac torn between me and John; John torn between Diane and me.” Alex shook her head. “I couldn’t. Not once since I met Matthew has there been any doubt in my mind that I belong with him. It would shred me to pieces to be without him.” She averted her eyes from his condescending look and moved over to the door. “Where the hell is she?” she muttered. “It’s time to start supper and the cows have to be milked...” She yanked her straw hat off its hook and pressed it down on her head. “Will you keep an eye on the kids? If Matthew asks, I’m off looking for Fiona – in the direction of the Waltons.”
*
It was a relief to escape the kitchen and the strained conversation with Magnus. In her head, she’d held long debates with her father throughout the years, but Magnus in reality was very different from how he was in her head. And it didn’t help that Matthew and Magnus had not exactly taken to each other.
Belatedly, it struck her that it might not be the best of ideas to rush off alone and unarmed in search of Fiona, but by now she was well on her way and reluctant to turn back. She exhaled and picked up her pace, keeping just off the trail.
“Fiona?” Kristin said. “No, I haven’t seen her. Did you send her here?”
“No, but she’s been gone most afternoon, and...err...well, I think she’s somewhat taken with your brother.”
“My brother?” Kristin repeated, bringing her fair brows together into a frown. “How do you mean: taken with my brother?”
“She fancies him which, given how good-looking he is, isn’t exactly strange, is it?”
Kristin’s freckles stood stark against her paling skin. “He has a betrothed, so your maid must look elsewhere.”
“I’ll be sure to
“Fiona!” She set the empty kettle down on the hearth. “Fiona!” No reply and Alex made an irritated noise. Where was she? She’d been gone for hours, and this was not a day off, definitely not.
“Daniel will be sent off soon enough anyway.” She sighed, returning to her discussion with Magnus.
“Sent off?”
“Matthew wants him to be a minister, so he’ll be sent to study elsewhere when he’s around ten or twelve.” To Massachusetts, which to Alex was like sending her boy to a different country, to live among people she knew absolutely nothing about.
“And what does Daniel think about all this?” Magnus asked with a disapproving edge.
“Daniel will do as his father bids him. I just hope he finds some happiness along the way.”
“And Mark? Jacob?”
“Mark is needed here, on the land. Matthew will ensure there’s enough land to support two or three of his sons. And Jacob, well for now he’s also needed here, but Matthew has spoken of apprenticing him down in Providence.”
Jacob was the one with the real aptitude for books, and just the other day Alex had found Matthew deep in thought, his eyes staring straight through Jacob, who was busy reading at the little desk. Mayhap a lawyer, Matthew had confided to Alex, who agreed.
“How can you let him take all these decisions?” Magnus looked at her as if he had no idea who this strange woman might be.
“How?” Alex rolled her eyes at him. “They’re his to take. The children are his, not mine; he has sole say in what they do or don’t do. Don’t get me wrong; Matthew and I discuss this, and he does take my opinion into consideration. But ultimately it’s he that decides.” She flashed him a look. “I’m not a pushover, and I’m fortunate to have a husband who sets great value on my advice. But legally I’m without rights. I don’t exist as a separate entity; I’m only an extension of Matthew. Fun, isn’t it? Especially for a girl raised after Women’s Lib...”
“Then why did you stay here?” Magnus said. “Why didn’t you take the opportunity to go back with Isaac?”
“Yeah, that would really have made things easy, wouldn’t it? Isaac torn between me and John; John torn between Diane and me.” Alex shook her head. “I couldn’t. Not once since I met Matthew has there been any doubt in my mind that I belong with him. It would shred me to pieces to be without him.” She averted her eyes from his condescending look and moved over to the door. “Where the hell is she?” she muttered. “It’s time to start supper and the cows have to be milked...” She yanked her straw hat off its hook and pressed it down on her head. “Will you keep an eye on the kids? If Matthew asks, I’m off looking for Fiona – in the direction of the Waltons.”
*
It was a relief to escape the kitchen and the strained conversation with Magnus. In her head, she’d held long debates with her father throughout the years, but Magnus in reality was very different from how he was in her head. And it didn’t help that Matthew and Magnus had not exactly taken to each other.
Belatedly, it struck her that it might not be the best of ideas to rush off alone and unarmed in search of Fiona, but by now she was well on her way and reluctant to turn back. She exhaled and picked up her pace, keeping just off the trail.
“Fiona?” Kristin said. “No, I haven’t seen her. Did you send her here?”
“No, but she’s been gone most afternoon, and...err...well, I think she’s somewhat taken with your brother.”
“My brother?” Kristin repeated, bringing her fair brows together into a frown. “How do you mean: taken with my brother?”
“She fancies him which, given how good-looking he is, isn’t exactly strange, is it?”
Kristin’s freckles stood stark against her paling skin. “He has a betrothed, so your maid must look elsewhere.”
“I’ll be sure to
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