When she and Irena had been younger, they’d been convinced that Mother could see right into their heads and pluck out any guilty thoughts. Adelina was too old now for such notions, but she still held her breath every time that probing gaze fell upon her. “Did your sister behave herself today?”
“I’m surprised you even have to ask, Mother. Irena’s the good daughter, remember.”
“That tongue of yours needs blunting.” Mother arched a thin eyebrow. “But I may be partly to blame for your trenchant nature, so I won’t reprimand you.” Her fingers caressed the indented lip of her teacup. “More to the point then. Did this Rafael comport himself appropriately?”
“Like a gentleman. I don’t think they so much as brushed shoulders.”
“Where did he take you? Did he purchase any gifts?”
With Mother, a conversation always became an interrogation. She would have been an excellent magistrate.
“We spent most of the day at the marketplace and the park by the river,” Adelina said. “He bought her fruit pies, a bejeweled pin for her hat and a length of golden ribbon.” Best not to mention the cider.
“The marketplace. I suppose there were bawdy performers.”
“Just a juggler, Mother, and he was fully clothed.”
Mother’s cheeks twitched, and she frowned into her cup. Sometimes, just sometimes, Adelina managed to prod the sense of humor she knew lurked somewhere behind Mother’s grim exterior, and when it happened she always felt a surge of accomplishment.
“Very good,” said Mother, pursing her lips. “What’s your opinion of the man after a day in his company?”
“He’d make Irena very happy.”
Mother flapped a hand. “I have no desire to sound cold, but that’s hardly our primary consideration here. Is he reliable? Can he support her? If we’re to make the right decision for your sister, then we have to complete those estimations first.”
We? Adelina sipped her tea in an attempt to still the quivering in her stomach. Could it be that Mother genuinely respected her judgment?
“He has told your father that he possesses abundant wealth, that his land is profitable and his manor extensive. What do you think?”
“Truthfully, I don’t know. To see him spend, he acts like a man familiar with money.”
Felise slurped at her tea. “Girl, don’t drink like a pig!” Mother scowled, and Felise shrank into the cushions. “So, he may have this money, or he may not. Were this estate of theirs in the next town, or merely several days by coach, I wouldn’t be so apprehensive. But it’s weeks distant, and in a strange and dangerous land…”
“You don’t want her to end up in poverty and without her family close to help her.”
“Precisely.” Mother nipped the corner of a gingerbread biscuit. “Your father will pay a dowry, and quite a considerable one. But it won’t be enough to last the girl a lifetime. She needs a man who can keep her at the level of comfort she’s accustomed to.”
A flash of realization cleared Adelina’s thoughts. “You didn’t send me to act as chaperone, did you? You knew Irena would never let Rafael do anything inappropriate. You sent me to spy on him, because you don’t trust him.”
“I wouldn’t put it so crudely.” Mother brushed a crumb from her lips. “But God has seen fit to give us all talents, and in you he has planted a seed of shrewdness. Adelina, I don’t know what your father thinks or plans. But you have inherited his acumen and, moreover, are a woman of this household. Do you understand? If you love your sister, you’ll watch that man closely. His sister too.”
It was perhaps the longest that Mother had ever spoken to Adelina without disparaging her in some way for her morals, behavior or general spitefulness—one of Mother’s favorite words, at least when it came to describing her middle daughter. Adelina nodded. “I will, Mother. I don’t want Ira to be left impoverished or heartbroken either.”
“Good
“I’m surprised you even have to ask, Mother. Irena’s the good daughter, remember.”
“That tongue of yours needs blunting.” Mother arched a thin eyebrow. “But I may be partly to blame for your trenchant nature, so I won’t reprimand you.” Her fingers caressed the indented lip of her teacup. “More to the point then. Did this Rafael comport himself appropriately?”
“Like a gentleman. I don’t think they so much as brushed shoulders.”
“Where did he take you? Did he purchase any gifts?”
With Mother, a conversation always became an interrogation. She would have been an excellent magistrate.
“We spent most of the day at the marketplace and the park by the river,” Adelina said. “He bought her fruit pies, a bejeweled pin for her hat and a length of golden ribbon.” Best not to mention the cider.
“The marketplace. I suppose there were bawdy performers.”
“Just a juggler, Mother, and he was fully clothed.”
Mother’s cheeks twitched, and she frowned into her cup. Sometimes, just sometimes, Adelina managed to prod the sense of humor she knew lurked somewhere behind Mother’s grim exterior, and when it happened she always felt a surge of accomplishment.
“Very good,” said Mother, pursing her lips. “What’s your opinion of the man after a day in his company?”
“He’d make Irena very happy.”
Mother flapped a hand. “I have no desire to sound cold, but that’s hardly our primary consideration here. Is he reliable? Can he support her? If we’re to make the right decision for your sister, then we have to complete those estimations first.”
We? Adelina sipped her tea in an attempt to still the quivering in her stomach. Could it be that Mother genuinely respected her judgment?
“He has told your father that he possesses abundant wealth, that his land is profitable and his manor extensive. What do you think?”
“Truthfully, I don’t know. To see him spend, he acts like a man familiar with money.”
Felise slurped at her tea. “Girl, don’t drink like a pig!” Mother scowled, and Felise shrank into the cushions. “So, he may have this money, or he may not. Were this estate of theirs in the next town, or merely several days by coach, I wouldn’t be so apprehensive. But it’s weeks distant, and in a strange and dangerous land…”
“You don’t want her to end up in poverty and without her family close to help her.”
“Precisely.” Mother nipped the corner of a gingerbread biscuit. “Your father will pay a dowry, and quite a considerable one. But it won’t be enough to last the girl a lifetime. She needs a man who can keep her at the level of comfort she’s accustomed to.”
A flash of realization cleared Adelina’s thoughts. “You didn’t send me to act as chaperone, did you? You knew Irena would never let Rafael do anything inappropriate. You sent me to spy on him, because you don’t trust him.”
“I wouldn’t put it so crudely.” Mother brushed a crumb from her lips. “But God has seen fit to give us all talents, and in you he has planted a seed of shrewdness. Adelina, I don’t know what your father thinks or plans. But you have inherited his acumen and, moreover, are a woman of this household. Do you understand? If you love your sister, you’ll watch that man closely. His sister too.”
It was perhaps the longest that Mother had ever spoken to Adelina without disparaging her in some way for her morals, behavior or general spitefulness—one of Mother’s favorite words, at least when it came to describing her middle daughter. Adelina nodded. “I will, Mother. I don’t want Ira to be left impoverished or heartbroken either.”
“Good
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