Miss Ellerby and the Ferryman Read Online Free PDF

humour. Managing a laugh,
she protested, ‘We are not in pursuit of Mr. Thompson, I hope! How
lowering a thought.’
    Mrs.
Grey’s smile widened. ‘But of course, we are. I have the strictest
instructions from your mother about it. If I do not send you home
avowedly engaged, I shall be declared the wretchedest person
alive.’
    ‘Wretchedest?’ repeated Isabel faintly.
    Mrs.
Grey nodded. ‘Her word. And underlined! Twice!’
    Isabel sighed. ‘Aunt—’ she began.
    Mrs.
Grey did not wait for her to complete her remonstrance. ‘Do you
wish to marry this Mr. Thompson?’ she said, in a serious
tone.
    Isabel hesitated. ‘My mother and father wish it very
much.’
    ‘That
is not what I asked.’
    Isabel looked at her hands. ‘I can have no objection. He is
an agreeable man, not ill-looking, and it will be a suitable
establishment for me.’
    Mrs.
Grey sighed softly. ‘How drear it all sounds.’
    Isabel cast her a suspicious look. ‘Are these not the reasons
why you married my uncle?’
    ‘Why,
yes,’ said her aunt. ‘So they were.’
    ‘And
were you not contented with your choice?’
    Mrs.
Grey’s gaze wandered over Isabel’s face, and she said nothing for
several moments. ‘My dear niece,’ she finally said, and softly.
‘All I wish to know is what you want for yourself.’
    Isabel stared, bewildered, and tried to recall when she had
ever been asked such a question before. ‘I… I am fully aware of the
importance of seeking a suitable establishment. My fortune is not
such that I can expect to secure the necessities of life without
marrying, and it will be a pleasure to me to please my family as
well as myself.’
    Mrs.
Grey’s eyes narrowed. ‘A pretty speech, my love. But is it what you
want?’
    Isabel had no answer to give. Gentlewomen were not raised to
think of such questions as wants; or at least, she certainly had
not been. Her duty had been clearly marked out for her since her
birth, and she had never imagined that she might prefer to deviate
from the ascribed course of an arranged marriage, and all the
happiness that a well-chosen alliance could bring. ‘Then… then you
are not in favour of the match?’
    ‘As
far as my sister is concerned, I am fully in favour of it,’ said
Mrs. Grey. ‘We shall do our appointed duty, and attend all the
necessary social engagements. But I shall not scruple to present
you with alternatives to marriage with Mr. Thompson. I see you
consider this a sacred duty, and one which you have no power to
avoid. That, my love, is taking entirely the wrong view of the
case.’
    Isabel sat a little straighter. ‘I am not aware of any
alternatives, ma’am.’
    ‘Because you have not been given any. And really, the wretched
selfishness of your brother — I could throttle him for it, if I
were not much more inclined to applaud him.’
    Isabel blinked at that. ‘Charles is happy,’ she said. ‘I
cannot accuse him of selfishness, in having contracted an
engagement that is so clearly of benefit to himself.’
    Mrs. Grey merely
looked at her, and smiled.
    ‘An
engagement to Mr. Thompson would be of considerable benefit to me!’
Isabel insisted. ‘Mama only has my happiness in view.’
    ‘That
is a wilful misunderstanding,’ said Mrs. Grey. ‘She has a great
deal more in view than your happiness, as you are well
aware.’
    ‘Mama
would not wish for me to be unhappy.’
    ‘No,
indeed. I can acquit her of ruthlessness, but perhaps not of
carelessness.’
    Isabel opened her mouth, and closed it again with a short
sigh. ‘This cannot be a proper way of talking, aunt! My poor
Mama.’
    ‘Not
at all dutiful, is it?’ said Mrs. Grey cheerfully. ‘I have had my
fill of duty, as you will discover before many days have passed.
But I shall not discomfort you further. Let us instead consider all
the many delights we are to enjoy in the coming weeks! What heights
of tea-drinking and small conversations! What promenades! And we
shall talk over every evening engagement