On Gentle Wings Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Sophie married above her station, and in doing
so surely offended the Lord. He shortly called her and Robert to task for it by
sending the botch plague, therefore burdening poor Aunt Mary and me with your
keep.” He heaved a self-righteous sigh and droned on.
    “I fear we already had too many mouths to feed when you
came, Isobel. God exhorted us to the fruitfulness advised in His Good Book and
we obeyed, but ’twas a frightful task, indeed, we faced when yet another hungry
mouth appeared on our humble step. I confess we were most relieved when your
Weeks cousin offered to care for you here.”
    Isobel bit her lip at his pious speech. She wanted so badly
to remark that he and Aunt Mary had certainly never spared an extra ounce of
charity on her behalf; hadn’t she shared a bed with four other girls, worn
their cast off shoes and kirtles, and never complained?
    As for meals, she doubted the portions of thin porridge and
rancid gruel had ever been shorted on her account. All the Taggart children were
hungry and hollow-cheeked long before she came.
    “At least one of your Weeks relations accepted some
responsibility in the end, child. You must say a special prayer in Elspeth’s
memory. The good woman wanted to see you safely settled after she was gone. ’Tis
why she made a last provision in her will concerning a dowry.”
    “No.” Her cry was so faint and shocked, Isobel wasn’t even
sure she heard it herself. Uncle Simon frowned censoriously at her and she
realized he thought it was a great boon she as yet failed to appreciate.
    “Aye, lass, Elspeth Tanner left you a most generous dowry,
providing you do as I advise and wed within your class.” Pausing to clear his
throat, he added, “You may recall my neighbor, Will Plummer, has several sons
about your age. I think, perhaps, young Tom would suit best — ”
    Isobel exhaled with horror, her head spinning. “No!” was all
she could say, over and over, like a spineless dolt. Aye, she remembered Old
Man Plummer, all right, and his seven filthy sons. Most worked in the tin mines
at Land’s End, and spent their every pence on drink and loose women.
    She also remembered that Uncle Simon had coveted Plummer’s
copper-rich property for years, and this probably seemed a fair means wherein
he could strike a deal. She knew she had been of no concern to her uncle, until
she had received this unexpected windfall of a dowry.
    Sensing her defiance, Uncle Simon hardened his gaze on her
and his voice became quite stern. “Your late cousin’s wishes are clear on the
matter, girl. Elspeth knew of the selfless Christian hospitality the Taggart
family extended in your youth, and naturally, she felt some sort of recompense
was warranted.”
    As my dear cousin also knew full well the trials I
suffered back in Cornwall ! Isobel thought, outraged. As a little girl she
had arrived at Ambergate half-starved, a mere rack of bones in a
threadbare russet gown. Sweet Jesu! Could Cousin Elspeth be so cruel, even from
the grave?
    Apparently so.
    “I understand you must be overwhelmed, niece. ’Tis a most
magnanimous gesture, is’t not?”
    Indeed , Isobel thought bitterly. She wondered if Kit
knew of it, also. Surely he had approved every last provision of his late
wife’s will. Mayhap he had even suggested it!
    Hurt and furious, she wondered now why she had ever
considered sparing Kit’s feelings concerning his girls. Aye, she vowed she
would write her own brutal letter this very day, just as soon as she rid
herself of her odious Uncle Simon.
     
    ~*~
     
    K it Tanner
stared bemused at the parchment in his hands. He digested the crisply worded
message yet again, shaking his head in disbelief. Isobel wrote this? His meek,
sweet-natured, biddable little Isobel?
    … and so, Sir Christopher, if it is not too much trouble,
and if you can possibly tear yourself away from the doubtless fascinating décolletage
at Nonsuch, then pray, do come and visit your children, especially as I