Rivals of Fortune / The Impetuous Heiress Read Online Free PDF

be coming later. Do change, Joanna.”
    Joanna frowned, then shrugged, turning to allow her mother to unbutton the blue dress. “I thought to wear the white at our dress party,” she said as she struggled out of it. “It is my best. But I suppose I can still do so.”
    â€œOh, no. You must have a new gown for that.”
    Joanna stared. “Another new gown?”
    Her mother laughed. “You will need a great many new dresses for your coming out, my dear. You must get used to them.”
    Joanna frowned again, started to speak, then turned away to get the white dress from her wardrobe.
    A quarter of an hour later, she went down to the drawing room. Both her parents were before her. Her mother, looking splendid in deep rose pink, sat on the sofa before the fireplace, knotting a fringe. Her father, whose blue coat and bluff pantaloons looked a bit disarranged, was at a small table in the corner, leaning over a scrap of paper and talking to himself. When Joanna came in, Mrs. Rowntree looked up and smiled. “Very pretty, my dear,” she said. “The yellow ribbons were a good choice. Doesn’t Joanna look well, George?”
    Her husband did not respond until she repeated the question. Then, he gazed vaguely in Joanna’s direction and murmured, “Ah, yes, just so.”
    Mrs. Rowntree smiled and motioned for Joanna to sit beside her. The girl did so, but she was not smiling.
    â€œWhere is Frederick?” she asked.
    â€œI thought he might eat his dinner in his room this evening. He will walk about on that ankle, so it is not healing as fast as it should. I have told Nurse to keep him in bed tonight. If anyone can do it, she can.”
    Joanna nodded absently, and silence fell again. Her father continued to mutter. She heard him say, “Divided into three, and then six parts, one to be combined with saltpeter, another with sulfur, and so on.” She watched him for a moment with a wistful expression.
    Mrs. Rowntree gazed thoughtfully at her daughter, as if trying to solve some abstruse problem of her own.
    As the mantel clock was striking seven, the maid brought Jonathan Erland to the drawing room. He was dressed in his blue coat again, and Joanna thought his neckcloth ridiculous. It was almost as clumsy as her father’s. Mr. Rowntree came out of his corner, and they all sat down together.
    â€œHow comfortable this is,” said Erland immediately, leaning back in the armchair with a sigh. “You cannot imagine what a week I have had. I do not believe that there is a chimney at the Abbey that does not smoke, a corner that is not piled with dust and cobwebs, or a decent joint or bottle to be had. Mrs. Smith utterly cows me when I venture to complain. I do not understand how my uncle tolerated that woman.” He smiled to take the sting from these words, but it was clear that he meant them.
    Mrs. Rowntree returned the smile. “Your uncle had a very limited and unusual conception of a housekeeper’s duties, I believe, Mr. Erland. He wished only to curb expenditure. Mrs. Smith excels at that, I think.”
    â€œOnly too well,” agreed their guest. “I think she buys spoiled meat because it is dirt cheap. And I know she tried to cheat the baker; he has complained to me. There’s no help for it; I must pension her off and find a new housekeeper. I can’t go on as I am.”
    â€œNo indeed,” put in Mr. Rowntree unexpectedly. “A man must not be distracted by domestic problems. It is fatal to the logical faculties. You must be surrounded by a smoothly running household to allow the mind to run smoothly as well.”
    Mrs. Rowntree laughed a little, and Erland agreed with a smile. Only Joanna made no response. Glancing at her, Erland was surprised to see an almost resentful look on her face.
    â€œTell us more about your Canadian travels,” said Rowntree jovially. And Joanna resigned herself to boredom until dinner was