Margaret took the opportunity to send a questioning look Alexandra’s way. Though she was young, Alexandra had always been the best when it came to numbers. Her recent interest in sneaking their father’s account books out of his study meant she had a better insight into money matters than a lot of them did.
Alexandra’s hasty shake of her head showed Margaret she was right. Evelina was sending them money after all.
I know Evelina. She is too much a mother to us all not to send anything back.
“She comes often to see you all, too, doesn’t she?” Margaret pushed, trying to get her father to acknowledge the kindness that Evelina was always showing them all.
“Yes, yes, she comes all the time, though she brings nothing with her.” Once more as his back was turned, Alexandra shook her head. “You.” James turned and thrust his finger back in Margaret’s direction. “You must bring money next time.”
“Father, please.” Once more Margaret caught Penelope’s tearful look. Louisa hastily placed a handkerchief into Penelope’s hands as Margaret stepped forward, trying to keep the peace. “I will bring what I can to help. You know I will but let us not fall out over this matter today.”
Her father released a shuddery breath, clearly pent up with rage he still wanted to unleash on someone.
“Fine.” With this final word, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room. He was gone in seconds, the door slamming shut behind him.
“Good day to you too, Father,” Margaret muttered under her breath. She sat down again, just as Penelope returned to her seat, mopping her cheeks with Louisa’s handkerchief.
“Evelina is sending money,” Alexandra assured Margaret now that James was gone. “The problem is, guess who spends most of it.” She motioned toward the door.
“We shall have to find a way to make sure some money is saved from the gambling halls,” Louisa muttered to herself.
“If Evelina had figured out a way to do that, we would have done it a long time ago. We’ll think of something. We have to.” Margaret nodded firmly.
An uncomfortable silence settled on them all as Penelope sniffled and dried the last of her tears. It was a minute or two of sipping tea and staring into the distance before Alexandra pulled out that slip of paper again. She unfurled it and laid it down on the tea tray.
“Perhaps it is too much to hope,” she whispered.
“What is?” Margaret asked, her body tight with concern.
“That we could have freedom to do all these wonderful things. You know if we did them, our father would be there every step of the way, wondering how we could have the freedom or money to do it all.”
“I am still determined to make it happen.” Margaret had seen just how much all her sisters had smiled excitedly over the last hour making this list. She was not about to lose hope for all that happiness just because their father was making their lives miserable.
“You are ambitious,” Louisa mused. “Perhaps a little naïve.”
Margaret smiled rather sadly. There was a time when she would have called herself naïve.
The want to marry for love was certainly a sign of my naivety.
At the thought, Theodore’s face cut across her mind. She saw the look in his eyes as he raised her hand to his lips, as he had done the night before outside her chamber and kissed her wrist.
“Maybe some hopes are not quite as naïve as we think,” she whispered, a smile growing across her lips.
“What do you mean by that?” Louisa asked curiously.
“It does not matter.” Margaret shook her head. “Now, let’s talk about your debut instead, Louisa.”
“Oh, must we?”
“Yes, we must.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Maggie? We’re going to be late,” Theodore called up the stairs.
He turned to the mirror and adjusted his cravat another time, well aware that Yates was watching him closely nearby.
“You cannot make it any neater, Your Grace,” Yates said with a chuckle. “It’s as neat as it’s possible for it to be.”
