Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta Page A

’em, least not the dirty kind.”
    I folded my hands over my bodice, unwilling to dignify such a speech with an answer. Mrs. Windham could not force me to marry, and I would not waste my breath acknowledging such a woman. Elizabeth also glared from the window seat.
    “Good girl.” Miss Pitts gave me a nod and then turned to Mrs. Windham, who anxiously watched me. “Got common sense, leastwise. Knows a good argument when she meets it.” She gave me what I think she intended to be a friendly smilewhile I stiffened. “Can’t live here forever, can you, what with the price of meat the way it is? Trust ol’ Nellie to find you a proper husband. See if I don’t.”
    “I’m determined,” Mrs. Windham said in a teary voice, mistaking my scorn for compliance, “to do right by her. She has not a soul in the world, except us. Lost her mother only five months ago and her father barely a year before, though that was no great loss. A more severe man I have yet to see. Used to speak to her and her mother terribly. I assure you, it quite curdled my blood to hear him rant so—”
    “Mama,” Elizabeth hissed from her perch.
    “Aye, that’s the wicked way of things.” Miss Pitts ignored them both, spreading her skirt over her lap. “As if we haven’t got enough problems of our own, and then someone offs and leaves their kin to live at yer expense. There’s no excuse for it.”
    “I warrant you find her too thin and pale,” Mrs. Windham continued on her own vein. “I cannot present her to my acquaintances looking as worn as a shadow. But surely you know someone who won’t mind.”
    I trembled with anger. Perhaps I ought to have picked up my skirts and swept from the room, but for some reason I wanted to know exactly how they evaluated my situation. What was being said there was likely the truest picture of everyone’s thoughts.
    “’Tis bad enough birthing a daughter nowadays,” Miss Pitts said, her chair creaking despite the fact a good wind could have knocked her from her feet, “but to keep no dowry for ’em? Not a thought of who they’ll marry without a brass farthing to their name.”
    “Mama.” Elizabeth’s quiet voice interrupted them. Her tone was soft but her cheeks blazed. “What has Julia’s guardian said about this arrangement?”
    “Oh, do not speak to me of that dreadful man!” Mrs. Windham twisted to view her daughter. “Why should he care if we secure Julia a husband? Why else would he send her here?Even if he did protest, I am determined to fulfill my duty to poor Lucy.”
    “But how do you think she will marry without her guardian’s approval? She’s not yet one-and-twenty.”
    Mrs. Windham’s face grew purple as she gave Elizabeth a look that clearly demanded she remain quiet. “No one in this village cares about that. Do not bother me with your vexations. What objection can be raised if a merchant takes Julia on as his common-law wife?”
    Elizabeth’s mouth dropped as she sprang to her feet. “Do you not think he’ll feel it his duty to investigate the matter and press charges?”
    Miss Pitts paled, but Mrs. Windham found her feet. “Of all the nonsense. Out! Both of you. You know nothing of these matters.”
    She gave another tittering laugh over her shoulder as she gathered and then shoved us toward the door. A moment later, Elizabeth and I found ourselves in the hall, excommunicated.
    “I can’t believe Mama!” Elizabeth kicked the door once. “Twenty pounds for Hugh Kellie, indeed! I wouldn’t sell him a sheep I intended to slaughter.”
    With angry tears gathering in my eyes, I said nothing. I knew the deeper betrayal belonged to Mama. She abandoned me to these circumstances. At least Mrs. Windham was making an effort to secure my future, which was more than I could say of anyone else.
    “What I’d like to know,” Elizabeth said as Mrs. Windham’s voice carried through the wood, words muffled, “is what on earth Edward thinks he’s doing! It’s been nearly a