true, your grace.”
His forehead furrowed and his eyes conveyed deep distress. “It is no excuse that we were in Town and unaware of your plight. We should have inquired. I had no idea your father had left you completely penniless.”
Perhaps to make up for her earlier abuse of him, she tried to excuse his neglect. “The duchess did recommend me for this position, your grace. And you found work for my brothers.”
“In the meantime, you starved.”
She remained silent in her acknowledgement.
“I understand your sisters are living in Chipping Norton in lodgings, and that your salary goes to maintain them.”
Where had he learned this? Her question must have appeared on her face, for he said, “Your friend Mr. Blakeley was angry on your behalf. He related the details to Lord Shrewsbury, who was so appalled he wasted no time in making me aware of the facts. I came straight here. What has become of your mother?”
“She lives with her sister, who has a small jointure from her husband.”
The duke stood and paced. “I shall arrange a pension for her. And I should like to take you and your sisters into my household. I will provide a governess for your sisters. You, I should like to have a Season in Town. Anyone of your intelligence and beauty should be given the opportunity to marry well.”
His words raised such a conflict in Hélène that she could not speak. Undoubtedly, the offer of a season and the chance to marry well was very generous from his point of view. But it went contrary to everything she had come to stand for! Marriage as a way of finding security was not for her. She certainly did not want any part of a ton marriage.
“You are very kind, your grace. I thank you on behalf of myself and my sisters. I have taken a lesson from my misfortunes. It is our intention only to marry if we can see our way to becoming an equal partner with our husbands. Such a marriage would be impossible among the ton. ”
The duke straightened and his eyes were suddenly fierce. “I can understand that such might be your view, for I am well aware that you espouse radical political beliefs. But is it really fair to impose those beliefs on your sisters? They are all under the age of eighteen. Your wage can only provide them the sketchiest of means. I cannot even begin to imagine the squalid rooms in which they must be living. At least give them the chance to decide for themselves.”
Hélène pressed her lips in a grim line. She supposed she could not expect this duke to understand the irony of the situation. It was precisely because of his neglect at the time of her father’s death that she was determined never again to be dependent on a man or the existing social system for her well-being. She and her sisters would be as independent as they could manage, society being what it was.
“Your grace, have you considered what is to become of my sisters? They cannot live forever on your largesse. Would it not be better if they continued to train under me to be teachers or governesses? They cannot be expected to see far ahead enough to make proper, well-thought-out decisions.”
He paced again, running a hand through his unruly light brown hair with its strands of silver. “I must, in all good conscience, visit your sisters and observe their living situation. If nothing else, I must give you a stipend for their care. You must see that.”
Hélène tried to view the issue objectively. Was it really fair that her sisters should live in such poverty when the means were available for their relative comfort? Even if the whole situation smacked of the feudal system? Oh, that the Enlightenment were truly here—that women might have more choices in their lives!
She stared at her feet. Her sisters must realize that the temporary ease they might enjoy in the Ruisdell household was not what they could expect from life when they became of age. “You may see my sisters, your grace. But please try to understand their true plight. If you
His forehead furrowed and his eyes conveyed deep distress. “It is no excuse that we were in Town and unaware of your plight. We should have inquired. I had no idea your father had left you completely penniless.”
Perhaps to make up for her earlier abuse of him, she tried to excuse his neglect. “The duchess did recommend me for this position, your grace. And you found work for my brothers.”
“In the meantime, you starved.”
She remained silent in her acknowledgement.
“I understand your sisters are living in Chipping Norton in lodgings, and that your salary goes to maintain them.”
Where had he learned this? Her question must have appeared on her face, for he said, “Your friend Mr. Blakeley was angry on your behalf. He related the details to Lord Shrewsbury, who was so appalled he wasted no time in making me aware of the facts. I came straight here. What has become of your mother?”
“She lives with her sister, who has a small jointure from her husband.”
The duke stood and paced. “I shall arrange a pension for her. And I should like to take you and your sisters into my household. I will provide a governess for your sisters. You, I should like to have a Season in Town. Anyone of your intelligence and beauty should be given the opportunity to marry well.”
His words raised such a conflict in Hélène that she could not speak. Undoubtedly, the offer of a season and the chance to marry well was very generous from his point of view. But it went contrary to everything she had come to stand for! Marriage as a way of finding security was not for her. She certainly did not want any part of a ton marriage.
“You are very kind, your grace. I thank you on behalf of myself and my sisters. I have taken a lesson from my misfortunes. It is our intention only to marry if we can see our way to becoming an equal partner with our husbands. Such a marriage would be impossible among the ton. ”
The duke straightened and his eyes were suddenly fierce. “I can understand that such might be your view, for I am well aware that you espouse radical political beliefs. But is it really fair to impose those beliefs on your sisters? They are all under the age of eighteen. Your wage can only provide them the sketchiest of means. I cannot even begin to imagine the squalid rooms in which they must be living. At least give them the chance to decide for themselves.”
Hélène pressed her lips in a grim line. She supposed she could not expect this duke to understand the irony of the situation. It was precisely because of his neglect at the time of her father’s death that she was determined never again to be dependent on a man or the existing social system for her well-being. She and her sisters would be as independent as they could manage, society being what it was.
“Your grace, have you considered what is to become of my sisters? They cannot live forever on your largesse. Would it not be better if they continued to train under me to be teachers or governesses? They cannot be expected to see far ahead enough to make proper, well-thought-out decisions.”
He paced again, running a hand through his unruly light brown hair with its strands of silver. “I must, in all good conscience, visit your sisters and observe their living situation. If nothing else, I must give you a stipend for their care. You must see that.”
Hélène tried to view the issue objectively. Was it really fair that her sisters should live in such poverty when the means were available for their relative comfort? Even if the whole situation smacked of the feudal system? Oh, that the Enlightenment were truly here—that women might have more choices in their lives!
She stared at her feet. Her sisters must realize that the temporary ease they might enjoy in the Ruisdell household was not what they could expect from life when they became of age. “You may see my sisters, your grace. But please try to understand their true plight. If you
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