They were scheduled to have dinner Saturday night. She would wait and discuss the ending of the engagement with him during that time. Waiting would give her time to prepare herself and choose the right words. They were two different people, it was best to end it now. She just wanted to do it in a way that would not hurt him. Despite his snobbish behavior, and current rumors, he wasn’t a bad man and he deserved not to be hurt.
A knock on the door drew her from her musings. “Come in.”
Sophia Cummings entered the room. Unlike her uncle, Daniel McSpadden, Sophia was quiet and well mannered. Ester had taken an instant liking to the girl when she first met her. She was nearing her eighteenth birthday, and Ester knew that the girl’s uncle was actively searching for a suitable husband.
“Ms. Woods, may I speak with you privately?” Sophia clutched her hands together at her waist.
“Of course, you may. Please, Ms. Sophia, have a seat.” The young woman moved slowly and gracefully across the room. Ester was impressed at how far the girl had come in such a short time. “What may I do for you?” she asked after the girl had taken her seat.
“I wished to speak with you about my education. You see, I want to . . . I mean I wish to . . ..” Stammering for a moment, Sophia finally clamped her mouth shut. Straightening her spine, she lifted her eyes up to meet Ester’s. “I don’t want to get married,” she blurted out.
Ester regarded her for a moment as the blush crept up Sophia’s face. “Relax. Now tell me why don’t you want to marry? Your uncle is looking hard to find a suitable match for you.”
“I wish to continue my education. I want to attend the new program for women to become a physician. I truly believe the education would allow me to better serve women during childbirth.” Her face lit up as she spoke, and she grew more confident with each word. “Please, would you help me with speaking to my uncle?”
“Ms. Sophia, I cannot promise anything. I will, however, speak with him during dinner this evening.”
“He is coming here?”
“Yes, he will be dining with Mary and I.”
“Oh, of course.” Sophia dropped her head. Her disappointment etched over her lovely face.
When Sophia left, Ester sat stunned. She had no idea that the young woman was interested in pursuing a degree in medicine. It was almost unheard of for a woman to do such a thing. She knew though that recently, there had been a bit of a push for women to earn degrees related to helping aid in childbirth. It was felt that women midwives were better suited for a woman’s comfort over that of a male doctor. If life hadn’t forced this path for her, she herself would not be in any rush to marry, either.
Standing, she headed out of her office to prepare for their dinner guest tonight. It always took more mental preparation than anything else when dining with Mr. McSpadden. The man just rubbed her the wrong way. Mary loved him though and for her sake, Ester knew she must be the proper hostess. Mary was more than just her female companion and chaperone, she was Ester’s only friend. She would do anything for Mary.
An hour later, she sat and forked a small bite of salad into her mouth. She was waiting until the conversation between Mr. McSpadden and Mary lulled so she could speak to him about Sophia. His eagerness to see the girl married off, she feared, would outweigh the girl’s dream. It didn’t take long before the two ran out of things to speak about. In the silence, Ester took a deep breath and sat her fork down.
“Mr. McSpadden, I had a conversation with Sophia earlier today. She asked that I speak with you about the matter.”
“Is she all right?” he asked around the food in his mouth.
“Yes, she is fine. It is just that she wanted to discuss the idea of marrying so soon. She wants to attend the medical school for women.”
“Medical school?”
“Yes, Mr. McSpadden. Your niece wants to obtain a medical degree, so she can be educated better in childbirth.” Ester smiled hoping to alleviate some of the tension. “She really wants this. She expressed no interest in marriage.”
“So, this is what she truly wants? All right, I will see what I can do tomorrow to help her.”
“I will let her know. She will be so pleased to hear that.” She hadn’t expected him to be so agreeable. In fact, she had been prepared for him to argue and insist that the young girl marry a man of his choosing. Maybe the redeeming quality of this stubborn, obnoxious man was his love for his niece and her happiness.
The rest of dinner was a silent affair. After dinner, they retired to the sitting room and Ester sat with her needlepoint while the couple visited. From her seat, she provided the proper presence while still allowing the them some private conversation. If she paid attention, she could hear what they were saying. However, she would much rather finish her needlework than hear any more of what Mr. McSpadden had to say. Hearing his loud belching a few minutes ago was distressing enough.
Chapter 16
Ester stood at the head of the table facing the young ladies seated before her. She was pleased with how far each of them had come since arriving at the school. Today each of them would do a run through of a full, multiple-course dinner party. The object was to ensure they could manage each part without any prompting from her. Each girl had a card that marked appropriate dinner conversations for proper ladies.
Her kitchen maid entered carrying a tray holding the main entree portion of the meal. So far none of the girls had committed a faux pas. This was their chance to shine before going out into polite society. Any mistakes could be remedied privately. On one hand, she beamed with pride at their achievements. On the other hand, nervousness set in when she thought about them performing outside the safety of the school. Out in the world, one mistake at a dinner party could prove costly.
“Ms. Woods, you are needed in your office,” Mrs. Wong announced from the door.
“Ladies, continue practicing your proper dinner etiquette and polite conversations until I return,” she said before following Mrs. Wong out into the hallway. Mary was nowhere in sight and her heart kicked up a notch. Was William Warner back with more threats? Or did he come this time with the sheriff? She knew that it would be her word against his and with her lowly birth, no one would believe her. Outside her office door, she wiped her palms against her skirt and entered. William Warner was not in her office. Instead, Mr. McSpadden and another distinguished looking gentleman stood in front of her desk. This must be someone from the college. Relief flooded her, and she smiled at both men as they stood when she entered.
“Please, gentlemen, sit,” she said as she took her seat at her desk.
“Ms. Woods, this is Dr. Odden. He is here to assess Sophia,” Mr. McSpadden said.
“Oh, that is wonderful. I am sure she will be very pleased that you have obtained an interview for the school so quickly.” She grabbed Sophia’s file from where she had sat it the night before. “Here is her school file. I am sure it will help you assess her during the interview.”
“Interview? For school?” Dr. Odden looked from Mr. McSpadden to Ester.
“Yes, you are here about her desire to attend medical school, correct?” Ester sensed something was not right about this meeting.
“Ms. Woods, Dr. Odden is from the asylum. He has agreed to assess my niece to determine if she is . . . how do we say, mentally stable.”
“Mentally stable? Mr. McSpadden, what would have given you the indication that she was not stable?” Ester couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had sensed something was off just a bit ago but never would she have thought Mr. McSpadden would assume Sophia was unstable. There had to be a mistake somewhere. Sophia was a very level-headed young woman and completely stable.
“Her desire to attend medical school and her lack of interest in marriage. Ms. Woods, surely you realize that such feelings are not natural,” Dr. Odden said. “Now, if you would please show me where I may speak privately with the young woman, I can get started assessing her mental state.”
“This is preposterous! You sai
d you would help her.” Ester turned toward Mr. McSpadden. The sight of the man at this point just burned her biscuits.
“I am helping her. Either she is not stable, or you have corrupted her.” Mr. McSpadden stood. “Which is it, Ms. Woods?”
Corrupted her? All it would take would be one person saying that a young lady was corrupted at her school to ruin everything. Standing, she nodded and motioned for the doctor to follow her. Surely, it wouldn’t hurt to allow him to assess Sophia. When he was done, he would see what Ester already knew—Sophia was perfectly sane and stable, just a bit modern and idealistic. Nothing that would warrant her needing to receive care in an asylum.
“Dr. Odden, you may use this room here. I will have Sophia sent in and promise you will have the privacy you require.”
“Thank you, Ms. Woods.”
Within minutes, Sophia had entered the room and Ester retreated to her private quarters where she began to pace. How long did one of these assessments take? How did one even conduct such a thing? She was curious about it all but one thing that she was not curious about was her anger at Mr. McSpadden. He was a cruel man and a leech. A blood sucking leech who was sucking the life out of Sophia. The young lady had a dream and a big heart that wanted to help other women. That didn’t make her crazy or touched in the head. Shaking her head, she stopped pacing and headed back to her office. She planned to confront that blasted man and give him a piece of her mind.
“Daniel, how can you even suggest that Ester did something to corrupt you niece?” She heard Mary’s voice from inside her office.
“Mary, now don’t get upset. I am merely saying that Sophia never said a word about not wanting to marry. Or about going to college.”
“Just because she never said anything to you doesn’t mean she hasn’t felt this way for a long time.”
“I know this, my dear. That is why the doctor is here, to assess her and determine why she is now saying these things.”
Ester stood and eavesdropped on the two of them. She was still eavesdropping when she heard a door open. Turning, she saw Dr. Odden come out of the room up the hall. Was he done already? That went quicker than she thought it would. Heading toward him, she thought that with the quickness in which he conducted the assessment, he saw that Sophia was perfectly sane. He nodded at her and continued on his way past her and into her office. Picking up her pace, she entered right behind him.
“Dr. Odden, what is your assessment of my niece?” Daniel McSpadden kept his arm around Mary’s waist and stared at the doctor.
“Mr. McSpadden, I asked her several questions pertaining to her feelings of marriage and children. I am sorry to say but your niece feels strongly against both. She is adamant that she wants an education and a career.”
“So, she is idealistic and modern,” Ester said.
“No, Ms. Woods, what she is saying is very unnatural for a young woman. There is a bed at the asylum and we will do everything we can to help her. We can take her by carriage immediately.”
“Asylum? No, Daniel, you can’t do this to her,” Mary cried.
“It is for the best. I assure you,” Dr. Odden said.
Mary rushed across the room and threw herself at Ester. Ester wrapped her arms around the other woman and they clung to each other crying. Neither wanted to see the young woman sent to such a horrible place. Yet neither of them could stop it now that Mr. McSpadden had enlisted the help of Dr. Odden. They were still standing in the office, crying, when they heard Sophia’s sweet voice beg her uncle to not send her away. Pleading and begging, her voice was frantic.
Ester let go of Mary and moved to the door. She saw Sophia struggle against the firm grip the doctor had on her arm. Quietly, she shut the door.
Chapter 17
Boston, November 1860
William Warner grabbed the door knocker and knocked as loud as he could. Within moments, the Asian woman he had met the last time he was here opened the door. “I need to see Ms. Woods immediately,” he said as he pushed past her.
“This way,” she said and led him to Ester’s office. She never said another word as she left him alone to wait. He hoped that by time she made it to the room, the bastard child had decided to give him what he came here for. It would be easier for both of them if she had come to her senses.
“May I help you,” her voice called from behind him.
Turning, he took delight in watching the color drain from her face. The fact she was scared to see him would help in ensuring he got the money he wanted. “Time is up, Ester. I want what is mine.”
“I have nothing that belonged to our father.”
Stepping in front of her, he raised his arm and backhanded her across the face. She crumpled at his feet, holding her cheek with one small hand. “My father! He was my father. Not yours. Don’t forget it.” He reached down and grabbed her upper arm and yanked her to her feet. “Everything here belongs to me. Every blade of grass, every plank of wood, every inch of this place was bought with money that belongs to me.”
“Get out,” she ordered, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Not until you agree to give me the money.” He liked her small display of courage. He liked the bruise that was forming on her cheek even more. The insolent little wench had no idea what he was capable of, but she would learn soon enough if she continued to defy him.
“It is not your money. It is mine. This place was bought with money from my mother’s estate. None of it you have a claim on.”
Her small scream echoed off the walls as he gripped her upper arms and slammed her into the wall. A shelf rattled, and a knick-knack fell, shattering on the floor. He leaned in and smiled. Placing his forehead against her, he continued to hold her up against the wall. Her small feet dangled above the floor.
“Do not try me. I will not hesitate to do more than ruin you. Do you understand what I am saying to you?” He waited until she nodded. “I will be back by the weekend. You have four days to have the paperwork ready to sign this school over to me.”
When she continued to stare at him with wide eyes, he let go and stepped back. She was crumpled on the floor once again. Maybe now she understood the seriousness of her situation. One way or the other, he would get his hands on the money. He had to get those shares back before his mother realized what had happened. There was no way his mother would accept that they had lost everything. No, he would fix this, and his mother would continue to live the life of luxury—the only life she had ever known.
He left the school and rode in the open carriage back to the hotel. A hot bath would do him good. Allow him to wash away the invisible filth he knew clung to him after having been around that whore’s bastard child. Women like her left everything they touched tainted with their immoral ways. She should never be allowed around the daughters of good God-fearing families.
Sliding into the hot water, he tried to clear his mind of the remaining thoughts of her. It did no good. As always, the mere thought of her existence was like fanning the flames. She was a constant reminder of his father’s betrayal of his mother. To take to the favors of a whore was one thing, to create a child with her was an insult to his rightful wife and family. What was his father thinking? He wasn’t thinking, William knew as surely as the sun would rise tomorrow that the whore had bewitched his father with her evil ways.
Chapter 18
Ester stood looking in the mirror. The bluish-purple bruise on her cheek stood out in stark contrast to her pale face. If William carried out his threat and told anyone about her past, she would be ruined. One word and her reputation in tatters, the school would be closed either way.
Maybe it was best to sign the school over to William and move away. However, there wasn’t much time to find a new husband. Without a husband she would lose her inheritance from her grandfather.
No school, no inheritance meant she would be penniless begging for scraps. Much like her mother was when she had been thrown out into the streets. Pregnant and alone, her mother had no choice but to tur
n to working in a brothel to survive. Ester couldn’t bear the though. Her stomach cramped and she swallowed hard, forcing the bile that threated to rise up back down.
Charles sat waiting for her in the sitting area of her private quarters. She needed to get a grip on her emotions and join him. How though could she possibly explain this bruise? She couldn’t tell him the truth—that would raise too many questions that she simply could not answer. No, with her dress covering the handprint bruises, she could lie about how the one on her cheek got there. Lying was a sin, but what choice did she have? Surely, God would understand her need to not be completely truthful in this instance.
Turning from the mirror, she headed out into the sitting area. Charles rose from the settee and stopped midway across the room. His eyes grew wide as she stared at her. She felt her resolve begin to crumble. She wanted to run and cling to him. She needed to trust him to keep her safe. To behave in such away would have him not believing how she got the bruise. It would force her to have to confess the truth about everything. A truth that would send the good gentleman running from her. Taking a deep breath, she closed the distance between them.
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