His Unlikely Duchess
Page 25
‘Well, I agree with you there.’ Mary’s tone was serene. ‘Our actions are driven by our beliefs and our humours, and it is only by understanding oneself that one can hope to do better. And I should make clear that I did not wish to bring trouble to anyone. I merely wished to point out the lack of logic in your argument.’
Miss Plumpton’s middle-aged face was now an interesting shade of purple. ‘You would do well to remember, Miss Smith, that you are a student here and that I am your teacher.’
Mary’s brow creased. ‘Well, of course I remember that!’
The teacher tutted. ‘I mean that you should not argue with your betters!’
‘My betters? But no one is constitutionally or naturally “better” than anyone else. As human beings, we are all created by God.’
Miss Plumpton gave a most unladylike snort. ‘Of course some are better than others. We are better than the poor creatures who live in the slums and the people who work in service to us, as well as those from other countries. In turn, we submit to our menfolk—husbands, fathers, priests and, ultimately, the King himself.’
Mary shook her head. ‘That is evidently not the case. As women, we are more than ornaments or chattels, owned by men. I believe that we are human beings with the ability to think and to feel and to take our part in this society.’
Miss Plumpton’s eyes widened. ‘Utter nonsense! Who has been feeding your head with such shocking ideas?’
‘Strangely, my head seems to fill itself, of its own accord. It is most interesting how it happens.’
‘Well, from now on I forbid you to utter such absurdities in this school!’
‘Forbid me? But—’
‘I shall spend no further time on this foolishness!’ Picking up her embroidery, Miss Plumpton held it aloft to show the students. ‘Miss Ives, regard how neatly I have set this line of stitches. Now, let me see you do the same.’
Allowing the sewing lesson to waft over her, Mary was struck anew by the feeling of not belonging, of being the only poppy in a field of daisies—or, more accurately, an unwanted weed among the rose bushes. She glanced around the room. Oh, she looked similar to the other young ladies, with her dark curls and her blue eyes and her fashionable muslin gown. But she was not the same. Not inside. The sooner she could get through this year of schooling and return to Papa, the better.
Copyright © 2020 by Catherine Tinley
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ISBN-13: 9781488071645
His Unlikely Duchess
Copyright © 2020 by Ammanda McCabe
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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