The Frost Fair Read Online Free Page A

the horizon to complicate matters, she would still wish for Meg to find a husband. Isabel turned and studied her niece surreptitiously. If one were entirely objective, the aunt supposed, one might not be able to claim that the girl was a beauty. She was too tall and built on lines that were too statuesque to suit current fashion. And her chin was too strong. But no one would deny that her eyes—a warm dark brown—sparkled with humor, and that her skin—though quite liberally sprinkled with freckles—was smooth and glowing. Of course her hair was a problem, and not unlike the girl herself; while its red-gold color and thick texture were magnificent, it was completely unruly and would go where it willed. Meg refused to cut it, yet no restraints, no binding, no combs or broaches could keep it from following its independent will. Yes, that’s where the trouble was—excessive independence.
    The girl’s voice cut into her reverie. “Stop sighing, Aunt Bel. You’ve done so three times in the last two minutes. I know you’re worrying over me, and I won’t have it.”
    â€œHow can I help it? You’re destroying your future.”
    â€œBy running away from Charles Isham? Really, Isabel—”
    â€œBy running away from a promise. By running away from a proper life!”
    Meg made a face. “Do you think I would have had a ‘proper life’ with Charles?”
    â€œYes, I do. He’s a fine, respectable, worthy man. And you found him so, too, for you accepted him.”
    â€œYes, I did. But I don’t know what made me do it.”
    â€œYou did it because of his worthiness.” She fixed her eyes on her niece in frowning disapprobation. “Why did you change your mind about him?”
    â€œI didn’t change it, exactly. I just realized that I couldn’t bear to spend my life with his respectable worthiness.”
    â€œSee here, Meg, I’ve had enough of your disdain for the qualities which everyone else finds admirable! What’s wrong with respectability?”
    â€œOh, Aunt Bel, it’s so dull! I found myself bored after only four days in that house. What would I have felt after four years?”
    Isabel frowned. “I was there with you during those four days, and I didn’t find it dull. Am I to conclude that I’m dull, too?”
    Meg looked contrite. “You know I didn’t mean that,” she said, throwing her arm about her aunt’s shoulder and hugging her. “You’re the sweetest and best aunt in the world. And the only reason you didn’t find Charles a stifling bore was because you didn’t spend as much time with him as I did. Do you remember when he asked me to go with him to see the portrait gallery?”
    â€œYes. Yesterday afternoon, wasn’t it?”
    â€œTo you it may have been an afternoon. To me it was a month! Whatever I said to him didn’t make an impression at all. I might as well have been conversing with a mushroom! I even tried to be provoking. I said the rudest things—”
    â€œOh, Meg, you didn’t!”
    â€œYes, I did. And that’s the whole point. He should have shouted, taken offense, wrung my neck. But he did nothing! I’m really quite convinced that the man hears only what he wants to hear. I couldn’t go through with it, Aunt Bel. I’d rather end up an old maid without a penny. So … I decided to bolt.” She turned her aunt’s face up to hers and added with appealing earnestness, “Please say you’re not angry with me, dearest. You wouldn’t wish me to spend my life with someone so … stodgy, so dull, so utterly devoid of humor.”
    Isabel squeezed her niece’s hand in conciliation. “Of course I’m not angry, my love. I only wish … Ah, well, never mind. In any case, was it necessary for us to run off this way and leave poor Charles so completely unprepared? He’ll have to