Mail Order Bride: Westward Winds - - (best books for students to read TXT) 📗
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“Yes, actually, it is. It’s helping me figure out which gentlemen are trustworthy and which aren’t. That way, I can make a smart decision about who I will marry and in turn will become the father of my children,” Roxanne said reasonably
Tessa grew irritated. “That’s all well and good for you, but I don’t want to have that kind of future. None of this matters to me; balls, society’s rules, the endless parade of stuffy men. No, it’s not for me, and yet I have no way out. I’m such a disappointment to my parents.”
Jo laid a hand on Tessa’s in consolation. “Is our life really so bad? I mean, we could be starving and penniless.”
Tessa smiled, not wanting to distress her friends. “No, it’s not bad, just tedious. I know that you and Roxie are quite happy to gossip and fret over the people in our circles, but I want something more exciting.” Her eyes found her parents as they talked to another couple. Her father was proud and charismatic, and her mother was almost delicately beautiful. They were a very popular pair. She’d heard whisperings of their tumultuous courtship and smiled now as she remembered the stories.
There were times when she wished she could be more like her mother. She was respectable and always a lady. She had always been a wonderful mother and wife. However, Tessa knew she didn’t have her mother’s patience when it came to dealing with society. She had trouble being dutiful and attending parties and brunches while appearing to enjoy them.
No, high society wasn’t the place she wanted to be, but there was nothing for it. Her father looked her way, so she smiled at him, hoping he would think she was having a good time. She loved her father and didn’t want to disappoint him, but also wondered how she could be true to herself at the same time.
Her father could always see through her smokescreens and although he smiled back, it wasn’t a smile of real pleasure. It was so no one would guess he was displeased with her.
Tessa’s eyes dropped and she began teasing Roxie about all the horrible matches she could make to cover her feelings of inadequacy.
The following morning, Tessa sat at the dining room table with her mother and younger sisters. She read the daily paper, just as she always did. Her father had already gone to his office for the day. He was an early riser and it was only on Sundays that he had breakfast with the family. However, he was always present for dinner unless something urgent took place.
“Tessa, tell us about the party,” asked her fifteen-year-old sister, Claire. Her light brown eyes were filled with excitement and her pretty smile eager.
Tessa’s eyes never left the paper as she answered Claire. “Tedious. Simply tedious.”
“Tessa!” her mother objected. “Do you know how much money we spend to throw these parties?”
“Mama, I have repeatedly asked you to stop throwing them because I’m not going to change my mind about them or suddenly start believing I’ll find my true love at one. I won’t,” Tessa said, putting down the paper and looking her mother in the eye. “I love you and Papa for all you’ve tried to do and your concern, but I’m fine as I am. Truly. You should be concentrating on Maddie’s coming out party.”
Maureen sighed and fixed her poached egg. “I don’t understand what it is you’re looking for.”
Maddie said, “Mama, if she doesn’t want the parties, I think she’s right. Throw them for me and for Claire when she comes of age.”
Maddie was a carbon copy of their mother. Her blonde waves cascaded over her shoulders and her lovely blue eyes had an entrancing quality, as many of the boys her age had found. Unbeknownst to their parents, Maddie was quite the little flirt.
Tessa knew but wasn’t about to tell on her sibling. She found it amusing as long as flirting was all that happened. She had been present during Maddie’s sweet-sixteen party and had kept close tabs on her sister without anyone realizing what she was doing. Now, at eighteen, Maddie was developing a very womanly figure and would bear close watching. Her coming out party was only two months away.
Her mother responded with, “I will take this up with your father.” Her tone was resigned and frustrated. “I think you are right and I think you are old enough to know your own mind, even if it is against what we want for you and what you should want for yourself.”
Tessa’s temper flared. “I fail to see that it’s right for anyone to say what I should and shouldn’t want for my life! Just because I don’t want what society says I should want, why does that make me wrong? These people don’t know me; they don’t know what I think, or what I feel. They don’t care and, quite frankly, I don’t care what they think of me, either.”
Claire interjected, “But, Tessa, Mama and Papa have to associate with these people. Think of Papa’s business. It’s crucial that we don’t embarrass them because it’s Papa’s business that keeps us living in the style we do.”
Though young, Claire was highly intelligent and most likely a genius. She had a strong interest in their father’s shipping business and his other ventures, and understood much of the operations, even at her age. Their father often took her to his office on Saturdays and unlike many men of that time, he was very proud that his youngest daughter was interested in the family business and had an aptitude for it.
Tessa sat back in her chair and considered what Claire had said. Sometimes, Tessa felt as if Claire had more sense than anyone she knew outside of her parents. She saw the wisdom in her little sister’s remark. “I think you’re right, Claire. I need to consider their feelings, too. It’s only respectful to do so.” She turned to her mother. “Mama, I apologize for my quick words. If you insist upon throwing parties for me, I’ll do my duty, but no more. I should be grateful for you and Papa taking care of me so well and I certainly do not wish to cause you any shame.”
Maureen smiled. “Although I thank you for that, I truly don’t think these parties are doing any good. I think continuing them is futile. However, we will require you to go to a certain number of parties to which you are invited. Especially Roxanne and Johanna’s parties. Oh, and you must continue to attend the dinner parties for your father’s business associates. Is that acceptable to you?”
“Yes!” Tessa’s smile was luminous. “I think those are very reasonable terms. Do you think Papa will agree?”
Maureen smiled sweetly. “Oh, I think I’ll be able to convince him.”
“Excellent!” Tessa said and went back to her paper.
Geoffrey kissed his wife and rolled over. His breathing was slightly ragged and he was perfectly content to lie still for a few moments. Maureen was in a similar state. Their lovemaking was always active, passionate, and extremely satisfying. She rolled over and snuggled against her handsome husband. She ran a hand over his muscular chest and pressed a kiss against it.
Geoffrey put an arm around her and held her close. “Well, you were particularly frisky tonight,” he said.
Maureen chuckled against his side. “You just bring out that side of me, husband. It’s not as if you weren’t frisky yourself.”
Geoffrey laughed. “Touché.”
Maureen turned serious. “We need to discuss Tessa.”
“Oh, no. What’s she done now?”
“It’s not what she’s done, it’s what she isn’t going to do. These parties are not doing anything but making her more dissatisfied. I don’t think we should bother with them. Maddie is the one who wants them and she is so excited about her coming out. We should focus on that and give Tessa some breathing room. However, she should attend a certain number of parties to which she’s invited and also continue with our business dinners,” Maureen said in a rush.
Geoffrey’s response was to laugh and roll Maureen back over. “You are a conniver, Maureen O’Connor. Did she agree to that?”
Maureen arched a delicate brow at him. “A conniver I may be, but only for a good cause. Yes, she did. I thought they were decent terms. You’ve always said that in any good agreement, there’s give and take.”
“So I have.” Geoffrey weighed the subject and saw that the deal was a good one. “Very well. I agree with you.”
Maureen laughed and hugged Geoffrey. “You are the best
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