Page 25 of The Tailor's Treasure

Her fingers were tingling; she curled them up against her palm, remembering the brief brush of Constance's little finger against hers'.It was nothing, had meant nothing.But it hadn't felt that way.It had felt -

"Thank you," she said abruptly, "for your time and your - forgiveness."And before Peter had the chance to say anything in response, she spun on her heel and hurried out.

# # #

Once Isabel had takenher leave, it was left to Constance to escort a still-sniffling Margery home.She had calmed down enough that Constance did not fear another outburst once they had reached Matilda's house - at least, not from Margery.She had no way of knowing whether or not Matilda was still angry, but she did know that matters needed settling sooner rather than later.And she could hardly keep Margery at the shop forever.

"Where have you been?"Matilda burst out as soon as they walked through the door.She'd been sitting at the table, but she surged to her feet, arms crossed, starting forward towards them.Margery hunched her shoulders, her face hardening, and Constance sighed: of course it wasn't going to be easy."Your father and I have been worried half to death - how could you, after you ran off last night too!What mischief have you been getting up to?"

"She's been with me," Constance said, before Margery had the chance to snap back."And there's been no mischief, we've only talked.Margery, will you go upstairs?I've something to say to your mother."

She feared, briefly, that Margery would dig her heels in out of sheer bullheadedness.But after a glance at her, and another at Matilda, Margery tossed her head and walked - she did not quite stomp, but her tread was noisy - across the room and up the stairs.Constance waited until she heard the bedroom door close before she spoke again.

"You can't go on like this," she said to her sister."She came to me in tears, swearing she'd never return here.It took me near an hour to calm her down.The more you threaten her, the more she'll fight you.You know that."

Matilda's eyes flashed.The look was so reminiscent of Constance's childhood, she almost shrank back out of habit."And what would you have me do instead?"she said."When she's out at all hours wandering God only knows what streets and alleyways, consorting with all kinds - she might have been killed!She might have beenruined, and she's no notion of what that means, all she cares for is spiting me.I believe she'd do some injury to herself rather than obey."

Constance thought it best not to mention Margery's threats of throwing herself from the town walls."She's frightened," she said instead, "and she's hurting, and she wants a kind word and a sympathetic ear.Surely you must see that pushing her is only making matters worse?"

"And if it is?"Matilda scrubbed her hands hard against her apron."If she goes on fighting me but I manage to keep her safe, I don't care whether she hates me or not.You can't understand -" Her voice cracked, and she dropped back down into her chair.With a shock, Constance realized she was crying.She'd never seen Matilda cry in her life; she had no idea what to do with the sight in front of her.She could more easily have understood seeing a horse stand up and walk on its hind legs.

Matilda had buried her face in her hands; her voice, when she spoke again, was muffled."I have tried," she said, her voice low, "to explain to her what it is she risks when she runs off like this.I have tried to tell her what this marriage means, how it will keep her safe.But she is too willful to understand me, and I cannot wait for her to grow wise enough to see the need for it.She is too foolhardy by half for that.If I cannot trust her to govern herself, and she will not let me govern her, how long will it be before she gets herself into trouble that no one will be able to get her out of?"

Constance lowered herself into the chair opposite Matilda, regarding her sister carefully.Everything she was saying made sense; it all had a ring of truth to it.And yet, none of her arguments would move Margery.More likely, they would push her further away.If she could at least prevail upon Matilda to be gentler with her daughter, it might ameliorate the worst of their fights."What irreparable harm to you think she will come to?"she asked."She's been all right thus far, hasn't she?"

Matilda dropped her hands, the better to give Constance a reproachful look."It would only take an instant," she said, "one rough man with ill intentions coming across her on a dark street in the night.Or even one ill-advised tryst to leave her reputation in ruins, with no man willing to take her on.How might I trust her word that she is behaving herself when she does nothing but disobey me and run wild?Surelyyouwould not trust her with any great responsibility as she is now."

"That would depend on the responsibility," Constance said.She would not give Margery any tasks that relied on her ability to govern her passions - she had proved very aptly over the past few months that such a feat was beyond her capabilities.However - "I've never known her to break a promise once she makes it.Or to lie, for that matter - she is straightforward even to a fault.If she had fewer scruples, she would simply mislead you about where she went and what she did, then go off and do as she pleased anyway.She is rash and she is impolitic, but she has a good heart and she works hard.I would feel no hesitation over allowing her to work in the shop with me, or to help in taking care of Peter.You do not credit her enough for that."

"What use is crediting that when it comes to the matter at hand?"Matilda asked."Shall I praise her skill in minding her chores even as she walks herself off a cliff?If she is as rash as you say, no hard work or good-heartedness will prevent her from making choices that will damn her future prospects in an instant."

"She's more likely to make those choices if she feels you won't credit her either way," Constance said.The details of Matilda and Margery's previous argument were delicate ones, but they had to be discussed."Did you really call her unclean?"

"Is that what she told you?"Matilda sounded affronted, which neither confirmed nor belied Margery's story - righteous indignation was no indicator of truthfulness."I said that a girl who wandered the streets by night would be seen as living an unclean life, and it mattered not whether she did or no.Peoplewilltalk, and the truth does not matter to one whose name has been blackened.Cautioning her against the consequences of her actions is not the same as flinging baseless accusations."

"I don't know that she sees the difference," Constance said.

"And what am I to do about that?"Matilda rubbed her temples, her eyes squeezed shut."I cannot protect her future and her feelings both, and if I must be harsh with her to keep her safe, then that is what I will do.Soft treatment will do her no good.Unless you think I ought to coddle her and let her do as she pleases?"

"I did not suggest any such thing," Constance said, keeping her voice level, "and you know that."

Matilda pursed her lips, arms crossed; then, as if she were a puppet with its strings cut, she slumped down in her chair, chin to her chest."Then whatdoyou suggest?"she said."If you've some notion of how to manage her, then by all means, tell me.Nothing else is working."

Constance took a measured pause before she spoke again.The truth of it was, she didn't have any real solution to offer - the bottom of the matter was, Matilda wanted different things for her daughter than Margery did, and there was no reconciling the two.The best any of them could hope for was to let matters lie for the moment, and revisit it later once tempers had cooled.Her suspicion that tempers would not cool for a good five years at least was better left unvoiced.All that was required for the moment was a temporary truce.

"Leave her be for now, as regards to Simon," she said finally."The more you press, the harder she will fight.Apologize for your conduct - no, wait," she said, as Matilda opened her mouth to protest."I've spoken to her and managed to impress on her that her own conduct has not been all that it should have been.She will apologize if you will.After that, let it lie awhile.She will settle if she feels herself safe - it's only when you back her into a corner with threats that she fights and runs.Anddon'tmake insinuations about her future, it will only rile her further."

"And is she to offer anything in return?"Matilda asked, waspish."Or am I simply to indulge her like a cosseted cat?"

"That, you must decide between the two of you," Constance said."I think she will not go running away at all hours, at least.But you must speak to her directly and ask her for what you want.She won't respond well to deals being made over her head."

"And I suppose you know a great deal about it, childless as you are," Matilda grumbled.Constance hid a smile behind her hand.She knew her sister well enough to recognize when capitulation was on the horizon."Very well, I'll speak to her.But I cannot promise to leave off matters with Simon forever.Sheispromised to him, and she needs to understand it."

"She understands it, she just doesn't like it," Constance said."Give her time.Let her settle.She may surprise you, one day."Privately, she thought it unlikely: Margery's temperament might settle as she grew, but her visions for her future would never accede to her mother's.But that was a matter for another day."And if you find the fights are starting again, you may always send her to mine.I can't keep her overnight, with Peter the way he is, but I would welcome her help around the shop of an afternoon."Whether Margery had any aptitude for tailoring or not, she had no idea; but at least it would separate her from her mother before either one of them flung an insult that could not be taken back.

"I may well do so," Matilda said with a sigh, getting up from her chair."All right.I'll speak to her, and see what accord we might come to.Don't look so smug, it doesn't suit you."

Constance was fairly certain she looked nothing of the sort, but she knew when Matilda was not to be pushed."Good," was all she said, getting up from her own chair."I'll be off home, then - Peter will be waiting."She paused, then added, "Sheisa good girl, you know.And she loves you.She wouldn't be so upset with you, otherwise."