Charmed Vengeance

assistance.”

“Mama’s saving it for my dowry and the season,” Noli half-lied as she clutched her tea. “We’re planning on hiring a housekeeper. We just haven’t yet. Good help truly is hard to find.”

His eyes narrowed with an intensity that made her squirm. “Girls, don’t lie to me.”

“I’m sorry, Papa.” Mama drooped over her teacup. “We tried the best we could. I … I wanted to do things myself, and well, I kept hoping … ” Her eyes drifted to the photograph of Noli’s father hanging on the blue striped walls.

“I’m shocked, utterly and totally shocked—that not only would you hide this from me, and outright lie, but that you would allow yourself to live like this. You are a Montgomery, Eady. Have you no pride?” Grandfather clucked his tongue in disappointment and even Noli’s cheeks burned with shame.

Ironically pride was why her mother had hidden this from him.

“And what of your daughter? If all of Los Angeles society knows your plight, how do you expect her to marry befitting her station?” He gave her mother a look that had her writhing in her chair. His expression softened. “Oh, I see. That was why you mentioned coming to visit. Your mother would invite Noli to stay, she would accept, all would be well, and no one would be the wiser. Clever, clever girl.” He patted Mama on the knee. “You and I are far too much alike. But truly, I don’t appreciate you keeping things from me.”

“I … I’m sorry, Papa,” she sniffed, pulling out a lacy handkerchief and dabbing her eyes.

“Pack your bags, we’re leaving in the morning.” He sipped his tea and Noli could see that he tried to not make a face as he swallowed. It wasn’t very good tea, cheap and watered down.

“Papa, if I leave then Henry won’t know where to find me when he returns.” Her mother’s knuckles whitened as she clutched the delicate teacup so tightly Noli feared it might break.

“Eady … ” Grandfather gave Mama a gentle look. “It’s been nearly seven years. It’s time.”

Tears streamed down her mother’s face. “No, Henry’s coming back. He is.”

“He’ll look for you in Boston, Mama,” Noli soothed, remembering Jeff’s words and trying to be helpful. “It’s his home, too.”

“Noli, dear, is there any food in this place or do I need to get takeaway?” Grandfather asked. “I could take you out. How long has it been since you’ve had a nice supper?”

As nice as a good meal sounded, she couldn’t stomach the thought of putting on a fine dress and going out to places where people like her grandfather dined and making nice with all the fake people and gossips.

“There are a few places open this time of the evening for takeaway. I’ll help Mama pack.” It might be beneficial for her mother to return to Boston, to not have to worry so much.

“You should go pack your own things.” He smiled at her fondly. “If you forget anything, all you’ll have to do is smile and your grandmamma will buy you whatever you wish.”

Noli nearly dropped her teacup in her lap. “I’m going as well? But I don’t want to go to Boston.”

“Papa, we’re fine, truly,” her mother insisted.

“Balderdash. We are going to Boston tomorrow, all three of us. Noli, I can’t leave you here unchaperoned. This is not up for negotiation.” He held up a hand. “I’ll come up with a suitable story—no one needs to know about your situation.”

Mama sniffed into her crumpled handkerchief. “I’ve worked so hard.”

“Sometimes hard work and good intentions aren’t enough,” he soothed. “It is better for everyone this way, truly.” Grandfather stood. “Now, I am going to find something edible. You girls best get to packing.”

Mama appeared in the doorway of Noli’s room, a dark green dress in her arms. A dress meant for a Christmas ball V was supposed to accompany her to.

“Noli, pack this dress. It’s unfinished, but it will be gorgeous when I’m done.”

“I’m not going to Boston.” Noli flopped onto her bed, the room only illuminated by the single candle lamp on her desk. “You said we didn’t have to go.” It came out more pout than intelligent argument as she stared up at the ceiling.

Her mother laid the dress on the back of the desk chair and sat down on the bed. “I … I know. But what do you expect me to do, refuse?”

“Yes. You’re a grown and married woman. Tell Grandfather we’re staying here.” She put her head on her mother’s knee. Part of her wanted to believe that Boston wouldn’t be so dreadful. Soon the holidays would be upon them with parties and balls, then the season. Grandmother would certainly make sure her entry into society was wellappointed; perhaps she’d even throw Noli a ball of her very own.

No. Noli shoved the thoughts of parties and gowns aside. There’s more to life than balls.

Like what? the sprite argued. I want a ball.

“Noli, are you well?” Mama’s brows furrowed. “You have that look on your face. I … ” Her mother eased Noli off her and stood, going to the trunk at the foot of the bed, which had barely been unpacked. It had finally returned from her misadventures at Findlay House.

Her mother opened the trunk, making three efficient piles on the bed.

Instead of helping, Noli lay on the bed, staring. Unless physically forced, she would not go to Boston. The possibility of that scenario did exist. Many women needed to be sedated for airship travel—her mother included.

“As much as I adore your random bouts of ladylikeness and how you’ve grown out of your awkward phase, you … ” Her mother added a ball gown to a pile as her lips pursed in a way which meant she was forming her words carefully. “You haven’t been quite right since Findlay. There, I’ve said it.” The piles grew as she sorted with rapidfire quickness. “I know you’re upset about V, and I’m not saying that we should to go to Boston to find someone else for you, I’m saying that we should go to Boston for a fresh start. This isn’t a new idea; we’ve spoken about this before. It might be good for both of us to begin anew.” She turned to Noli’s wardrobe, adding clothing to one of the piles.

Wait, could her mother wish to go back? Noli knew she’d been missing Boston lately, but hadn’t given much thought how their situation might wear on her mother. How she might wish to return home to Boston, permanently, but hadn’t wanted to give up on both her shop and Father. That, to her mother, this surprise visit might be a blessing in disguise.

Noli eyed Mama, who didn’t appear to be too upset by the whole situation, despite her small protests in the parlor. “True, a fresh start may not be a bad thing, but you know Grandmamma, she’ll have me married off by Christmas.” Mama piled shoes in the bottom of the now-empty trunk. “She isn’t that quick—it would take her at least to the end of the season. We’ll tell her that the matchmaking needs wait.”

“What if … ” If Noli didn’t speak now, she’d wake up in her grandfather’s house in Boston, her social calendar for the next year full.

“What is it?” Her mother filled the trunk with the contents of her wardrobe and dresser—nightdresses, gloves, corsets, petticoats, handbags …

Noli drew her knees to her chest. “It’s not that I don’t wish to get married, because I do … eventually. But my dream is to attend the university and become a botanist. Not all men oppose women being educated. V and I talked about going to the university together. There are coeducational ones and some where the men’s and women’s universities are next to each other.”

“You what?” It didn’t come out harshly, but more surprised, as Mama held up one of Noli’s gowns, frowned, and placed it in a different pile on the bed. “When did you decide that?”

“When I was seven and father brought me to that lecture at the botanical gardens.” Noli smiled, remembering that day and how grownup she felt to go with him. “I get good marks in my science classes. My botany teacher even offered to write me a letter. He thinks I could get a scholarship.” Of course, he also mentioned she’d have a better chance if she excelled in all her classes, not only the ones she liked.

Her mother nodded, examining a walking dress, then folding it and putting it in the trunk. “I remember you and your father discussing those plans in great depths when you were small, but I didn’t realize that was what you still wanted.”

Because her mother disapproved so heavily of higher education that after their father disappeared Noli stopped talking about it. To everyone. Only recently with V’s support had she talked to a few of her teachers about the possibility of attending a university next year. At this point Noli wasn’t picky, nearly any university that offered