Philadelphia, May 1942.
"The old Acton house?" Mrs. Gracie wrinkled her nose. "I wouldn't take that place Edward- according to Mrs. Acton before they moved there were structural damages. When they found out how much they'd cost to repair it only helped in their decision to move to California to be near Kelly. Of course this isn't stopping them from asking such a high price for it, but then some people have no scruples at all."
Edward finished chewing his steak and then wiped his mouth with his napkin. "So I guess its back to the drawing board then. It's a pity though- you really liked that place didn't you Eliza?"
Eliza managed a wry smile. "Well it can't be helped can it?" She asked tonelessly. In the past three weeks they'd seen three houses including the Acton one, all of which Mrs. Gracie seemed to have a reason why they couldn't buy. The Harrison's house had a bad feel to it because of a murder which had happened the century before, and Mrs. Gracie was concerned for the children growing up in a house with such a bad history. Then it was the Simpson house which was hardly big enough for the children to run around and play in, especially considering the surrounding paddocks were leased to a farmer who intended to breed cattle there. And god forbid, Mrs. Gracie had added, what would happen if a bull got out and went for the children? And now the Acton house supposedly had structural damage!
"Don't worry sweetheart, we'll find something eventually." Edward assured her. "We've just got to keep on looking."
Eliza smiled and nodded. "Eventually." She muttered. She wondered whether or not Edward had the same feeling about his mother as her, that she didn't want them to find another house? Despite the fact that Mrs. Gracie was not the biggest fan of either Eliza or Margaret she adored and doted on both Ben and Edward, and perhaps she couldn't bare the thought of being alone with only a menagerie of servants for company? Eliza felt that in the month or so since the Colonels death the relationship between her and Edward had been a little stilted. The morning after the funeral he said to her "Eliza you know I love everything about you. I love the fact that you always have something to think and say, that you've got an opinion on everything. I love the passionate look you get in your eyes when you think someone has been wronged. But for the sake of harmony around here I just think it would be best if you kept your opinions to yourself in front of our friends and associates. It's just- well they'll talk about it, and I don't want that." Eliza had frowned slightly. At least he wasn't saying he didn't like it, but it worried her a little that he wanted her to pretend to be something she wasn't in front of people she didn't even really know. Nonetheless she had given him her word that she wouldn't speak up in front of people, especially considering he confessed that people would talk about it. The idea of those snobs gossiping about them annoyed her no end, and the thought that not only his reputation, but also his business could suffer, motivated her to agree. Edward had smiled, and kissed her on the forehead. "I knew you'd understand Eliza. You've always understood me better than anyone else here." He said as he left the room. However since the conversation Eliza thought that their relationship had definitely changed a bit. No longer did they discuss business and the war like they'd always done, and instead their conversation was confined to other topics. In Eliza's mind she was becoming exactly like all the other society wives- soon she'd have to join their garden clubs and tea parties so she could talk about how little she knew about everything. But Edward seemed pleased about the way she was acting, so she didn't complain.
"I mean you've got to think about the children don't you?" Mrs. Gracie asked. "They're the most important here."
Eliza managed to keep her mouth shut- something she was becoming better at since Edward had made his strange request the other month- although inwardly she wondered about Mrs. Gracie's apparent concern for the children? She thought about the cold way Mrs. Gracie spoke to Margaret, who now managed to avoid her Grandmother as much as possible.
"Exactly." Edward agreed, and then it was as if a light came on in his eyes as he remembered something. "I can't believe I forgot. I was speaking to William yesterday and he was telling me that we've moved back here at the right time. Apparently our old house is about to go on the market, for about the same amount as we sold it for. Isn't that luck?"
Eliza's face lit up, but Mrs. Gracie only muttered "Luck indeed."
"And of course we know there's no structural damage since we had it assessed before we left and that was only eight or so years ago. And we know that there's no bad feel to it, and all the gardens surrounding it are perfect for the children to play in. What do you think Mother?" Edward asked his mother, a strange smile on his face.
Eliza bit her lip- was he making fun of his mother? Mrs. Gracie evidently thought so by the way she pursed her lips and didn't comment.
Edward turned to Eliza. "What do you think sweetheart? Would you like to live there again?"
"Would I!" Eliza exclaimed. "It would be wonderful. Almost like going home again."
Edward nodded. "Well I'll have a chat with William about it tomorrow and see what he thinks."
"You'll have to excuse me." Mrs. Gracie said standing up abruptly. "I don't feel too well. I've been feeling ill lately. I suppose though that kind of thing happens when you're as old as me. Who knows how long I'll be around?" And she left the room.
Edward took a sip of his drink. "Was it just me or was there a definite element of the guilt appeal there?"
Eliza laughed. "It wasn't just you." She assured him. "Oh Edward if we could move back into our old place. How wonderful would it be!"
"Don't get excited yet sweetheart." Edward said quickly. "I'll have to make sure William has the right information first."
"I know, I know." Eliza said, but her eyes were still shining brightly. It even made her concerns about her health go away to think that they could possibly soon be out of here and back in their own home. Although, she thought, Mrs. Gracie probably wouldn't make it easy.
"The old Acton house?" Mrs. Gracie wrinkled her nose. "I wouldn't take that place Edward- according to Mrs. Acton before they moved there were structural damages. When they found out how much they'd cost to repair it only helped in their decision to move to California to be near Kelly. Of course this isn't stopping them from asking such a high price for it, but then some people have no scruples at all."
Edward finished chewing his steak and then wiped his mouth with his napkin. "So I guess its back to the drawing board then. It's a pity though- you really liked that place didn't you Eliza?"
Eliza managed a wry smile. "Well it can't be helped can it?" She asked tonelessly. In the past three weeks they'd seen three houses including the Acton one, all of which Mrs. Gracie seemed to have a reason why they couldn't buy. The Harrison's house had a bad feel to it because of a murder which had happened the century before, and Mrs. Gracie was concerned for the children growing up in a house with such a bad history. Then it was the Simpson house which was hardly big enough for the children to run around and play in, especially considering the surrounding paddocks were leased to a farmer who intended to breed cattle there. And god forbid, Mrs. Gracie had added, what would happen if a bull got out and went for the children? And now the Acton house supposedly had structural damage!
"Don't worry sweetheart, we'll find something eventually." Edward assured her. "We've just got to keep on looking."
Eliza smiled and nodded. "Eventually." She muttered. She wondered whether or not Edward had the same feeling about his mother as her, that she didn't want them to find another house? Despite the fact that Mrs. Gracie was not the biggest fan of either Eliza or Margaret she adored and doted on both Ben and Edward, and perhaps she couldn't bare the thought of being alone with only a menagerie of servants for company? Eliza felt that in the month or so since the Colonels death the relationship between her and Edward had been a little stilted. The morning after the funeral he said to her "Eliza you know I love everything about you. I love the fact that you always have something to think and say, that you've got an opinion on everything. I love the passionate look you get in your eyes when you think someone has been wronged. But for the sake of harmony around here I just think it would be best if you kept your opinions to yourself in front of our friends and associates. It's just- well they'll talk about it, and I don't want that." Eliza had frowned slightly. At least he wasn't saying he didn't like it, but it worried her a little that he wanted her to pretend to be something she wasn't in front of people she didn't even really know. Nonetheless she had given him her word that she wouldn't speak up in front of people, especially considering he confessed that people would talk about it. The idea of those snobs gossiping about them annoyed her no end, and the thought that not only his reputation, but also his business could suffer, motivated her to agree. Edward had smiled, and kissed her on the forehead. "I knew you'd understand Eliza. You've always understood me better than anyone else here." He said as he left the room. However since the conversation Eliza thought that their relationship had definitely changed a bit. No longer did they discuss business and the war like they'd always done, and instead their conversation was confined to other topics. In Eliza's mind she was becoming exactly like all the other society wives- soon she'd have to join their garden clubs and tea parties so she could talk about how little she knew about everything. But Edward seemed pleased about the way she was acting, so she didn't complain.
"I mean you've got to think about the children don't you?" Mrs. Gracie asked. "They're the most important here."
Eliza managed to keep her mouth shut- something she was becoming better at since Edward had made his strange request the other month- although inwardly she wondered about Mrs. Gracie's apparent concern for the children? She thought about the cold way Mrs. Gracie spoke to Margaret, who now managed to avoid her Grandmother as much as possible.
"Exactly." Edward agreed, and then it was as if a light came on in his eyes as he remembered something. "I can't believe I forgot. I was speaking to William yesterday and he was telling me that we've moved back here at the right time. Apparently our old house is about to go on the market, for about the same amount as we sold it for. Isn't that luck?"
Eliza's face lit up, but Mrs. Gracie only muttered "Luck indeed."
"And of course we know there's no structural damage since we had it assessed before we left and that was only eight or so years ago. And we know that there's no bad feel to it, and all the gardens surrounding it are perfect for the children to play in. What do you think Mother?" Edward asked his mother, a strange smile on his face.
Eliza bit her lip- was he making fun of his mother? Mrs. Gracie evidently thought so by the way she pursed her lips and didn't comment.
Edward turned to Eliza. "What do you think sweetheart? Would you like to live there again?"
"Would I!" Eliza exclaimed. "It would be wonderful. Almost like going home again."
Edward nodded. "Well I'll have a chat with William about it tomorrow and see what he thinks."
"You'll have to excuse me." Mrs. Gracie said standing up abruptly. "I don't feel too well. I've been feeling ill lately. I suppose though that kind of thing happens when you're as old as me. Who knows how long I'll be around?" And she left the room.
Edward took a sip of his drink. "Was it just me or was there a definite element of the guilt appeal there?"
Eliza laughed. "It wasn't just you." She assured him. "Oh Edward if we could move back into our old place. How wonderful would it be!"
"Don't get excited yet sweetheart." Edward said quickly. "I'll have to make sure William has the right information first."
"I know, I know." Eliza said, but her eyes were still shining brightly. It even made her concerns about her health go away to think that they could possibly soon be out of here and back in their own home. Although, she thought, Mrs. Gracie probably wouldn't make it easy.