Page 38 (1/2)
Changes
Even at the tender age of sixteen, Elizabeth Williairl who knew her mind She knew she preferred summer to all other seasons She knew she couldn’t stand the pink-and-yellow floral wallpaper the decorator had chosen for her room She knew that she would ood-natured father than her ever-critical, huh the company of either was difficult to co away to the Billings School for Girls was going to be the best thing that ever happened to her
As she sat in the cushioned seat of her bayoverlooking sun-streaked Beacon Hill, she folded her dog-eared copy of The Jungle in her lap, er inside to hold her place She placed her feet, new buckled shoes and all, up on the pink cushions and pressed her teh It was Septe an Indian su the new auto the side of the roads Eliza would have given anything to be back at the Cape Cod house, running along the shoreline in her bathing clothes, splashing in the waves, her swi her shoulders But instead, here she was, buttoned into a stiff green cotton dress herher neck
Anythe coach around and squire her off to the train station, where she and her maid, Renee, would board a train for Easton, Connecticut, and the Billings School Theto change into her most comfortable linen dress, jam her floppy brown hat over her hair, and set out in search of the library Because living at a school more than two hours away from home meant that her mother couldn’t control her Couldn’t criticize her Couldn’t nitpick every little thing she wore, every book she read, every choice sheaway at school meant freedom
Of course, Eliza’s s would turn Eliza into a true lady Eliza would catch herself a worthy husband, and she would return hoed, just as her sister, May, had
After two years at Billings, eighteen-year-old May was now an engaged woe Thackery III, of the Thackery tanning fortune She’d co and all, and was now officially their
Suddenly, the thick oak door of Eliza’s private bedroom opened and in walked her mother, Rebecca Cornwall Williams Her blond hair billowed like a cloud around her head, and her stylish, ankle-length gray skirt tightened her steps She wore atassel-trimmed jacket over her dress, even in this ridiculous heat The Williams pearls were, as always, clasped around her throat As she entered, her eyes flicked over Eliza and her casual posture and flashed with exasperation Eliza quickly sat up, shtened her back, and attempted to tuck her book behind her
“Hello, Mother,” she said with the polished politeness that usually won over the elder Willia?”
Herblue eyes narrowed as she walked toward her daughter
“Your sister and I are going to shop for wedding clothes We’ve coood-byes,” she said formally
Out in the hallway, May hovered, holding her tan leather gloves and new brimless hat at her waist May’s blond hair was pulled back in a stylish chignon, which coled froant, even when she was destined only for a si
Standing over Eliza, her ht out from under Eliza’s skirt
“The Jungle?” she said, holding the book between her thus reading this sort of rot Modern novels are not proper for a young lady Especially not a Williams”
Eliza’s gaze flicked to her sister, who quickly looked away A few years ago, May would have defended Eliza’s literary choices, but not anymore For the ed so one away to school, she’d been adventurous, to in love had turned her sister into a different person If winning a dia who she was, then Eliza was determined to die an old maid
“Headmistress Almay has turned out some of the finest ladies of society, and I intend for you to be one of them,” Eliza’s mother continued