The Winds Of Fortune Episode 06
Minnie stood with her head pressed against the dining-room window, trying to quiet her racing thoughts.
Opposite the brownstone where they now lived with Grandmama Louisa was a row of similar buildings and, at the end of the block, a park.
It was a dismal day, with low cloud and drizzle that was turning the fallen leaves to sludge.
Minnie had come in here for some solitude.
Louisa was in the drawing-room and Minnie’s sister was resting in the small bedroom that they now shared.
Her poor mother was out dealing with business matters, even though her father’s funeral had only taken place earlier that day.
There was a knock on the door, and she turned to find Miller standing in the doorway.
“Can I get you anything, miss?”
“Thank you,” She gave the servant a shaky smile. “A cup of tea would be just the thing.”
He bowed and withdrew, and she sank down on a chair, her face in her hands.
It was almost impossible to process all that had happened in the last 10 days – the Wall Street crash, her father’s death, the loss of their fortune and the sale of their home.
It was almost too much to bear, and she was very much afraid that her darling sister would be broken by it.
She wiped her eyes. She must be strong for Pearl’s sake – as her grandmother and mother were being.
“Here you are, miss.” Miller entered, carrying a tray with a steaming cup of tea and a plate with two cookies.
She glanced up, about to protest, but saw the concerned expression on his face and realised she’d eaten nothing so far today.
“Thank you, Miller.”
He left the room and she sipped the tea.
It was horribly sweet, but perhaps it was just what she needed.
Miller obviously thought so. At least there were some who still cared.
She shook her head and picked up a cookie.
They had kept their clothes and their most treasured possessions, but everything else had gone.
Their debts were immense, and what had vanished, along with the money, was their position in society.
Most of their acquaintances – those, at least, who had survived the crash intact – no longer wanted to know them.
The scandal of a suicide attached to their name was the final straw, and this morning’s congregation had been small.
The only happiness that she clung on to was that Theo and his father had attended and spoken to them with great kindness, despite the weight of their own troubles.
Dearest Theo! Minnie felt the tears begin to fall again and wiped them away with impatience.
She might just have been able to bear the loss of her father, if she didn’t also have to lose a fiancé.
She believed he still cared for her, but how could they possibly marry now?
The Cranbys had lost everything. Theodore’s father was going to live with his uncle, but Theo would have to get a job and fend for himself.
At least the Vandunlans had fared better.
Grandmama had enough money of her own to purchase this house and provide them with a roof over their heads.
Nonetheless, Minnie, her mother and her sister must find work to contribute to the household expenses.
Their lives had changed irrevocably overnight.
She finished her tea and forced herself to eat the cookies. She would be no use to anyone if she became ill.
She rose to her feet and made her way to the drawing-room.
“Ah! There you are, Minnie. How are you bearing up?” Lousia asked her as she entered.
“I’m well, thank you, Grandmama.”
Her grandmother searched her face with sharp grey eyes, but if she thought her granddaughter looked pinched and pale, she didn’t comment.
As for Louisa herself, despite her undiminished spirit, Minnie could see that the death of her son had shaken her to the core.
She maintained her formidable exterior, but she seemed to have aged dramatically in the last week.
Her eyes, though they’d lost none of their intelligence, lacked their usual gleam; her skin was deeply lined and her cheeks sunken.
Her walk, though upright, had slowed.
Minnie sighed and took her grandmother’s hand.
“I know I must find work, Grandmama, and that doesn’t concern me, but I don’t know what I could do. I wondered if you had any ideas?”
Louisa tutted, a frown etched deep on her forehead.
“I know you will not complain, my dear, but to think that a granddaughter of mine should have to work for her living . . .”
Minnie patted her hand and Louisa took a deep breath.
“I’ve already given it some consideration,” Louisa continued. “We must find something respectable for you to do.
“I will not have you becoming a maid or some such.” She shuddered. “We could find the money for you to train as a secretary.
“What would you think of that?”
Minnie was efficient and organised. If she could learn to type, she might be very useful as an assistant in a business.
She nodded slowly.
“Can we afford it?”
Louisa looked grim.
“Your dress has been sold, as you know, and we will not need all our jewellery, either.”
Minnie wanted to protest, but Grandmama was right.
She didn’t care about the beautiful dress from New York as she didn’t want a reminder of that dreadful night, but that Louisa and her mother should part with their jewellery . . .
“Honey, I have great news!”
At that moment, Minnie’s mother burst into the room.
She looked paler than usual, and thin, but still elegant in her black dress and cloche hat, and with a smile on her face for the first time in days.
“I have landed myself a job at the newspaper,” she declared breathlessly. “I have been to see Mr Jeffers.
“I have written a number of articles for him before, regarding my women’s work.
“He has decided to begin a new section in the paper devoted entirely to women,” she explained. “He has put me in charge of it.”
Minnie found herself smiling – her mother’s excitement was infectious.
“Well done, Mother. That’s wonderful.”
“Yes, I believe I shall enjoy it. It will be a great challenge and, more importantly, it will bring in some much-needed funds.”
Carrie sank down in a chair, looking exhausted but relieved.
“Of course, it will be several months till the new section is launched, so I won’t be starting for a while,” she added.
Minnie’s heart swelled with pride at the strength of this woman.
To be continued …