Practical Heart, page 16
She did not knock, and when she entered she heard the Viscount saying, “You will not like to know this, but your daughter—”
“I beg your pardon,” she said clearly, breaking in upon his words. Her father’s portly body was disposed in a plump, puffy chair; the Viscount and Courtney stood before him in attitudes that suggested accusation. Miss Grouse went to stand between them so that she was facing her parent squarely. “Father,” she said, “what his Lordship was about to tell you is something I have been concealing for years—not because I was ashamed of it, but because I feared to displease you. Well, I am seven-and-twenty now, and the time to reveal it is long since come. Father,” she continued, without a tremble, “I want to study medicine, and to become an apothecary if I can.”
“What?” was all Mr. Grouse had to say.
His daughter repeated her words. “I mean to do it,” she added.
“This is a whim—” began Mr. Grouse.
“If it is, it is one which has endured above ten years,” she interrupted. She was not precisely enjoying herself, for she sincerely disliked to oppose her father; however, she was experiencing a great surge of release, and strength, and she knew she had done well to tell him. “Papa,” she continued, taking his hand suddenly and almost becoming a little girl again, “this is truly what I want. All I want,” she finished, her round eyes soft with pleading.
Mr. Grouse regarded her silently for some moments. It seemed to Valerian that Grouse, too, had gone back in time, and was gazing upon Thomasina as if she were a small child, begging to be allowed a treat. When at last he spoke, he did so very slowly. “I am not a man as likes to be defeated,” he said, “but when I am, I like to do it with some dignity. Very well, my daughter, you will have your education and a shop, too, if money can buy it.”
Thomasina’s face lit with a broad smile as she threw her short arms round her father. Lord Yates and the Viscount beamed, and were startled to hear the sound of applause issuing from behind them. Looking round, Valerian caught sight of five happy faces: the rest of the party had been eavesdropping. And the Viscount, unable to resist an admiring audience, permitted himself a small bow.
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Fiona Hill, Practical Heart
