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Encouraged, she got to her feet and wobbled over to the window. “With winter out of the way, we could hang lace curtains instead of these dreadfully heavy drapes. Imagine how wonderful it would look to have the morning sunshine peering in through the curtains?”
“Along with half the neighbors.”
She sighed and turned to the windows to draw the drapes back to allow the sunshine to pour into the room. Gerald Snowden lifted an arm to protect his eyes from the sun as he said, “For pity’s sake, Erika, do close the curtain.”
Disappointed, she turned to pull the curtain back into place when she spotted a young delivery boy walking down the street. She watched him lugging his heavy cart through the deep snow with a frown creasing her forehead.
“Grandfather, why is it there’s no school for the older children in town?”
“What is that?” His two thick brows came together as he squinted at her. “And did I not say to close that curtain?”
“Yes, Grandfather.” Obediently, she dropped the heavy cloth and made her way back to her seat. “I was just wondering, for a town this size, why isn’t there a separate school for the older children?”
“What do you mean? Children attending our grammar school receive all the education they need,” he said.
“Yes, but what of the other students wanting to pursue a higher education?”
“Other students? What are you trying to get at, Erika?”
“I was just curious as to why Placid has not yet erected a school designed for higher education.”
He shook his head as if to dismiss the subject. “It is hardly logical to erect one when there are so few students to fill it.”
Erika paused, playing with her napkin again. “What of a high school? Why has there not been one built in Placid yet? I understand they are quite popular in the big cities.”
He paused so long she didn’t think he was even going to bother answering. “I suppose because no one’s bothered to build one.”
Fiona had returned from the kitchen and placed a plate in front of Erika. “Thank you, Fiona.”
As she watched the housekeeper move across the room to begin clearing her grandfather’s dishes, she swallowed her nerves and asked, “You’ve built most of the establishments in the square and run the majority of all the businesses, so why don’t you build a high school?”
The housekeeper, who was about to turn and leave, stopped dead in her tracks and looked down at Erika with her jaw hanging low. Gerald Snowden didn’t look pleased in the least, as once again he looked at Erika over the rim of his glasses. Slowly he laid the newspaper down on top of the table.
“I am a businessman, Erika. I deal with such things as profits, investments and consolidations. Things I am certain you have no idea what I am referring to. It is my goal to ensure only lucrative and productive companies for this town that will guarantee its growth. Overseeing the establishment of an educational setting is not my concern. But as I understand it, Placid’s common school provides enough higher education for those wanting it. I cannot be held accountable for those children choosing to leave prior to completion of their education.”
“I believe they leave school early because the building itself is not large enough to house them. Any extra room is given to the younger students arriving.”
His expression did not change as he sat there staring across at her. “There is sufficient seats for those students truly deserving a higher education in our grammar school.”
Erika looked down at her hands. “But what about the others?”
“Again, what others, Erika?” His voice was beginning to grow quite stern causing her to shift uncomfortably in her chair. Lifting her chin, she found Fiona staring at her with a look of disbelief.
Shifting her glance back to her grandfather, she forced all her confidence to the forefront and said, “The ones who cannot afford an education?”
“Nonsense.” He brushed her off with a wave of his hand before snatching up his newspaper again. “Education is not meant for the common man. What good would it do him?”
Fiona snorted and retrieved her grandfather’s plate. “When will you realize this is not the old country? The good men who founded this nation had a greater vision for the immigrants who settled here.”
“Mind you refrain from speaking on matters you are knowledgeable little in, Ms. Rittenburg. I hardly conceive a petty housekeeper being versed in the understanding of political activity in this country. Leave the running of this great nation to those who are equipped to do so,” Gerald Snowden told his housekeeper who only sighed heavily and left the room. “As for you, Erika, I’m not sure what has gotten into you this morning. You will stop concerning yourself with things of diplomatic nature or with Agnus Layman for that matter. One hardly associates such behavior from a refined young lady.”
Erika took up her fork and nodded. “Yes, Grandfather.”
After all, was he not always correct in such matters? What did she, a simple gentleman’s daughter, know about such things? She was angry with herself for having voiced such thoughts out loud. It was that blasted Jay Colby putting such foolish thoughts in her head.
The doorbell chimed suddenly, surprising Erika as she wondered who would be visiting at that hour in the morning. Her grandfather, however, did not look in the least surprised. He glanced at his pocket watch and then pushed back his chair and got to his feet. “Good. He is precisely on time.”
She knew better than to follow him, so Erika remained in her chair eating her breakfast after he left. Fiona came back into the room and started cleaning up, still, evidently, cross. “Your grandfather can be the most mule-headed man I have ever met.”
