“I see.”
“I sincerely hope you will.” He gazed at her sternly. “I’ve no doubt that you misrepresented yourself on the application to the university, and that is a very serious lie.”
“Uncle, I wonder if the application forms have changed since your time, because nothing on the form asked me to declare whether I was a man or a woman.”
Norbert paused, discomfited. “I cannot remember the form, but that is immaterial. You altered your appearance to present yourself on campus in a different guise.”
Clementine blinked in surprise. “I…I believe almost every student on campus these days wears tokens to alter his appearance. Isn’t that so, Simeon?”
Simeon smiled. “But those are merely to enhance, not disguise.”
“How”—Clem appeared baffled—“do you perceive the difference? I saw for myself the acquisition of luxuriant beards, beautiful whiskers, impressive calves…”
“Yes, Clementine,” her uncle interrupted, “but all those men, without their alterations, were eligible to attend Commonwealth.”
Clem shook her head. “I really believe this is all a misunderstanding. I realize women haven’t attended Commonwealth in the past, of course. But it isn’t clear to me that such a thing is prohibited. Having looked very closely at the rules of the university, I believe it is custom rather than policy that has kept women away. I’d wager my trousers on it!” She smiled jauntily.
Norbert frowned. “You take this far too lightly, Niece. This is a serious matter. Very serious. I doubt you’ve considered the significance for us, as a family, of your having created this very public scandal. Have you considered the effect upon my banking connections, or upon Simeon’s prospects at the university, or Mariah’s marriage prospects?”
Clementine’s expression shifted to one of distress. “You’re right that I hadn’t considered it. That’s very concerning. Perhaps,” she said tentatively, “it would be best to keep some slight…distance from us, for a time.”
Norbert let out a short breath. “That won’t be enough. Scandal has a way of tracking down associates and relatives, no matter how remote. In our case, the connection isnotremote. We’ll all be in the public eye, and we’ll all be sullied by this absurd action and its repercussions. I can’t understand,” Norbert went on, “why your father saw fit to name his own brother your guardian, even though he is a bachelor, lives in New Bedford, and can’t possibly see you more than…how many times a year?”
“Oh, we see Uncle Tomás quite often,” Clem said cheerfully.
Norbert Trench seemed skeptical. “I would have been glad to act as guardian for you both, given that you were andarequite young and very evidently still require the supervision that only an experienced parent can offer. I am beginning to doubt howmuch of that supervision the two of you ever received. There’s no question that your father was an exceptional language tutor, but teaching languages and teaching young girls to make their way through the world are quite different. I don’t wish to speak ill of the dead, naturally, but your poor father clearly could not manage—”
“Everything Father did for us was done out of kindness and generosity,” Rosie said, her voice high and clear, “even until the moment of his death.”
With difficulty, Norbert reined himself in. “I realize that he meant well, Rosetta, but good intentions are not immune to folly. As you know,” he went on, “I’ve been doing my best—lamentably, far too little—to be a more informal advisor and social benefactor since his passing. But it’s not sufficient. Indeed, it was Simeon who made me see as much.” He glanced at Simeon, who gave a saccharine smile. “I believe the solution lies not in greater distance, but in greater proximity. I’ve talked it over with Jane. We’d like to have both of you stay at Clover Hall for some months.” Norbert lifted his chin with an air of magnanimity. “Our family reputation will weather the storm, and it will protect you, as well. And in that way we can ensure that your conduct is befitting of that reputation.”
A brief silence followed. Rosie looked openly horrified, and Clementine smiled blandly. “That’s very generous,” Clem said. “But we couldn’t possibly trespass. It would be dreadful if any further scandals were to darken your door.”
“?‘Further scandals’?” Norbert echoed alertly.
“Legal battles are so unpredictable,” Clem said, holding up the cream-colored envelope that had been delivered minutes earlier, “and who can say what will happen this week at the Essex County Courthouse?”
Norbert looked genuinely shocked. “You’ve been called to court?”
“Yes. I think it’s open to the public, by the way—anyone may attend. It will be a good opportunity to scrutinize those university policies.”
Norbert gasped. “Open to the public? Every student of Commonwealth will be there. Is it a criminal suit? Or civil? Have you been accused of fraud?” He didn’t wait for an answer to any of his questions. Rising to his feet, he began to pace the room. “It hardly matters. Either will be disastrous. Within a few days, all of Boston will know. The situation is worse even than I’d feared. Principa?” Norbert demanded, turning to his thew.
Principa fixed Clementine with a piercing stare that lasted several seconds. Then her face dissolved into an expression of consternation. “Her thoughts are an incongruous jumble, I can’t—”
Norbert let out a breath of exasperation.
“There’s no need for all that, Uncle,” Clem said genially. “I’m not surprised to hear that my thoughts are an unreadable jumble.” She smiled sweetly at Principa. “It’s a civil suit. Brought by the university. It will be heard on Tuesday before Judge Richardson.”
“Heavens,” Norbert said, under his breath. Then he looked up, his brow furrowed. “This is a grievous development. I’ll need to consult with Jane.”
Rosie stared down at her lap, visibly relieved. Simeon, beside her, affected an expression of limp concern. He reached out to put his hand on Rosetta’s arm and she pulled away.
“I completely understand, Uncle,” Clementine said regretfully. “It pains me greatly, but perhaps it would be best to stay away. If it’s understood that you’ve taken steps to distance yourselves from us, it could only be interpreted as a wise decision. Your family will be spared.”
Rosie stood up abruptly—Simeon had tried once again to take her hand. She shuddered as she edged away, as if the cold scales of a serpent had brushed against her arm.
“Perhaps there’s still a way through,” Norbert said stiffly. “After the scandal has passed. And especially if the suit is resolved in a satisfactory manner. Afterward, I see no reason why we can’t continue our cordial family relations with you and Rosetta, overcoming the unpleasantness of this recent mishap, and I will do my best to create opportunities for myself and Jane to advise you, since this is so clearly lacking in your lives at present. Indeed, it would be good for both of you to spend more time with Mariah, who I’m proud to say has an impeccable understanding of social decorum, and with Simeon, who is as good a young man as you will meet.”
