Miss Halliday shot Colin a bewildered look and thanked James. “What can you tell me about Catherine and Nora?”
“I’m sure they are much too young to have started reading,” Colin said with confidence. At four- and five-years-old, he still thought of Catherine and Nora as babies, although he knew they weren’t.
Miss Halliday posed several more questions about their study of etiquette, skill with a paintbrush, and ability to cipher numbers, but neither Colin nor James had answers. With a slight frown, she closed her notebook. “Forgive my over eagerness, Lord Blackwood. Perhaps it would be best if I posed these questions to your wife when she visits the classroom.”
A shocked laugh burst from him. “Audrey isn’t mywife. She was married to my older brother. Your charges are my nieces.”
“I-I assumed—I thought because she is Lady Blackwood that you and she...” Miss Halliday began thumping the pencil against the chair’s gilded armrest, seemingly unaware of the incessant tapping noise she created.
“I understand,” Colin said. “I can see how that might be misleading. Our brother died from injuries sustained in a riding accident last spring, and I inherited the earldom.”
The tapping stopped, and she regarded him with her mouth slightly ajar. He barreled on before she could recover enough to offer the obligatory words of sympathy.
“I have been guardian to Malcolm’s daughters for a short time only, and my presence was required in London this summer. I hope you do not judge me too harshly for being unfamiliar with their academic achievements thus far.”
“It would not enter my mind to judge you, my lord.” She shook her had sadly. “Your poor nieces. My heart goes out to all of you. I am certain your lives have been turned on end.”
Compassion swelled in her deep brown eyes and elicited a pang in his chest. It was true his life would never be the same. He had responsibilities he’d never anticipated, but most worrisome was whether he could provide everything the girls required from a father. Looking into Miss Halliday’s eyes, he sensed she understood their needs better than he, but it wasn’t surprising. According to Danby, she had lost her father when she was young. Her wisdom was hard earned.
“Thank you for informing me,” Miss Halliday said. “My students may need special allowances made in the classroom at times. Grieving one’s father can be an arduous task, and I vow not to drive them too hard.”
“Perhaps their previous governesses were not as understanding,” James mused.
And perhaps Colin should allow his sister-in-law the benefit of the doubt. Audrey was inconsiderate, hot-tempered, and critical, but she loved her daughters with a ferociousness he couldn’t deny. Watching over the help’s shoulder might have been necessary.
“Thank you, Miss Halliday. I believe the girls’ education is in good hands,” Colin said. “Shall we go meet your students?”
“Yes, that would be lovely.”
James declined to join them, offering an excuse about needing to see to correspondence, which suited Colin. Miss Halliday’s choice to take a governess position both baffled and intrigued him, and he was eager to indulge his curiosity out from under his brother’s watchful eyes.
