Roland smiled affectionately. “Perhaps you ought to take a break from bird catching, poppet. Shall I tell you a story?”
Each evening, he and Pippa had been venturing to the nursery together, and Roland had begun regaling Char-char with tales his mother had told him. Stories about Sky Holder and the Thunders and Stone Men.
“Thunder Boy,” Charlotte requested, clapping her hands in excitement.
“You wish to hear about the son of Hinu, the Thunder God?” he asked.
Char-char nodded. “Yes, pwease!”
“Then that is the story you shall have,” he promised. “Settle on Mama’s lap, and I will begin.”
Charlotte did as he asked, and Pippa’s fingers tangled with Roland’s on the blanket as he began the tale.
“Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived with her grandmother…”
Pippa listened to his deep voice as the story unraveled, clinging to this precious new beginning she had been fortunate enough to receive.
* * *
Pippa had never been taskedwith the sacking of a servant in her employ before. In her household with George, he had always taken control of domestic matters, telling her he did not wish for her to bother herself with a detail as trivial as the running of the house. Thanks to the information she had gleaned from Primrose, his capable handling of their servants had taken on a far more ominous, despicable light. He had not wanted Pippa to deal directly with their domestics because he had been forcing himself upon the maids. Likely, he had feared they would report his actions back to her.
Now that she was married to Roland, however, he had encouraged her to take an active role in the management of all the domestics and the general running of the household. Despite knowing that Croydon was not the right nursemaid for Char-char, Pippa remained nervous as she awaited the elder woman for their arranged appointment in one of the lesser salons.
Roland was occupying Charlotte by taking her and Puppy for a walk.
Which left Pippa facing the dour nursemaid as she crossed the threshold, dressed in her customary outmoded bombazine.
“Croydon,” she greeted, forcing a smile.
She and Croydon had never agreed on many things, but she could not deny that parting ways with the retainer left her with guilt cramping her stomach just the same.
“Your Grace.” The nursemaid did not return Pippa’s smile as she dipped into a curtsy.
“Let us take a seat for this conversation,” she invited, gesturing to the chairs which had been arranged to facilitate the discussion.
“Thank you, madam,” Croydon said.
They sat.
Silence reigned.
Pippa cleared her throat. “I would like to begin by thanking you for your devotion in caring for Charlotte these last two years, particularly through times of great upheaval.”
Still, the nursemaid did not smile. “It was my duty to do so.”
“Of course. That does not negate my gratitude, however. I want you to know that.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” The woman’s countenance may as well have been carved from marble.
Pippa imagined Croydon could sense the direction the conversation was about to take. In her two years at Char-char’s nursemaid, Croydon had never been called before Pippa thus.
“We do, however, possess some different notions about how a child might be properly encouraged,” she said, attempting to enumerate the reasons for her desire to find a new nursemaid without inflicting undue insult upon the other woman.
“You seek to spoil the child, Your Grace,” Croydon said, her voice cold.
Cutting, actually. With an accusatory edge. There was a new underlying tone as well. Although the nursemaid had regularly objected to Pippa’s handling of matters pertaining to Charlotte, this was the first time she had dared to allow true anger to creep into her voice.
“You have made your position on that matter clear, madam,” she offered, attempting to keep her own irritation under control. “And it is for this very reason, our vast difference of opinion on the rearing of young ladies, that I believe it is for the best that you seek a different placement with a family who is more in agreement with your methods. I have already begun searching for a replacement nursemaid and expect to fill the position with haste. As I said, I do appreciate your years of service. I will provide you with a reference, of course.”
