“I really think he means it this time. I thought of talking to Miss Hilversham and supporting her seminary. And maybe building up my own school. Putting all my energy to the cause of female education.”
“Oh Arabella, that is brilliant. You know Miss Hilversham will always welcome you with open arms — as a patroness. But she’ll never hire you as a teacher.”
“I know.” Arabella bit her lip before saying, “My status is in the way. But maybe I can have an influence on what things are taught. Proper things. Like advanced natural sciences. And higher mathematics. Maybe even engineering… And maybe she’ll let me talk to the students. On an occasional visit. And one day I can have my own school…” Her voice petered off.
Lucy nodded. “You have a plan. Do it. I will wholeheartedly support you, and surely Ash will, too. If that is what you want, if that is what you think will make you happy, then we will all support you.”
“Yes. I am fairly certain that is what I want.” She smiled at Lucy brightly and held out her hands for little Isolde, who gurgled at her aunt.
Her heart, however, said something else.
Chapter 30
“Papa, I wish Miss Weston were back with us.” Robin had thrown his quill down in frustration and splattered ink over the table.
Philip sighed. He’d tried to spend the entire afternoon teaching his children. Instead of returning to Cornwall, Philip had decided to stay longer until they found a new governess. They’d interviewed at least five applicants, but none would do. One looked terrifying, with pinched mouth and sunken cheeks and was unanimously rejected. One had declared she didn’t believe in reading stories to children, because it unnecessarily incited one’s imagination and had frowned disapprovingly at Joy, who’d clung to her Mouse book. One had burst into tears when Philip asked her why she’d applied for the job, and another applicant was so old she had difficulty climbing the steps up to the front door. The last one had called Philip’s inventions the work of the devil and fled.
So, Philip had to resort to schooling his children himself, like he’d done before, but somehow it wasn’t the same. He discovered he did not know many things Arabella had taught them. He spoke neither Italian nor French well, so their language studies came to a halt. He was horrendously unmusical, so he’d scratched music lessons as well. He couldn’t help Katy with her needlework and had no idea whether mauve or vermillion threads were better suited for flower petals. “Use both,” he’d advised.
Katy pouted. “If Miss Weston were here —”
“I know, I know.” Philip pulled his hair. “If Miss Weston were here, everything would be so much better, the quality of life would improve, the sun would come out, and the world would turn again.”
The children nodded in agreement.
Robin sat up straight. “I know what you can do.” He rushed to the door.
“Robert Benjamin Merivale, where do you think you are going?”
“To fetch Miss Weston back.”
“Excellent, Robin. I’ll come too.” Katy jumped up.
“Me too!” Joy piped up.
“Sit.” Philip’s voice slashed through the room and was blithely ignored. “Robin, Katy, Joy! Be reasonable. Miss Weston really isn’t Miss Weston.”
“No. She isn’t.” Katy whirled at him. “Don’t you see? Things could be so easy, Papa. But if you aren’t going to do it, then we will.” She set her mouth in a mulish line.
Philip raked his hand over his face. “I haven’t the faintest idea what you are talking about.”
The children exchanged looks. Robin rolled his eyes.
“Miss Weston is Lady Arabella,” Katy said slowly. “She is the sister of a duke.”
“So?” A similarly mulish look appeared on Philip’s face. One need merely mention the word “duke” to set him off.
“You, Papa. Are. Going. To. Be. A. Duke.” The words dropped in the room. Katy crossed her arms.
“Not if I can help it.” Philip ground his teeth.
“But that’s exactly it. Youcan’thelp it, Papa,” Robin suddenly seemed old beyond his years. “It’s a fact. You know it. And I know it. And after you,Iwill be duke. And you know what?” He glared at his father. “Iwantto be a duke. There is nothing whatsoever you can do about it.”
Philip opened his mouth to reply, to say something scathing, but there was indeed nothing, whatsoever, that he could say to counter that particular piece of fact. Because Robin, of course, was right.
Out of the mouths of babes.
“The Duke of Morley, our great-grandfather, has never tried to harm us.” Katy piped in. “I know he tried to hurt you once, Papa. But he never tried to do that to Robin. Or me. I remember many years ago when you were at war and we visited him at Thornton Hall with Mama and you were so furious. He tried to bekindto us. It didn’t come to him naturally, not like Granda, but he tried, you could see he really tried. You don’t have to like him. But I think you’re not being fair by not giving us the chance to get to know him. He is the only family we have left, other than Granda.”
