“I have no doubt of it. Now then—let us see these books.”
Maggie lifted the arithmetic primer first, remembering the Duke’s insistence on apropereducation. That alone had surprised her. Many gentlemen thought a daughter’s learning a needless trouble. What use, after all, had a future wife and mother for algebra or Latin?
She flipped through the pages, her brows lifting.
“Is she very behind, Miss?” Jenny asked anxiously. “In the absence of a governess, I’ve been educating her as best I can, but his Grace taught her the Arithmetic.”
“Behind?” Maggie exclaimed. “Not in the least! Why, Miss Emma, you are quite advanced! See these sums here? This is basic Algebra. I cannot believe you are learning all this already!”
Emma beamed from ear to ear. “Uncle is a very good teacher.”
“He must be,” Maggie said, setting the book aside. “Now, choose a favourite storybook. Literature will be our first lesson.”
The little girl leapt down and ran to the bookcase, rifling through its shelves.
While she searched, Maggie leaned closer to Jenny. “You should call me Maggie, if it won’t get you into trouble. I dislike being ‘Miss Winter.’”
Jenny’s smile softened. “A governess ranks above a nursemaid, but I should like that—if you’re sure.”
“Quite sure. Tell me, why did the other governesses leave so quickly? Was it the duke? I have heard he can be formidable. And these absurd schedules—”
“Those ladies did not understand what His Grace is trying to accomplish,” Jenny interrupted, her tone firm. “He protects this household in the only way he knows how.”
Maggie blinked, taken aback by the vehemence of her defence. “Forgive me if I have given offence.”
“You haven’t,” Jenny said gently. “But a word of advice, Maggie—no matter what outside opinions may say, all of us in this house are very fond of his Grace, and we don’t take kindly to outsiders having their say about him. I hope you take my meaning.”
Maggie nodded thoughtfully. “I think I do. And I appreciate your warning, Jenny. Really, I do.”
At that moment, Emma came scampering back, arms full of books, and the conversation ended.
Still, as Maggie helped the child settle with her stories, she could not help turning Jenny’s words over in her mind.
This place grows stranger and stranger, she thought.
Chapter Five
A tap on the door made Maggie jump. She stared at it for a moment, teeth worrying her lip.
Stranger still, how a simple knock can frighten me so. It feels like being home again—peering through the landing window to see whether it was the creditors come calling.
Of course, it was always the creditors.
She smoothed her skirts, reminded herself there were no creditors here—and even if there had been, they would not have been hers but Papa’s—and went to open the door.
Jenny stood there, a tray balanced in her hands.
“I beg your pardon for disturbing you,” she said. “I know this is your own time, now that Miss Emma is abed, but I wondered if we might spend a little time together—if you are not busy, that is.”
What could I possibly be busy with?Maggie thought wryly. She had been told earlier that the library was at her disposal, and she had taken out a few volumes. One was required to enter each title and signature in a ledger by the door—a sensible system, though she could not imagine many servants borrowing philosophy. Still, beyond those books, she had very little to occupy her.
“Of course,” she said aloud, stepping back. “Come in, Jenny. It did not take you long to settle Miss Emma for the night.”
“Oh, she’s an angel,” Jenny said fondly, setting the tray upon the table. “Not spoilt or contrary like some rich children. We all love her in this house.”
Maggie was inclined to agree. Though her first day was barely over, she could already tell that Emma would be no hardship to teach. The child was intelligent, sweet-tempered,eager to learn, astonishingly advanced in Arithmetic and bright in Latin, Geography, and History besides.
All in all, Maggie thought herself fortunate.
