The earl was instantly offended by her remark. “There is nothing wrong with my children,” he declared forcefully.
“You misunderstand me,” Isabella interjected. “I think Catherine and Ian are both normal, intelligent children. I am merely pointing out that they are not behaving naturally. They are suppressing their innate curiosity and enthusiasm because they are fearful of seeming disobedient.” Isabella leaned forward in her chair. “And I believe that you are the cause.”
“Me?”
Isabella unconsciously placed her hand on the earl’s arm. “Catherine mentioned to me the other morning that you had instructed her and Ian to follow my orders without question and obey me in all things. If not, they would suffer the consequences.”
Damien wrinkled his brow. “This was the wrong thing to say?”
Isabella let out a small sigh. “Of course not. But it seems obvious the children are so intent on pleasing you that they are suppressing their natural inclinations toward fun and adventure. I find that unacceptable.”
Damien gave Isabella a searching look. “Are you saying you want me to instruct Catherine and Ian to misbehave? To ignore your authority and act however they wish?” Damien’s deep voice was filled with genuine wonder.
“Naturally, I do not wish them to turn into undisciplined little monsters. Yet I want them to know that it is acceptable for them to indulge their natural curiosities at times. It is even acceptable for them to make mistakes. I want you to tell them they do not always have to be perfect.” A fleeting glimpse of pain crossed Isabella’s features as she remembered the pain of her own childhood. “It can be a rather exhausting task for a young child to constantly strive for perfection.”
Damien looked at Isabella doubtfully, but she continued speaking.
“There is something else we need to address,” Isabella said softly. “Concerning Catherine.”
“Yes?”
“Are you aware of her exceptional memory? It is quite extraordinary. She can remember with the most astonishing detail nearly everything I teach her, especially when numbers are involved.”
A slow grin crossed the earl’s face. “My grandfather had such an ability. I did not know Catherine shared his gift.”
“Well, she does. And while I certainly feel it is an amazing and potentially useful talent, Catherine applies it in the oddest way.”
“How so?”
Isabella let out a long breath. “She is obsessed with battles. Warfare of any kind intrigues her, but the recent conflict with France seems to be a particular fascination. Catherine and Ian stage numerous mock battles with the large collection of toy soldiers they have, and her attention to detail is overwhelming. Catherine knows precisely how many troops are on each side, how the action of the battle takes place, which generals issued what specific commands. It is remarkable.” Isabella looked down at her hands. “She is also intrigued about the number of causalities after the battle, wounded as well as dead. Her insistence on accuracy can be positively chilling at times.”
“That seems very peculiar.” Damien swallowed the last of his coffee. His brow wrinkling in confusion, he asked, “What do you think this means?”
“I am not certain.” Isabella shrugged her shoulders helplessly. “Yet, I cannot help but feel this obsession with death and dying is not healthy.”
The earl wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin and tossed it casually on the table.
“I agree that Catherine’s behavior is unhealthy and should not be tolerated,” Damien said. Pushing his chair away from the table, he rose to his feet. “I shall speak to Catherine this evening and instruct her to cease this odd behavior immediately.”
“Oh, no!” Isabella jumped up in dismay. Her knee hit the edge of the dining room table and the earl’s breakfast dishes rattled noisily. “You cannot simply order Catherine to stop.”
Damien raised a brow. “Why not? As her parent, I am responsible for her conduct. If she is acting in an unacceptable manner, then it must cease. At once.”
Isabella flashed him a look of pure consternation. How typical of him to pursue the easiest course by demanding the strange behavior stop, instead of searching for the underlying cause.
“I do not think ordering Catherine to stop playing with her soldiers is the correct solution. While she and Ian are reenacting these rather bloody battles, she always mentions your role in the conflict.”
“My role?”
Isabella nodded her head. “It is my understanding that you and Mr. Jenkins participated in the fighting in the Peninsula.” At the earl’s curt nod, Isabella continued. “Catherine’s main focus of interest is the actual battles you participated in.”
Damien looked totally bewildered. “Those conflicts took place years ago, long before she was born. How can Catherine possible be aware of my involvement?”
Isabella squirmed uncomfortably under the earl’s intense gaze. Even though she felt no loyalty toward Mrs. Amberly, Isabella was reluctant to reveal the housekeeper’s connection. Yet seeing no alternative, she disclosed the truth.
“Apparently Mrs. Amberly kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings while you were away fighting. Over the past few years, she has read the printed accounts of these battles to the children and Catherine has committed the details to memory.”
“How very extraordinary,” Damien muttered to himself.
