“No,” Althea assured her. “Had he, he would have posted for a governess immediately, or put someone else in charge and carried on. Gentlemen have far more freedom than women. He is here because he wishes to be.”
With that, Delia’s shoulders dropped as if a large weight had been lifted.
The poor child had been carrying far too much of a burden and all because of a cold governess.
Chapter Six
Prestonpausedattheentrance to the dining room, anxious for luncheon. Truthfully, he was eager to see Miss Claywell. Except, the dining room was empty of his wards and their governess, nor were there place settings save one, and that would be his.
Since his return from the Continent, the one thing Preston despised was eating alone. He’d enjoyed the quiet of having a bedchamber to himself, however not having another to share a meal with was the loneliest of activities, which was why he insisted that his nieces join him each afternoon and evening.
“Where is everyone?” Had Miss Claywell decided to begin her duties today and returned to the practice of a light luncheon in the schoolroom so as not to disrupt the girls’ education any more than necessary? The former governess, who had grown stricter after his brother and sister-in-law were killed, rarely allowed the girls to leave the nursery floor. Preston had detested being away from them, but he couldn’t have the girls with him without also enduring the presence of Miss Halton.
“Miss Claywell is picnicking with the girls,” Mrs. Wilson advised.
“Picnicking?” It’s the first of January. Nobody picnics this time of year. Further, why hadn’t he been included? He would have enjoyed a picnic and was rather hurt that he’d not been asked.
“I believe Miss Claywell wishes to come to know the girls outside of the schoolroom.”
“Yes, of course.” Preston made his way to his seat, dejected at having not been invited to join them.
“You should know that there were a few minor incidents, Lord Melcombe,” Mrs. Wilson offered.
“Incidents?” he asked as a footman placed luncheon on the table.
“Yes, apparently a mouse found its way into Miss Claywell’s drawer. Then there was an incident of cotton wadding being placed in the toe of her walking boot.”
Were they playing pranks on Miss Claywell already? “Should I discipline them?” he asked.
Mrs. Wilson chuckled. “Matters have been set to right, I can assure you.”
“How?”
“A maid reported that she overheard Miss Delia tell her sisters that there were to be no further pranks, then apologized to Miss Claywell, to which Miss Claywell laughed and said that she was raised with four male cousins and that it was nearly impossible to frighten her.”
“What was the purpose of cotton wadding in a boot?”
“To make one believe that a foot had grown, or a boot had shrunk.”
Preston frowned. Female children were odd.
While he was happy that they were getting on, it still left Preston dining alone and he did not like it one bit.
In fact, it left him in a foul mood for the remainder of the afternoon. He liked structure and knowing what to expect. While not everything could be predicated for any one day, luncheon and supper were two occasions when he knew where to be and who would be with him. Such had not been the case today. And, if he were honest, he was rather jealous of his nieces.
When it grew time for supper, he once again waited for his nieces and Miss Claywell to join him in the parlor as they did every night, but they didn’t. Therefore, instead of going into the dining room alone, Preston climbed the stairs to the schoolroom floor only to hear laughter coming from Delia’s chamber.
Crossing to the door he knocked. All laughter stopped and for a moment he wished he hadn’t interrupted because it had been so long since he’d heard such from them. In fact, he hadn’t heard them laugh together since before their parents had died.
The door was quickly opened by Matilda, though Preston held back. As Delia was fifteen, he didn’t wish to invade her privacy. “Am I to dine alone again?” he called.
Winifred appeared at the door and opened it wide, grinning up at him. All the girls were within, as well as Miss Claywell.
“I apologize for the delay. The girls fell into a muddy ditch this afternoon, and everyone needed a bath,” Miss Claywell quickly explained.
His oldest niece laughed then covered her mouth and ducked her head as if she had behaved improperly.
“They have maids to assist them,” he reminded the governess. “Your duties are teaching.”
