“I think six to start. It is enough to have a conversation or two without being overwhelming for all involved.”
He gave a short nod of approval. “That is a good number.”
“There’s so much to think about. I often taught my sisters and Teddy as we were growing up, but it never occurred to me to start a school.” She rose. “I think it’s time for me to gather my father and return home. I have much to do.”
Disappointed that she would continue planning without him, he forced himself to stand. It was, after all, her idea and her school. “Of course. Let’s see if we can find Lord Wakefield.” He allowed her to pass him and followed her out of the room.
She stopped at the closed double library doors and faced him. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep this a secret until after I have the school running. I have no doubt that I can find five more young ladies interested in attending, but their mothers are another matter. I will not pretend to them that this school is like every other.”
In that moment, he felt an odd pride in her. She not only had conviction, but would follow through on her idea. He’d never met anyone, male or female, who had such strength and purpose. “I believe I understand. No reason to cause an uproar and undermine the start of something new. Would you like me to approach my cousin and aunt on the matter?”
She nodded. “Thank you. Now let us see if we can find my dear father.” She opened the doors and sucked in her breath. “Father!”
He followed her gaze. Lord Wakefield looked up at her voice. He occupied James’ personal desk.
The older man slapped his hand to his chest. “Do not sneak up on me like that, Joanna.”
“Sneak up on you?” Her tone proved she was horrified at her father’s behavior, but he was at a loss as to why.
She hurried forward. “Do you know where all of these go?” She waved to the open volumes that littered the desk’s top.
“Go? I have them where I want them. Where would they go?”
Now, he understood her concern. He laid a calming hand on her warm shoulder. “It’s fine. I know where they belong.”
She looked askance at him. “I’m sorry. He probably just forgot where he was.”
“Forget where I am? How could I possibly do that?” Wakefield waved with one hand to encompass the whole room. “This is heaven, dear daughter, and nothing less.”
He held back a chuckle at the description, though he’d often thought there was something peaceful and redeeming about the room.
“Shh.” Joanna ducked beneath his hand and hurried around the desk. “It’s time for us to depart.”
Her father’s eyes grew round. “Already?”
“We’ve been here over three hours. We really must take our leave.”
“Time just speeds by when in a good book.” Her father grinned at him.
“Or seven of them.” She scanned the books on the desk then quickly started closing them.
He stepped to the desk, not at all concerned. “You can leave them. No harm done.”
She shook her head. “One book remaining open could mean another thirty minutes.” She continued to close the books.
He looked to her father who was indeed, back to reading from the one directly in front of him. Though he found the entire scene rather comical, he had no doubt she was anxious to return home and take quill to paper with her plans.
He reached over and closed the three books on the far side of the desk.
When she had them all closed, her father’s brows lowered. “I can see that no further erudition is in the making for me today.” He rose, clearly irritated that his jaunt in “heaven” had so abruptly ended.
Joanna took no offense to her father’s attitude. “Perhaps, but you can tell me all about what you have read on the way home.”
Her father stepped past her. “I’d rather not. I’m still cogitating upon it.”
He bit down on a smile as Joanna rolled her eyes. Lifting the book that had been sitting before Wakefield, he held it out to him. “Perhaps you’d like to borrow this one until I next see you?”
She sucked in her breath. “Are you sure?”
