Now that explained why the nursemaid had complained. “If you feel you would like to take on my children’s education until Peter is old enough for a tutor, then I am willing to support youin this.” He couldn’t see her reaction because the light streamed in behind her, causing her red hair to appear on fire. It was a startling illusion. Still, he could tell that she had tensed simply by her lack of movement, though he had no idea why.
“Darius, you do know about the Belinda School for Curious Ladies, do you not?”
“I know that it is a school for ladies of the peerage run by the Duke and Duchess of Northwick and from which my sister-in-law, Lady Bellamore, came.”
“And do you know what it teaches?”
He found her question odd. He sat back in his chair and waved his hand. “I’m sure it is the usual painting, music, history, etc.”
His wife let out a rather loud sigh before striding back to his desk, this time placing her behind upon the side.
He moved the lantern to the opposite side as a precautionary measure.
“Darius, the Belinda School does not teach painting, or music, or dancing. It does, however, teach philosophy, geology, literature, and, my personal favorite, astronomy, among other subjects. It is a school for ladies set up to mirror Oxford or Cambridge.” Her voice rose until the final word was quite close to a yell.
Her volume and content had him stiffening. “You’re telling me you’ve studied the likes of Plato, Hutton, Swift, and Galileo?”
“Yes.” She clapped her hands. “I’m so pleased you know them. We shall have such lovely dinners discussing their ideas. I only point out my education so that you understand I do not take the education of your children lightly. However, I am also their mother now.” She hopped off the desk, this time without knocking anything about before she strode back to the window. “It is this second role that is equally important and more difficult to navigate.”
She strode forward, this time walking past his desk to the bookcases on the opposite wall. She stopped and stared at the books for a moment before turning to face him. “Unfortunately, there are no great tomes to be found on becoming a mother to growing children after their mother has passed. Poor things. So I will endeavor to do my best.” She held her hand up. “That’s not to say I won’t make mistakes, but we learn far more from our mistakes than our successes, and I’m sure the children at such young ages are resilient. In fact, I was just telling my maid this morning—Oh, I hope you won’t mind buying her a new dress. I fear in my excitement at spending time with Peter and Maggie that I waved my hand a bit too close to my teacup and it spilled, staining her pretty dress quite terribly. You see, I take tea in my room long before many are awake.”
He gave a nod, happy to note it was not a purposeful act after all, but still reeling over the new information about her schooling.
“She really is a lovely young woman. But back to my purpose. Children are resilient, and I’m sure that eventually we will all enjoy a happy comfort with each other once we get over a few missteps here and there. Don’t you agree?”
Unfortunately, she had pondered the subject of her relationship with his children far more ardently than he had. “I believe you are correct.”
Her smile was instantaneous, and her face practically glowed. He had noticed how pale and soft her skin looked at the church, as there were a few freckles along the length of her straight nose and three on top of it at the end. It was a small nose, and he wouldn’t have thought much about it except they had stood close to each other during the ceremony, and he’d become quite mesmerized by the light brown dots. When she smiled, as she did now, she was really rather pretty.
She leaned back against the bookcase, causing the bronze bust of Plato himself to move precariously closer to the edge. “Wonderful. Now, I do have a question about the safety of bringing the children into the garden.” She pushed away from the bookcase and started forward, causing the bust to teeter on the edge.
He rose from his chair and approached, hoping to save his wife from an embarrassing moment, and she halted in front of him.
“I wandered into the garden outside the parlor shortly after your parents left, as your mother had told me how beautiful it was in the summer. I was not going to stay long outside, as all I had was my shawl, but one of the footmen insisted on accompanying me. I told him his services were not required, and he did balk quite a bit. From what I gathered, your late wife always took a footman, so either she was not as robust as myself or it’s dangerous to walk about in the garden due to brigands of some sort.”
Despite his concern about the bust, she captured his attention with that. “I assure you, there is no danger in walking through the gardens.”
She laid her hand on her ample bosom. “I am very relieved to hear that, as that was exactly what I told the footmen. Now, in the woods about the property, I’m sure there are poachers and highwaymen on occasion.”
“My lady, allow me to put to rest any concerns you have about the safety of Hawthrone Park. I vow that anywhere on the property you will be completely safe, even the woods.”
“I am so pleased to know that, as I enjoy viewing the stars at night.”
Too late he realized his mistake. He would have to think of a reason to keep her from the northern wood. Then again, viewingthe stars from the garden would be much more rewarding, so there was no need for her to walk any of the wooded areas.
“And Darius.” She laid her hand on his arm. “No need for formality between us. Remember, you can call me Eleanor, or even Ellie, as my dear friends call me. After all, I do think we will be quite good friends.”
At such close proximity, her tiny freckles were noticeable, yet none were sprinkled along her neck or chest. He found his gaze dropping to where her pale-blue day dress covered her rather large bosom, and a strong curiosity about those bountiful globes started in the back of his head.
“I’m so pleased we had this talk. I’m truly looking forward to our conversation at dinner.” With that, she patted his arm before striding to the doors, where she stopped and looked back at him and smiled. “I have to say, you have put so many of my worries about marrying to rest in such a short time. Thank you.”
His wife then opened the door and closed it heartily. A bang sounded to the side of him. He started at the sound and looked over toward the bookcase to find the bust missing. The illustrious Plato was on the floor. Walking over to it, he crouched down and lifted it up. Plato had sustained no injuries; however, the same could not be said for the floor. Two large gouges had been made by the corners of the bust.
He rose and placed the bust back on the shelf. At least he had resolved all the servants’ complaints to his own satisfaction. Now to take action. Most of his servants had been with him since he first came to Hawthorne Park directly from Oxford. There were only a few his late wife had hired on, like the nursemaid just before Maggie was born, so there shouldn’t be too much resistance once all was explained. He walked to his desk and rang for his butler.
It was mere moments before the man walked in. “Yes, sir?”
Darius stood behind his desk to address the man who knew more than anyone in the house, including himself, most likely. “Beacham, I would like a word with you and Mrs. Torbett.”
