“Oh yes, my books are—were very precious to me. Some of them belonged to dear Papa. He was a fine scholar, you know, and his books were rare and irreplaceable. And others…some of my books were like friends, they gave me such comfort.”
“Ah,” Ethan made a sympathetic sound. He had no idea what she was talking about. Books like friends? Giving comfort?
The only book that had ever given comfort to Ethan was one he and a couple of others had burned one freezing night in the mountains of Spain. One of the others had found it in a looted house. It was a big book. It had kept them warm for an hour or two.
He didn’t understand, didn’t know what to say to comfort her. Apart from horses, he owned very little, just his clothes and a few bits and pieces. Nothing that couldn’t be tossed in a valise.
He looked out of the salt-covered windows. It was almost dark outside. “Cottages can always be rebuilt,” he said.
“I can’t afford it. I had a small sum of money put by, but only enough to eke out a frugal living, supplemented by my chickens and my garden. The cottage was my sole asset. It was what allowed me to be independent, that and the small amount of income I earn from giving music lessons.”
“So what will you do?”
She sighed. “I suppose I will have to go back to being a governess.”
“Did you not like that, ma’am?”
She didn’t answer. She picked up the cat again and buried her face in its fur.
Ethan knew what her silences meant now. He patted her on the shoulder again. She felt like a brittle little bird under his great clumsy paw.
The cat gave him a baleful look. Ethan sneezed.
After supper Callie kissed Nicky good night and came downstairs. What a day it had been. According to Nicky, it had been the best day of his life.
She had no doubt that for Tibby it was the worst.
She joined the others in the drawing room. Tibby was sitting by the fire, her cat in her lap, talking to Gabriel. Mr. Delaney was seated at a nearby table playing a solo card game.
“I’ve been explaining to Mr. Renfrew and Mr. Delaney that I have decided to return to my former profession as a governess,” Tibby said. “If you don’t mind, Callie, I have asked Mr. Renfrew if I could come with you to London. I will need to purchase some new clothes and London would be the best place to secure myself a post.”
“There is no need to look for a post,” Callie said instantly. “I will employ you as Nicky’s governess.”
Tibby shook her head. “No, my dear. It’s very kind of you, but I am not nearly well educated enough for Nicky’s needs. I am well enough schooled in female accomplishments, and I have a little mathematics but as for Greek, Latin, and the rest, no.”
“Then I shall employ you as my companion.”
Tibby gave her a straight look and said in a firm voice, “Princess Caroline, you are not responsible for the destruction of my cottage, and I will not be your pensioner.”
Callie gave her an unhappy look. She was responsible for the burning of the cottage. If she hadn’t fled to Tibby, it wouldn’t have happened. But Tibby had her pride.
Gabriel leaned forward. “Would you consent to employment with me, Miss Tibthorpe?”
Tibby frowned. “In what capacity?”
“As a governess. I need someone to teach young Jim to read and write.”
“What?” Ethan Delaney exclaimed. Gabriel gave him a cool look, and he returned to his card playing.
“It seems most unlikely that Jim’s father will return, and as Mrs. Barrow is hell-bent on importing the imp to my house, I have no choice but to educate him.”
Callie was delighted with the solution, but also puzzled, and more than a little wary. To take in an orphaned fisher boy and pay someone to educate him was highly irregular.
Tibby frowned, no doubt having the sort of doubts Callie was. But she was homeless and in need of an income. And while she would not take charity from her old pupil, it would be foolish to turn down a legitimate offer of employment.
“If you are sure, Mr. Renfrew, then of course I accept your offer, gratefully. I will instruct Jim until he reaches a standard sufficient to take his place in the village school along with boys of his own age. After that, I could not possibly trespass on your generosity any further.”
“I thought this might be an appropriate remuneration.” He handed her a slip of paper on which a figure was written.
