The servants took the soup away and Mira adjusted the napkin in her lap. Once the main course was out, the conversation shifted towards a pleasanter topic: the move.
“It must be quite the change to be in London,” Mr. Renaldi said, gesturing to Loretta. “How long did you say you lived in Paris?”
“Almost thirty years,” Loretta said. “And yes, it is strange. I haven’t been to London since I was a girl.”
“How are the children adjusting?” Mrs. Renaldi asked.
Loretta glanced at Georges, who stiffened a little. She said, “We only arrived the day before yesterday. I’m sure it will take some time for everyone to settle.”
Mr. Renaldi turned to Cyrus. “Did any of the staff come with you?”
Cyrus coughed a little. “No. There was no need.”
“Not even the governess?” Aunt Eleanor asked.
“Yes, your youngest must be devastated,” Mrs. Renaldi said, cutting a bit of roast duck.
It seemed the Renaldis were under a false impression about how the Lavignes lived before Cyrus and Loretta were married.
Loretta frowned. “We didn’t have a governess.”
Aunt Eleanor raised an eyebrow. “That is quite unusual. How did you manage their education?”
Loretta shifted in her seat a little. “After their father died, we had to put the children’s education on hold for a while. I intend to remedy that as soon as possible.” She picked up her glass. “Do you have any recommendations on where to find suitable tutors and a governess?”
Aunt Eleanor straightened, lifting her chin. “Whatever you do, do not put it out in a common advertisement. You shall have all sorts if you do it that way. No, for a governess you shall want to go to the Governesses’ Benevolent Institution. And for a tutor, you shall want to speak with Mr. LeFranc at the Tipton Educational Agency. And make sure that the man he sends has been to university. Although, how old is your boy?”
“Just fifteen,” Loretta said.
“Then you can avoid the whole unpleasantness by sending him to boarding school. Eton is good. As is Sevenoaks.” Eleanor turned to Walker. “Didn’t you go to Sevenoaks?”
“No, I went to Brighton.”
“Oh, no.” Loretta shook her head. “I don’t think I could. I’d much rather have my children at home.”
Mrs. Renaldi tipped her head to the side. “I can understand the sentiment. I felt the same about Liza. But, then there is the difficulty of room and board for the tutor. As well as the governess.”
Loretta looked at Cyrus. “I hadn’t considered that.”
Walker leaned over to Mira and whispered, “I don’t think the house could take another person, let alone two.”
Mira nodded. Even if she shared her room with Clarisse, that would only leave one extra room in the house. Perhaps Georges would go off to an apprenticeship or university and then Jean-Marie could share with Walker. It would be rather close quarters though. Like sardines packed on top of one another.
“What about Spenston?” Byron said, dabbing his mouth.
The entire party turned to look at him.
Cyrus took a moment to chew and swallow before speaking. “What?”
Byron said, “Sutherland’s estate. There would be more than enough room there. It is yours, isn’t it?”
“Why . . . yes. It is.” Cyrus frowned.
“You have an estate?” Loretta said.
Cyrus cleared his throat. “Spenston Park. It belonged to my late business partner. When he died, the property came to me. I intended to sell it, but with everything, well, it quite slipped my mind.”
“I didn’t realize memory loss was catching,” Byron said, a twinkle in his eye.
