“Miss Taylor has turned the position down,” Mars pointed out. “I shall send to London.”
Mrs. Warbler hummed her feelings before saying, “I wonder how long it would take to find a good nurse?”
“Even from Cambridge, a week, maybe two?” Mrs. Burnham answered.
“Longer than that if one searched in London,” Mrs. Summerall agreed.
“And what will you do in the meantime, my lord?” Mrs. Warbler asked.
Mars didn’t know.
“He willmanage,” Miss Taylor retorted, except he didn’t know if he would.
Mars was also still offended that Miss Taylor had turned her pert nose up at his employ.
Then Mrs. Warbler delivered what he sensed was a coup de grâce. She said to Miss Taylor, “Except, if you don’t take the earl’s position, where will you go? Oh, wait, I believe Squire Nelson and his wife could make room for you. Again.”
“You said I could stay here.” Miss Taylor sounded dismayed. It was no secret that the Nelsons had been relieved when she’d finally left. Apparently Miss Taylor had felt the same.
The wily old lady shook her head in regret. “I’ve been thinking, my dear, there is barely room for Jane and me.”
“I don’t take up much space.” Miss Taylor sounded desperate.
Mrs. Warbler shrugged as if the matter was out of her hands.
“And youarevery good with this baby,” Mrs. Summerall observed. “Look how sweetly she is sleeping in your arms.”
“Very good,” Mrs. Burnham echoed, giving Mars a look as if to say he’d be sorry if he didn’t hire Miss Taylor.
He was beginning to think she might be right.
Itwouldtake a fortnight to hire a good nurse. In the meantime, Dora would be in the care of Nelson, Gibson, himself, and whatever milkmaid or other available female he might find. This was unacceptable forhisdaughter. He understood the effects of having an uncaring mother. Dora had already been through too much.
Besides, he sensed that Deb had deliberately left him without a bottle or clothes or clouts because she wanted him to feel like a fumbling fool. That was part of her retaliation.
Without Miss Taylor’s help today, Deb would have had her revenge. The matrons had been helpful, except it had been Miss Taylor who had known exactly what to do—and wasn’t that what he wanted for Dora?
Against his better judgment, he knew he had only one choice.
He looked to the matrons. “Would you ladies give us a moment? Miss Taylor and I should discuss the matter in private.”
Chapter Four
Women rarely respond to reason.
—Book of Mars
Talk in private?Withhim?
Oh, no, that was not going to happen. “There is nothing to discuss,” Clarissa answered swiftly. “I am not interested in such a position.” And she wasn’t. The last few days had been the most troubling of her life. She had found the energy to handle Dora... but there were limits.
Except her friends were already leaving the room. “No, don’t go. Wait.Come back here,” she begged. She tried to rise, making as if to follow them, except her arms were full of baby. She couldn’t move as quickly as they did. They went quietly out the kitchen door, closing it, and deserting her.
Clarissa stared hard at that door, struggling with her temper—which she mustneverallow herself to lose. The righteous should not indulge in heated words, asReverend Taylor was fond of saying.
Still... how dare Mrs. Warbler rescind her offer to let Clarissa stay with her. Why, over the years, Clarissa had done a hundred favors for her friend.
And Mrs. Summerall! She and her husband had taken over the parsonage, forcing Clarissa from the only home she’d ever known. There had been commiserating looks but never once had they expressed regret over kicking her out.
