Chapter Fourteen
When the childrenreturned to the schoolroom, Jenny asked them if they enjoyed their time with their father.
“Herr Von Bremen knows all about the Spanish horses in Italy,” William said. “He has promised to tell me more about them.”
“He was funny. But I don’t like the baroness.” Barbara glanced up as she dressed a doll in a new gown.
“You don’t yet know Baroness Elsenberg,” Jenny said. “In time…”
Barbara shook her head determinedly curls swinging. “Do you like her, William?”
William frowned. “Father does.”
Barbara’s worried gaze flew to Jenny’s. “She’s not going to be our new mother, is she, Jenny?”
“I don’t know, poppet,” Jenny said. “That is a matter for your father. Rest assured he will want you both to be happy with his choice.”
Barbara firmed her lips. “I wish he would marry you, Jenny.”
“Yes,” William said. “I want that too.”
“Don’t be silly, children. I am a servant. Now, no more of this nonsense. After you’ve spent more time with the baroness, I’m sure you’ll grow to like her.” They both looked so unhappy, she searched for a distraction. “Shall we play Jackstraws before supper?”
“Yes!” William said.
“Get them please, Lord William,” Jenny said. “Will you play with us, Lady Barbara?”
Barbara pouted. “William always wins.”
“Yes he does. But let’s try to beat him, shall we?”
With a grin, Barbara put down her doll.
William tipped the sticks out onto the table. They were soon absorbed in taking away each one in turn without moving the rest.
Jenny watched him, chuckling as he successfully removed another stick with nimble young fingers. She had not warmed to the baroness either, not that it was any of her business. It would sadden her to see the duke marry someone who took him away from his children. But she really should give the intelligent man some credit. Despite the baroness’ beauty he would not act unwisely.
Barbara cried out as the pile collapsed at her attempt to remove a stick and William won again.
Jenny shook her head at the smug victor as she hugged the little girl. “Never mind, poppet, we shall try again soon!”
After the children had finished bathing, Jenny dressed them in their night attire. They sat by the nursery fire drinking hot chocolate while she read the German story about a young girl’s favorite Christmas toy, the nutcracker which comes alive and, after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. The duke had brought the English translation back with him, along with some other toys. The story proved popular with both William, who liked the battle scene, and Barbara, who was fascinated by the kingdom populated with dolls. She came to the end and closed the book.
At the suggestion of bed, William protested as he always did.
“You don’t want to be tired tomorrow when riding with your new instructor,” she said.
That worked like a charm. She tucked them both in and they soon fell into the restful sleep of the innocent.
Mary called through the door. When Jenny unlocked it, the maid came in carrying a copper jug of hot water which she added to the children’s cooling bathwater. Jenny indulged in a bath whenever she could, but she would rather a tepid bath than ask the footmen to lug up buckets and be accused of rising above her station again. She just knew what the housekeeper would say about that. It proved to be the perfect solution for too often in the cold weather ablutions were merely a thorough wash with a flannel before darting beneath the covers.
The nursery settled into a peaceful silence broken only by the children’s soft breaths. She let Mary go, promising to tidy things away when she’d finished. Jenny lay luxuriating in the warm water with a bar of plain soap. She longed for the scented variety her mother had favored, but added a little lavender water to the bath instead. She soaped her long hair and rinsed it, then climbed out and stood shivering by the nursery fire. With the towel wrapped around her, she knelt before the hearth to dry her hair.
Some moments later, a knock sounded on the nursery door. With a start, Jenny jumped up. Whipping off the towel, she hurried into her dressing gown, and pushed her feet into slippers. Was it Mary again? She always called out. The belt tied tightly Jenny stood listening at the door, concerned she would wake the children. “Is it you, George?” she whispered.
“I should like a word, Miss Harrismith, if I may.”
The duke! Jenny flushed. She could hardly keep him waiting while she dressed. She tightened the dressing gown more securely around herself and unlocked the door.
