Chapter Twenty-Nine
It occurred toJenny that Bella was acting oddly. Her sister seemed preoccupied and had disappeared for nearly half an hour while shopping with Aunt Leonora. Jenny was so busy, she pushed it to the back of her mind, intending to broach it with her. But now they were about to depart for Castlebridge, and it was hardly the right time for confidences. Her aunt’s maid traveled with their trunks and bandboxes in the chaise while Andrew’s coach waited in the street to take them to Oxfordshire, drawing attention from passersby.
When Beth had one foot on the coach step, she suddenly squealed and dashed onto the road. A passing hackney driver yelled at her. A small shaggy dog had just passed beneath its wheels. Beth scooped it up, and hugging it to her chest, returned to the coach.
“The poor animal,” she cried, climbing inside with the thin dog in her arms. “He was almost run over! He is all skin and bone.”
“Dear heaven,” their aunt cried. “We shall be covered in fleas, and goodness knows what else!”
Jenny laughed as the dog burrowed in between her and Beth and rested its head on its paws, for all the world as if it traveled in a fine coach every day of the week.
“I don’t know what His Grace will say,” Aunt Leonora said mournfully. “He will not be allowed to join the duke’s hounds.”
“With a bath and some good food, I daresay he will shape up well enough,” Jenny said with a giggle. She didn’t think Andrew would object.
With six horses and two postilions, they reached the estate in the early afternoon. Her sisters were astounded by the size and grandeur of Castlebridge, even Beth fell silent when two footmen in livery came to put down the steps and usher them through the tall front doors to the waiting butler.
Jenny was surprised that Andrew was not here to meet them. Forrester bowed before her. He was momentarily fazed by the animal in Beth’s arms, as she introduced him. “Ladies. Welcome home, Miss Harrismith.” His expression remained as impassive as ever, but she caught a twinkle in his eye. “Perhaps the footman can take the dog to the stables for now?”
“Yes, Beth. Until Horace is bathed he must remain there,” Jenny said.
“You will give him a good meal of meat first?” Beth asked, clutching the dog to her breast.
“Rest assured it will be done, Miss Beth.”
Forrester snapped his fingers, and the footman took the dog from Beth’s reluctant arms. “We shall take good care of him, miss,” George said.
Forrester cleared his throat. “Miss Harrismith, an upstairs maid, Susan, will attend you and awaits you in your bedchamber. Mrs. Pollitt has placed you all in the guests’ wing. I trust you’ll find it satisfactory.” He signaled to the footman. “Take the ladies up, Jeremy.”
“We will go to the schoolroom, Forrester,” Jenny said, pulling off her gloves and handing her coat and bonnet to a footman. “Are the children there?”
“With the new governess, my lady.”
“I shall go directly to my room,” her aunt said. “I need to wash off the travel dust.” She cast a frown at Beth. “And I trust it is only dust.”
“Certainly, Lady Naughton,” Forrester said smoothly. “Your maid has been sent to the servant’s quarters. She will join you directly.”
When Jenny and her sisters entered the schoolroom, a small, neatly dressed, red-haired woman leaned over the table as the children wrote in their books. William and Barbara looked up and saw her. Barbara squealed.
William pushed back his chair and greeted Jenny with a formal bow. The young heir had adopted an air of consequence, which she suspected hid the hurt he suffered at what he must feel was her betrayal. Her heart went out to him, but aware of his pride, she must deal gently with him.
“Jenny!” With a sob in her voice, Barbara cast herself onto Jenny’s breast.
Jenny kissed the little girl’s cheek streaked with tears. “Now, is that the way to behave, Barbara? You must introduce me to your new governess.”
“I should like you to meet Miss Wagstaff, Miss Harrismith,” William said stiffly.
The governess’ smooth round face bore a pleasant expression. She came forward to greet them. “How do you do, Miss Harrismith?”
“I am sorry to interrupt your lessons, Miss Wagstaff. We shan’t stay above a few minutes. Please meet my sisters, Miss Arabella Harrismith and Miss Elizabeth Harrismith.”
After the introductions, Beth bent and whispered to Barbara something that made the little girl giggle. William overheard her and edged closer. “You brought a dog with you, Miss Beth?”
“Yes, Horace is a new member of the family. I shall introduce you to him when he has had his bath.”
“And has your hedgehog left home?” William had begun to look more like the young William, Jenny knew, as his stiff formality dropped away.
“Yes, Heggie has returned to the woods. But I must tell you about Geoffrey when we meet again. Geoffrey is my otter cub.”
