“It would hurt anyone’s sensibilities,” he pointed out.
“I’m not that delicate. But since I now have a better grasp about why you suggested marriage in the first place, I’m going to suggest we put that unfortunate incident behind us and begin anew, but only if you agree to never broach the topic of marriage with me again.”
Rhenick opened his mouth, but before he could get an agreement out of it, Norbert came huffing up the drive with Ernie, his mutt of undetermined parentage, loping along beside him. He stopped a few feet away from Drusilla, looked her up and down, and frowned.
“Everything all right with you, Miss Merriweather?” he asked.
“I’ve suffered a raven attack, so things have been better, but Mrs. Whittenbecker is setting me to rights, so I believe I’ll live.”
“Ravens got into the castle?”
“They came down through the chimney when I was trying to clean it.”
“Don’t know why you’d be cleaning the chimney when you have me around,” Norbert said.
“If I’d have known how tricky it was going to turn, I might have at least asked you to hold the ladder for me, although perhaps not, as it’s more important for you to guard the front gate.”
“We can always send Riley down to man the gate if you need some tasks taken care of inside the castle since he’s a stableboy and we only have my one horse and Miss Ottilie’s contrary donkey, Moe, both of which I take care of,” Norbert pointed out. “But speaking of the front gate, thought you should know that I’ve been turning away men left and right today—two of them being on the concerning side because one of them was here at the bequest of Giacomo Caggianni, a leader in Chicago’s underworld, and the other was sent here by Umberto Zambarello.” Norbert tilted his head. “To be fair to Umberto, rumor has it that he’s turned legitimate on account that he wants to set a better example for his five daughters.”
“So I shouldn’t be as concerned about Umberto as that Giacomo Caggianni fellow?”
Norbert took a second to give Ernie a scratch behind the ears. “I wouldn’t think Umberto’s any less of a threat given that he’s going to have to marry off those five daughters of his. Since they’re known to be a handful, he’s going to need a fortune to succeed with that, and everyone knows your property will turn into a gold mine for whoever acquires it. I suppose desperate fathers are just as dangerous as members of the underworld, especially ones who used to be a part of that world.”
Wilhelmine took that moment to stop the dabbing she’d been doing and caught Drusilla’s eye. “Norbert has just made a most excellent point, but know that I might be able to assist you with avoiding the antics of desperate men. However, before I explain further, I should probably explain how it came about that Rhenick and I were able to breach an impregnable gatesince I certainly don’t want you to think Norbert might have been shirking his duties.”
Norbert shook his head. “No need to explain on my behalf, Mrs. Whittenbecker. Miss Merriweather surely already realizes that I’m a trusted employee who’d never shirk my duties, something her aunt was well aware of.” He turned to Drusilla. “With that settled, know that I didn’t hesitate to allow the Whittenbeckers through the gate, even though you’d been clear about your dislike of Rhenick, because he was in the company of his mother. Mrs. Whittenbecker and I attend the same church together, that being the Church of the Epiphany, and she’s known for always lending a helping hand.”
“And you let her through because you thought she wanted to lend me that hand?” Drusilla asked.
“Indeed, although I was in full agreement with Rhenick that she wait before following him up the drive, just in case you brought out one of those weapons Miss Seraphina unearthed after you caught sight of a man you recently chased away.” He settled a warm smile on Wilhelmine. “Before I forget, though, allow me to say how thankful everyone was when you offered to play the organ last week during the service after the good reverend found himself once again without anyone available.”
Wilhelmine winced. “I’m not certain how thankful everyone was as I readily admit I’m heavy-handed with the keys. Poor Reverend Michaelson was all but forced to bellow out the hymn I was attempting to play in the hopes he could drown out my abysmal rendition of that song.”
Norbert shook his head. “You know Reverend Michaelson always belts out those hymns, and not just in an attempt to drown out whoever is sitting at the organ, but also to drown out the less-than-harmonious voices of the choir.”
“It’s a sad day when he’s forced to rely on my dreadful musical talents for any given service, which, in a roundaboutway”—she turned to Drusilla—“brings me to the reason why I’m paying you a visit.”
“You wanted to inquire if my mother, my sister, or I can play a musical instrument?” Drusilla asked.
“Not exactly, although I’m sure all of you are proficient with a variety of musical instruments as it’s my understanding that ladies from New York high society are taught from birth to be proficient in the feminine arts.” Wilhelmine smiled. “I’m actually here to discuss that academy Rhenick mentioned you want to open and what your goal is with that academy.”
“Our main goal will be to effectively teach lessons in propriety.”
“And what would lessons in propriety actually entail?”
“I haven’t created a syllabus just yet,” Drusilla admitted. “But we’d definitely spend the first few months devoting ourselves to instructing students on the basics. Those would include proper decorum, composure, table etiquette, the art of conversation, and other social graces young ladies need to have a grasp of, such as watercolors, vocal lessons, and an introduction to a variety of musical instruments.”
Wilhelmine was beaming a smile Drusilla’s way a heartbeat later. “That was exactly what I was hoping you’d say, which means I can now finally get around to that business proposition Rhenick and I have come to offer you.”
“A ... business proposition?” Drusilla asked.
“Indeed, and one that I admit is rather self-serving, as I have three daughters who’ve yet to reach their majority, all of whom would benefit from more than a little instruction in the etiquette department.”
“I thought you said you have four daughters.”
“I do, but Tilda, the eldest, is already married. However, it’s because of her that I came up with my business proposal for you.” Wilhelmine took a second to reach out and dab at some lingering soot on the side of Drusilla’s neck. “Tilda, I’ll haveyou know, was fortunate to meet and marry a man she truly loves, and one who’s rather affluent. Because of that affluence, my son-in-law was invited to dine with the Vanderbilts in New York. Poor Tilda, even though I provided her with an etiquette instructor before she made her debut, although not one who had much of an etiquette résumé since decorum teachers are few and far between in Chicago, found herself ill at ease during the dinner since she didn’t know how to navigate her way through such an extravagant meal.”
Drusilla leaned a little to the right, probably because his mother now seemed to be putting some elbow grease into the whole dabbing business. “May I assume you’d like to hire me to teach your daughters proper etiquette, as well as perhaps teach them how to play the piano or organ so your minister can stop belting out the hymns?”
