“Indeed, because Stepmother Dearest, when I returned to New York after being summoned home after my father’s death, tried to force me into marrying a man she could control. One Mr. Elmer Humphrey, to be exact.”
Annaliese’s eyes widened. “I know Elmer. He was the one and only gentleman to ask me to dance at Mrs. Herman Oelrichs’s ball during my debut year, but only did so because he’s a fortune hunter. I swear, when he looked at me as we were bumbling around the dance floor—because he’s not proficient on his feet—he wasn’t seeing me, but all the money he knew Father was offering as a dowry.” She grinned. “I took care of the Elmer situation, though, when he stopped by my house one day and I told him I needed him to watch my latest pet, Rosie, while I went off to ask for coffee. He thought Rosie was probably a dog or cat,but he ran out of the house screaming when I pulled a tarantula out of a box.” Her grin widened. “Elmer made certain to give me a wide berth anytime he spotted me at a society event from that point forward.”
Seraphina returned the grin. “I imagine he did, but Elmer’s determination to marry into a fortune was exactly what caught Stepmother Dearest’s eye. From what I later learned, she’d struck up a deal with Elmer—she’d make certain I married him, and in exchange, he’d turn over all control of the Livingston fortune to her, with her guaranteeing him that he’d never be short of funds.”
“I take it you weren’t willing to see yourself married to a scoundrel?”
“Too right I wasn’t, but after I informed Stepmother Dearest of that, I then found myself locked in the attic, Stepmother Dearest luring me up there by telling me a maid had discovered a trunk filled with my late mother’s correspondences. In all honesty, it seemed to me at the time as if I’d stepped directly into a Brothers Grimm story because, of course there was no trunk of my mother’s to be found in the attic, only mice.
“Fortunately, I know how to pick a lock, and after I got myself free, I stole downstairs, where I found Stepmother Dearest holding a meeting with some disreputable-looking men who belonged to the New York underworld. After skulking outside the parlor door, I overheard plans that seemed to revolve around my imminent demise since my stepmother had evidently realized it was not going to be easy to marry me off.”
Annaliese’s mouth dropped open. “She was hiring men to murder you?”
“I’m afraid so, but once I became aware of that rather grisly plan, I grabbed a few clothes and my late mother’s jewelry that I’d been hauling around with me ever since I left for boarding school and headed off to your former house in Washington Square because I’d overheard my stepsisters talking about howDrusilla was liquidating Merriweather valuables. I, of course, was in desperate need of some liquidation contact information.” She smiled. “With all that said, here I am, months later, looking like a rather haggard spinster, a disguise I’ll continue wearing until I reach the age of twenty-five, which, as you know, isn’t for another two years.”
“Ifind it interesting that your disguise keeps changing,” Seth said, strolling into the barn. “You’ve now added a wart to the side of your neck, as well as a variety of freckles on your face that seem to frequently move positions.”
Seraphina blinked. “And here I was thinking I was being so careful with their placement these days.”
“You’re off just a fraction of an inch every day, but I have some ink you might want to use for your freckles going forward. It’s only slightly permanent because it begins to fade after about two weeks.”
“I might have to take you up on that,” Seraphina said.
“I hope you will, but is there a reason you’ve been making yourself appear even more hideous these days?” Seth asked.
Seraphina’s shoulders slumped the slightest bit. “I’ve really had no choice in the matter because a gentleman from New York stopped by here while you and Annaliese were gone, wanting to see if he could get his two younger daughters enrolled at the academy as they’d gotten thrown out of the Sherwood Academy due to abysmal behavior.” Seraphina shook her head. “Unfortunately, this gentleman was Mr. Harold Drexel. I hadn’t seen him in years, but I did, at one time, attend the Sherwood Academy with his eldest daughter, Helena, and even joined Helena and her father for lunch one day when he’d stopped by Sherwood for a visit.”
Annaliese frowned. “Do you think he recognized you?”
“I didn’t linger in his presence long, fetching Irma and telling her she’d have to continue the meeting since it was too risky for me.” Seraphina gave her nose a scratch. “Irma read thesituation correctly right from the start. She realized that Mr. Drexel posed a danger to me and told him that the academy was currently full. She then told him that she’d put his name on a waiting list and contact him if any openings became available, but that it was very long list and suggested he look elsewhere.”
“Mother has certainly been effective as the current headmistress after she decided to take over for the two of us.”
“She demoted us, which is different from taking over for us.”
Annaliese grinned. “You don’t sound all that bothered by the demotion.”
“Neither do you, since your demotion has given you extra time to devote to your animals.”
“Speaking of animals,” Seth said, drawing her attention, “that’s actually why I’m here. I’ve got a couple of skunks for you.”
Annaliese refused a shudder. “You don’t have skunks because you needed more skunk essence for a new and improved version of the skunk deterrent, do you?”
“I’ve learned my lesson with essence of skunk,” Seth returned. “And the skunks I brought with me are two young ones that were found without a mother and don’t seem to have scent glands. Mrs. Smith, the lady who found them, asked me if I knew anyone who might be willing to take them in since she’s afraid they won’t live long on their own. I told her I knew just the person, which is why the two skunks are fast asleep in my carriage.”
“Of course I’m happy to take them, and since they’re young skunks, we’ll put them in the dungeon for now so I can keep a close eye on them.” She turned to Seraphina. “Are you free to join us and assume the role of chaperone as we head off to the dungeons?”
“Since Irma’s teaching a class on calling cards, and Louisa, last I saw, was leading a group of students around the castle,explaining the history behind every painting Ottilie’s collected over the years, yes, I’ll assume the role of chaperone.”
Annaliese grinned. “I am sorry that Seth and I have prevailed upon you so often to act as our chaperone, but you and I both know it’s important to observe the rules of civility while classes are in session. The last thing we want is for students to tell their parents that Seth and I have been spending too much time alone together.”
“I’m pretty sure there are a lot of students who’ve been hoping to catch us alone,” Seth said, his eyes twinkling. “From what Norma Jean’s mentioned, there’s some type of wager amongst the student body regarding when we’ll get around to making things formal between us. Phoebe, who is once again speaking to Norma Jean after my sister apologized to everyone, has her heart set on a spring wedding now, which I think is why she and her friends, except Norma Jean, have been following us around, trying to force our hand if they catch us...”
“Kissing,” Seraphina supplied when Seth faltered. “Luckily for the two of you, I’ve been aware of all that following, which is why I’ve had a chat with the girls, telling them to cease and desist or face the consequences.” She smiled, causing one of her moles to jiggle. “Since everyone is now worried about consequences after the skunk brigade earned a three-day suspension right after the event, and then Norma Jean a three-day suspension once she returned, the mere threat of consequences leaves most students shaking in their high-button boots these days.”
“Does that mean you don’t need to continue chaperoning us?” Seth asked rather hopefully.
“Of course not,” Seraphina countered. “We here at the academy are tasked with teaching impressionable young ladies, which means we can’t allow them to see an unmarried lady blithely ignoring all the rules of civility. That means you’re stuck with me shadowing you, even though Annaliese isn’t that much younger than I am.”
