Alec rose from where he was sitting near the fireplace—in the chair I had occupied yesterday—but I couldn’t meet his gaze. I’d worried about what he thought of Five Points—and now me.
“Good morning,” Mrs. Hill said.
“Good mornin’.”
Mrs. Hill did not rise from her chair but offered me a smile. “Today, we will start to break you of that accent. We cannot introduce you at court sounding like an Irish immigrant.”
My lips parted as Alec cast a disgruntled look at his aunt.
She didn’t seem to notice.
But I wasn’t thinking about my accent—all I could think about was the other thing she’d said. “I’ll be goin’ to court?”
“Of course. No one is anyone in England without being introduced to Queen Victoria. I’ve already sent letters to friends in London about where we’ll live and who we’ll associate with—but don’t worry about any of that. As your mother—” she paused and smiled at me “—it is my job to take care of all the little details.”
She motioned to a chair next to Alec. The breakfast tray was on the table between them. “Have a seat and get something to eat. The dressmaker will be here at eleven.”
“That’s my cue to leave,” Alec said.
“Nonsense.” Mrs. Hill motioned to his chair. “You should stay for a while. I want to discuss a few things with you and Clara.”
Alec took his seat again, but he had finished his meal, so he simply waited for his aunt to continue.
“First,” she said as she poured me a cup of black tea, “Clara, you must call me Aunt Maude.”
I nodded. That would be easy enough.
“And, second, I’ve decided to change some plans. Instead of hiding you away in your room, I believe the fastest way for you to acclimate to this lifestyle is if you interact with the servants—throughout the house. We’ll eat breakfast in the breakfast room starting tomorrow, and luncheon and supper in the dining room. We’ll use the front parlor for our morning lessons and the music room for our afternoon lessons. I don’t want you interacting with any of them alone right now, except Gallagher, so either myself or Alec will always be with you.”
Apprehension wound around my heart, but I nodded anyway.
“I would like you to start reading extensively, as well. You’ll want a wide range of books to draw upon for conversation and you’ll need access to the library. You do read, don’t you?”
I nodded, my cheeks growing warm. Did she intend for me to go to the free circulating library on Bond Street? I had been there once, though it wasn’t easy to get to and I rarely had time enough to read. But it had been thrilling to visit.
Alec glanced at me, and I finally met his eyes. I saw no trace of disdain for me or for what he had learned about me yesterday. But his gaze did search mine, though I wasn’t sure what he was looking for.
“During the day,” Aunt Maude continued, “I will conduct lessons in deportment, meal etiquette, parlor conversations, and the like. In the evening”—she turned to Alec—“I do wish you would help teach Clara lessons in dancing, dinner conversation, parlor games, and flirting.”
“Flirting?” he asked as he frowned at Aunt Maude.
“Yes,” she said as she lifted her teacup. “And you don’t need to limit the lessons to a single time and place. Flirting should come naturally to Clara, in all settings, therefore, I would like you andClara to practice it whenever possible.” She took a sip of her tea. “And try different tactics, approaches, and the like. One never knows when one will be in a situation with a potential suitor. Clara must be prepared for everything.”
My cheeks burned at the thought of flirting with potential suitors—but more so at the thought of flirting with Alec.
When I finally got the courage to look at him again, I found he was watching me—but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“Clara should tour the house,” Aunt Maude continued. “If you have time this morning, before the dressmaker comes, would you see to it, Alec? I have letters to write, and you could begin your flirting lessons.”
My heart galloped at the thought.
“I suppose the office can get along without me for an hour or so,” he said.
“Wonderful.” Aunt Maude motioned to the food in front of me. “Finish your breakfast so Alec can take you on a tour.”
My nerves had intensified to the point I'd lost my appetite. “I’m not hungry.”
“Very well—but you must put on a few pounds before we leave for Europe. Shouldn’t she, Alec?”
