Page 51 of Courting the Country Miss

After a moment, Leticia pulled away. “We need to dress for dinner.”

Isabella didn’t move. “You have so much love to give to a husband and a family. You are foolish not to give Lord Bradbury a chance.”

Leticia smiled sadly. “If he calls, I will encourage him, but I won’t hold out hope he has any designs on me.”

“Then I’ll hope enough for the both of us.” Isabella waltzed out of the room.

Leticia shook her head. She used to have Isabella’s innocence once when a future with Richard seemed certain. But not all dreams come true.

Chapter Fourteen

As Tristan arrived at Richard’s London house, he followed Leticia’s sweet voice to the front parlor where he found her ensconced with Elizabeth. Strange how he breathed easier in her company.

“The furniture arrived at the school moments ago,” Leticia said to Elizabeth. “Shall we be there to ensure they put everything where we want it?”

Elizabeth stood arranging flowers in a vase. “Richard sent Cooper off on an errand so I will need to wait until his return. You know how they are.”

Letitia’s expression turned wistful. “I think it’s sweet how protective they are of you.” She straightened as if redirecting her thoughts. “I’d like to get there as soon as possible, but I understand.”

Tristan stepped into the room. “I’d be happy to escort you. I’ve never seen this school of yours. I vow to guard your lovely selves as well as Cooper would.” The weight of his pistol tucked into the back pocket of his coat gave him a sense of security.

“How kind of you to offer,” Elizabeth said, “but I’m afraid we’ll need some men to move the furniture.”

Tristan pretended to be affronted. “I’m a man. I can move furniture.”

Leticia laughed. “We weren’t insulting your manliness, Tristan, but it might be dirty work.” She gestured his clothes.

Tristan looked down at his attire—buff breeches, blue tailcoat, gray-and-white striped waistcoat. Nothing remarkable about his understated clothing. “Should I tie my cravat into a plainer knot, then?”

They laughed at his quip.

“No,” Elizabeth said, “but your cravat might get dirty, along with the rest of your fine clothes.”

“Good. It will give my valet something to do. He’s getting too lazy by half. Shall I summon the carriage?”

“If you would, please.” Elizabeth tucked another flower into her arrangement.

By the time Tristan returned to inform them that the carriage awaited, Leticia and Elizabeth had donned their pelisses, gloves, and hats. Inside the carriage, they chatted as a group until they reached a rather ramshackle building. New shutters and a new front door stood out in sharp relief against the weather-beaten wood of the structure. Did the whole building lean to one side?

When the carriage stopped, Tristan gaped. “This is your school?”

Two pairs of defensive eyes met his. “Yes, this is it,” Leticia said with a challenge in her tone.

He huffed a disbelieving laugh. “A good, stiff wind could blow it over.”

“It doesn’t look like much but an engineer assured us that it was structurally sound.” Elizabeth sounded hurt, as if he’d told her that her baby was ugly.

Leticia rushed to say, “It needed some fixing up, of course: a new front door, windows, shutters, repairs to the main stairs. We also decided to whitewash the main schoolroom.”

Tristan nodded as if he agreed. At least no one would try to rob such a poor-looking place.

Inside, furniture and crates lay strewn about in the small, dark foyer with doors leading off to each side. Two brawny men carried another box to the end of the room. They set it down with a thud.

Elizabeth spoke to them, gesturing. They both grabbed crowbars and started opening boxes.

Tristan removed his tailcoat, collar, and cravat, and set them on a box next to his hat and gloves. As he rolled up his shirtsleeves, he looked at Leticia and Elizabeth who stood looking at him with their mouths open. “Tell me what you need me to do.”

Leticia put her hand over her mouth and pretended to be shocked at his state of dishabille. “Oh, my.”