Page 76 of Courting the Country Miss

Mrs. Harper gasped. “Did he hurt you?”

Leticia shook her head. When she could speak again, she managed, “No, I’m not hurt—only a bit overset.”

“I should say so. Come into the kitchen and we’ll get you a cup of tea.”

Grateful to allow Mrs. Harper to fuss over her, Leticia sat at the kitchen table while Mrs. Harper fixed tea all the while shooting worried glances in Leticia’s direction.

Leticia pulled herself together. “Forgive me for alarming you.”

“What did he take?” Mrs. Harper set the sugar and creamer on the table.

“Take?”

“The thief. What did he take?”

Blink. “Er, nothing.”

“A thief took nothing?”

Leticia let out a sigh. She couldn’t mislead Mrs. Harper. “I’m not certain he was a thief. He seemed to be more interested in warning me. About the school. There are some in the community who do not approve of what we do here.”

Mrs. Harper nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Ignorance breeds fear. Not so long ago, men believed women should never learn to read—forbidden in most places.”

“Perhaps they feared we’d no longer want families if we got an education.”

“Or that women would no longer submit ourselves to brutality,” Mrs. Harper said darkly.

Intrigued, yet almost fearful at what she would learn, Leticia eyed her. “Is that your experience?”

“The strong always prey upon the weak. Reading gives one strength, a power most don’t understand. When one is kept ignorant, he or she is easier to dominate. A lot of men feel women should be ruled. If we learn to read, we might decide we deserve honesty and respect. Not all men are willing to give that.”

Fortunately, all the men close to Leticia valued women’s minds and hearts. Not everyone did, as evidenced by the scene in the tea shop when Lord Petre tried to bully her, and the man with the knife today.

They sat sipping tea while outside a church bell rang and a child sang off key. Leticia’s nerves smoothed over, her fear giving way to anger. How dare people try to stop something as wondrous as reading! A proper education may very well be the key to reducing poverty and despair.

Leticia set down her teacup. “If you are to stay here, you need more protection than one caretaker and a maid-of-all-work.”

“Surely his was an idle threat.”

Leticia touched her throat. “No, I’m certain he was in earnest.”

Mrs. Harper straightened. “I refuse to be intimidated.”

The young teacher possessed admirable spirit. “Being intimidated would be closing the school, which we shan’t do. All I’m asking you to do is exercise caution. Come home with me tonight, and stay until we can arrange for other accommodations where you will have better protection.”

Mrs. Harper nodded. “Perhaps you are right.”

Within minutes, Mrs. Harper had packed a portmanteau and they took a hackney home. On the way, the teacher related the children’s progress and their delight in learning, all the while her face glowing with pleasure.

Leticia vowed to do whatever it took to continue the school and bring hope to the downtrodden.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Inside the London study of the Duke of Suttenberg, Tristan shook the duke’s hand. “I thank you, Your Grace, for your guidance, and will give that serious thought.”

“My pleasure.” Grinning, the duke eyed him. “I must say, I am a bit surprised you are considering serving in Parliament. I admit, I don’t know you well, but your reputation does not paint you as that sort.”

Tristan winced. “I admit I had a few wild years, but I have grown dissatisfied with the emptiness of it all. I had a rather eye-opening experience that has given me reason to consider my purpose. I wish to do something that matters. This may be what I seek.”