by Alice Kirks
Alexandra grinned. She had expected Arabella to be shy, difficult, and possibly spoiled. Here, she was holding the hand of a happy, grinning girl who looked up at her wide-eyed. She was delightful! Her fear of the dark-haired man was forgotten. She grinned.
“Arabella…don’t be…”
“Yes, brother.”
To Alexandra’s surprise, he nodded respectfully to her. “Good morning, Miss Ilfield. You have just met my sister, Lady Arabella. Arabella, yes, this is Miss Ilfield. I am sure that, with her permission, you may call her by her first name?” He looked at Alexandra.
“Yes,” Alexandra said at once, her gaze dropping to the young girl.
“Oh! Hurray! Brother don’t go yet…you must promise to take us into the village someday. I can’t wait to show Alexandra all the shops there!” Her green eyes opened wide, large in her slim, pretty countenance.
“Yes, Arabella,” the Duke said. He was clearly discomforted. “I shall take you there when I have a spare day. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must eat my breakfast. I have to go out with Albert later – we are going to discuss the shipping-trade.”
“Oh, brother…well, I shall be here with Alexandra, and that’ll be so much better than having to wait for you for hours to get back! I’ll see you at breakfast in a moment…has Alexandra had breakfast?”
Alexandra, feeling her stomach rumble, gestured awkwardly. This beautiful youngster couldn’t possibly expect her to dine with them!
“Um…I’ll organize it,” she said.
“Fine!” Arabella smiled. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Alexandra…I must hurry. Matthew is going out soon and I want to have breakfast before he goes!”
“Of course,” Alexandra nodded. The Duke, in the hallway, seemed relieved. Matthew. His name was Matthew. Alexandra nodded to him.
What an odd pair.
She felt her heart warm at the thought of Lady Arabella – her young charge was wonderful! She had only met her for a few minutes, but she already felt surprisingly fond of her. And the Duke…
She bit her lip. What could she think? Handsome, yes, he certainly was, but she had no idea to his character. He was fond of his sister, though, and that showed he couldn’t be as bad as his manner suggested.
“Miss?” a maid said, appearing at the door. “Mr. Derring wanted to know if you’d be joining us for breakfast? Only it’s almost time to pack up.”
“Oh!” Alexandra nodded swiftly. “Yes. I’ll be down directly.”
The kitchen downstairs was oppressively hot and crowded, and nobody was friendly. She had felt the need to eat alone. She took some bread and tea back to the schoolroom.
She looked up as somebody knocked.
“Miss Ilfield?” the Duke said and bowed. “I must request a talk with you. I had no opportunity to interview you myself, but of course I wish to discuss the support of my sister.”
“Yes, of course,” Alexandra agreed, getting up from the desk. She stared at him in surprise. She had absolutely not expected him to come in here, much less to talk to her alone. Such an important person would surely have other things to do than interview the chaperone?
The Duke drew back a chair and they both sat down. Alexandra faced him, heart thudding.
“What do you view as your role, Miss Ilfield?” he asked. His voice was serious, his expression closed, as if she were standing accused before a court. Alexandra felt a shiver run down her spine. It wasn’t nerves, though – she didn’t really understand what she was feeling. Whatever it was, it was making her heart thump and palms sweat with anticipation.
“I view my role as a support and companion for your sister, but someone who is able to guide her and teach her the skills necessary to make a good impression in society. I will train her in the arts, languages, and comportment, as well as be a friend and a caring ear for when she chooses to give confidences.”
“I see.” The Duke nodded. He seemed impressed. “And what will you do for this…education?”
Alexandra stiffened. “I have decided on a broad curriculum, encompassing modern literature, French and German, as well as tapestry, art, and of course flowers.” That was, she reckoned, the appropriate sort of lesson.
“I see.”
Alexandra stiffened. He seemed amused, and she wondered what was making him smile so condescendingly.
“Your Grace?” she prompted.
“Art is born of observation and investigation of Nature,” he murmured, seemingly to himself.
“You needn’t quote Cicero like that,” she said, one brow lifting. “I think it does him little credit to mumble his words softly.”
“You know Cicero?” the Duke’s head jerked up. He looked interested.
Alexandra raised a brow still further. “I said to your household head in London that I am well educated. I trust it need not be pointed out that I meant I have a basic knowledge of literature, old and modern.”
“Yes, but…” the Duke countered. “I am sure the position does not require a thorough literacy in the old masters?”
Alexandra tried not to snort. “On what hooks must we hang modern literature, except on the workings of the old masters? How, pray, must I teach a subject like poetry, without reference to the works of the ancient scholars?”
He stared.
“Upon my word,” he murmured. “I had not expected someone so…well…ready with her thoughts.”
Alexandra frowned. She wasn’t sure what to say about that. On the one hand, she felt a flare of pride. On the other hand, she wasn’t sure what he had been expecting. Surely, he wanted someone who could provide the best possible education for his sister? She also felt confused. Had she somehow made him reconsider because of her educated ways? She needed him to take her on!
“I trust that you were thinking of her education when you sought a companion?”
The Duke shrugged. “I suppose so. Her education, her comportment, and, above all, her protection. I am trusting you, Miss Ilfield. I hope you are aware of the trust I place in you as her chaperone?”
Alexandra nodded. “I am.” She looked up at him, wondering at the serious expression on his face. He surely trusted her to be of good character? The rudeness of the butler and the coldness of the servants towards her made his suspicion feel even worse. “I believe that, the longer I work here, the clearer it will become that I do not disrespect my position.”
The Duke raised a brow.
“I trust you don’t,” he said firmly. “Should I even suspect you took these matters lightly, you would not hold it for long. Good day, Miss.”
Alexandra stared as he stood and walked out of the room. She couldn’t believe it!
“What was that?” she murmured, watching him leave. He walked down the hallway and she listened until his footsteps were fading. “Why did he do that?”
She stood and went to the window, seeking peace. The schoolroom looked out on a lawned area, the green rectangle surrounded by hedges, still in sunshine. It all seemed small from up here, though she could guess the grounds of the estate were vast.
The house itself was extremely stylish and well-appointed; even here, the bookshelves were made of fine wood and the wide windows allowed light to enter. She had never seen such a graceful, refined home.
“It’s not all bad,” she told herself firmly, turning to go back to her room. “In fact, this is a fine place and you’re so lucky to be here.” She nodded.
She had escaped her home – which was the main object – and, not only that, she’d landed in a home where she could use her gifts, she was well-cared-for, and she even had books to read. The difficulties with the other staff and the fact that her room was drab and almost windowless were minor concerns.
And the fact, she thought mildly as she went up the stairs, that her employer was an oddity was something that would impact her little. It was his sister she was going to see every day, and he seemed to approve of her for that. She would see very little of him from now on, of that she was sure.
She was de
termined to enjoy herself here, and the Duke being difficult was not going to deter her from that goal.
Chapter 2
The fire was burning merrily in the grate in the study – a little over-merry since the butler looked flushed when he came in and rolled up his sleeves instantly. Matthew hardly noticed.
“What have I done now?” he murmured to himself.
He had expected someone educated, perhaps, when he received a chaperone into the house; he thought maybe she would be able to speak French, read music, and possibly would have read the modern authors – but the new chaperone was entirely different to what he had expected!
She would, he thought with a grin, be teaching his sister the classics, poetry and art, and probably enough for her to study Classics at Cambridge. It was, well…probably too much. He had wanted her to be able to have some basic knowledge so she could talk with people, that was it.
“I don’t know what I think of this.”
He rested his head in his hands. The impact of Miss Ilfield was strong. Her mind was sharp and funny, and he had, he confessed, enjoyed talking with her. But he didn’t want her making his sister turn her back on society and lock herself away with her books! He worried about his sister and he took his job as guardian seriously.
And, he had to admit, Miss Ilfield was not displeasing as far as looks went, either. He blushed and pushed the thought of her fine red lips, moist and welcoming, aside. She was most certainly not someone he could think of like that.
He reached for the Gazette as even the collection of gossip, speculation, and bad news it usually offered would be good to keep his mind off the problem of Miss Ilfield.
“Your Grace?” Mr. Denning said, coming in. Matthew looked up, frowning. Was it teatime already?
“Yes?”
“Your Grace, Lord Almerton is here. Should I send him to the anteroom?”
“No,” Matthew shook his head, shocked at the idea. “Show him in now, please. I will speak to him here at once.” He’d been so absorbed in interviewing the governess that he’d almost lost track of the fact that Albert was supposed to be arriving. He hadn’t remembered he was visiting.
“There you are!” Albert greeted, grinning at him as he came in. “Perdition take me! I thought you must be ill. You’re usually somewhere about.”
Matthew grinned. “I must admit I forgot about your visit. I was addressing some difficulties in the staff. If you’d like to go up? It’s good to see you.” He nodded to Albert, who smiled and followed him to the door.
Matthew looked the drawing room, wondering at the spindly wooden furniture. It was, apparently, made by a famous maker of furniture, even though he himself would have preferred something more solid. Arabella had insisted that it was all the rage, and he’d let her have her way, deferring to her greater knowledge of fashion
“Of course,” Albert nodded. His brown eyes shone merrily. He was a thin fellow with a lively nature that matched his fiery red hair. He had been Matthew’s best friend since university. They lived fairly close, too, Albert having his manor an hour away. “So,” Albert said as they went into the drawing-room. “How are you and the household? I trust the difficulty’s not serious?”
“Oh?” Matthew shrugged. He’d forgotten saying that. “No…just some new staff-member I wanted to interview. For Arabella. You know, one can’t be too cautious.”
“No,” Albert nodded. “I must say, you do a fine job. Looking after your young sister by yourself cannot be easy, old fellow.”
“No,” Matthew agreed. “It isn’t.”
He had been Arabella’s guardian since their parents’ deaths when he was just fifteen or so. His sister had been five then, just a child. Now, he had been the Duke for nine years, and Arabella was almost ready to debut into society. He was desperate to look after her.
“London society is quite rough now,” Albert observed, looking up thoughtfully.
“Rough? Well, I know what you mean, mind.”
It was rough for a sixteen-year-old girl.
Matthew tried not to worry for Arabella – he had a lot to think about today, and plenty to discuss with Albert. However, he found his mind returning to the chaperone and the problem – if he could call it a problem – of her being over-qualified for everything.
“Um, Albert,” he said after about an hour of holding his tongue. They had been talking about investing in rope, and he had missed most of Albert’s excited speech – he had been too busy thinking of his particular concern. “Would you say it would be a dangerous thing for Arabella to study the classics? And, well…other learned things?”
Albert gaped at him, and Matthew felt instantly foolish for having asked it. “Why, I think it would be a grand thing! Far from doing harm, it would broaden her mind and give her interests outside the Ton. It’s a lot easier to ignore all the criticism if you have something else to absorb you. Like, say, interest in economy! When I’m thinking about rope, or tea, or whatever else I want to invest my money in, I don’t care what Lady Amery thinks of my cravat, or if I’ll be allowed back into Almack’s this season.”
Matthew had to laugh. “You’re right, Albert. Thank you. I had not thought of it in that way before.”
“No trouble, ask me anything, at any time.” Albert beamed. “What I was asking you, though, is if you could put in just five percent into this ship we’re making? Just five. And the returns will be threefold! I feel certain.”
“I’ll think about it,” Matthew promised.
Their talk turned to other things. Albert ran a hand down his face wearily.
“The crime in London is increasing, Matthew,” he said. “I…well, I hesitate to walk abroad of an evening. And we don’t live so far away, either.”
Matthew nodded. “What about this new Watch? Aren’t they supposed to keep the peace?”
“Yes,” Albert agreed wearily. “But they’re only men, too…there are so many thieves and footpads about! One can’t be too careful.”
“No,” Matthew agreed, swallowing hard. He started to feel uncomfortable. He really didn’t need Albert worrying him like this – he spent a good part of every day worried about his sister’s safety anyway!
“And I heard the other day that…” Albert began.
“Now stop it, please, Albert,” Matthew said swiftly. “Can’t we talk about something more positive?”
“Oh! Of course, old chap. Have you seen the stocks in the tea-trade? So strong!”
Albert left after an hour – he had to settle some staffing problems of his own, he said, namely the hiring of a new cook for his hunting-estate. He rode off, leaving Matthew to find Arabella.
They met upstairs over tea.
“What do you think of her, brother?” Arabella asked.
“I think she will be a good companion for you,” Matthew said firmly. He felt his cheeks redden. He liked Miss Ilfield, he had to admit, but he wasn’t going to tell his sister. He couldn’t risk Miss Ilfield knowing he hadn’t disapproved of her easy conversation. He felt it was important to maintain distance with the staff.
“Isn’t she lovely?” Arabella grinned. “And she reminds me of you, a bit – so funny and clever.”
Matthew beamed.
“Thank you, Arabella,” he said. He found himself blushing. “Did you talk to her about the tea-party?” He had hoped to have a chaperone ready for Arabella’s first public event.
