The Headmistress (Ladies of Miss Bell's Finishing School Book 6)

by Elizabeth Johns

  Jane made a shooing motion with her hand. “This involves me. My father said he would issue me the same ultimatum, dictum, edict, warning, command?” Her friend struggled for the right word.

  “What can he do to you if you do not comply? He can scarcely force you to marry. You are a widow of independent means, after all.”

  “I suppose you are right and he cannot compel me, but he could cut both of us out of his Will,” she said, as though it were some great revelation.

  “You have no need of funds. Your late husband left you with a generous jointure and, since Lord Wolford is his heir, ’tis he who will retain all of the entailed properties,” Hannah pointed out.

  “Still,” Jane argued, “you did not see Oliver’s face. He will do his duty even if it kills him. Father is the master of inducing guilt. Oliver will be positively compelled to do his bidding. When he asked me to invite Lady Mary, I thought little of it because she is Lewis Dunsmore’s sister. And Lady Fanny is the sister of his very good friend. I had no idea he meant to force Oliver to marry one of them!”

  Of course, the Duke would never consider one such as Hannah for his son’s heir, not that Hannah had ever thought it a possibility. Why did it sting?

  “I had hoped that you and Oliver might have a chance…” Jane’s voice trailed off. “We must do something, Hannah!”

  “What can we do? It is Lord Wolford’s choice.”

  “We can protect him. I do not suppose Lady Fanny is a bad sort, but she is dreadfully boring. She would never bring out the best in Oliver. They would stay at Channing Park and never go beyond the gates—he in the pasture and she in the library.” Jane shuddered.

  Hannah could not restrain a smile.

  “And Lady Mary…” Jane made a face. “She is an unconscionable hoyden. Did you see her trying to attract the attention of all the gentlemen at breakfast? I can tolerate her from time to time, at family gatherings, but she is wrong, wrong, wrong for Oliver! She will have him trapped and in the church before Christmas Day if we do not protect him! He would be absolutely miserable with someone who thrives on going into Society.”

  “What can I do?” Hannah asked, playing with the fringe on a dainty little silk pillow in her chair.

  “I saw that you and Oliver had some connection.” Jane gave her a knowing look.

  “Jane…” Hannah said in a warning tone. She tossed the pillow at her friend. “That was nothing more than a tenuous friendship forged by close circumstances.”

  “Ingenious, was it not?” Jane looked wistful and not at all repentant.

  Hannah could only shake her head. Jane was so very dear and it was flattering that she wished to have her as a sister, but it was almost scandalous to think of herself as a future duchess. She was a lady—barely—and now she earned a living. She was a glorified governess and nursemaid.

  “Father told Oliver he could choose for himself this time,” Jane was saying, shaking Hannah out of her musings. “With only three ladies to choose from, we must make certain that his choice is you.”

  Hannah gaped at her, breaking every rule of propriety she had taught her students over the years. It was nice to be herself with her friend.

  Jane rushed over and pulled the bell-rope. “I can pair you with Oliver as much as possible, but we cannot be too obvious, or even Father will notice.”

  “I assume the Dowager is in on your father’s plans?”

  “I could not say for certain,” Jane replied, “but she is the highest stickler I know and is Lady Mary’s chaperone. She cannot catch a sniff of my plans. That is why we must be outside as much as possible.”

  Hannah turned her gaze out of the window, feeling doubtful as the snow continued to fall in fat, juicy flakes. It was beautiful, if you were on the inside looking out.

  “We will take the sled out this afternoon. I have it all arranged with Dunsmore. I am certain he will help us protect Oliver.” She gave a half shrug and turned back to Hannah. “Tomorrow we will search for and decorate a Christmas tree. I have not thought of what we will do after that. We must stay alert, dear Hannah. I will try to warn Oliver, if he is amenable, but I can never tell with him.”

  A maid knocked then opened the door. “Did you ring, my lady?”

  “I did, Daisy. I want you to help Miss Bell with her hair and wardrobe while she is here.”

  “I do not need help, Jane. This is ridiculous.”

  “Nonsense! We must bring everything we have to the fight.” She looked at the maid. “I think short curls would be very flattering on Miss Bell, do you not agree, Daisy?”

  “I am right here, you know.” Hannah spoke quite tartly but neither was listening. The maid had a gleam in her eye that frightened Hannah.

  “You should have been the commander of armies,” Hannah muttered to Jane.

  “Indeed I should. Napoleon is child’s play compared to the ton. I consider this to be a battle of sorts. No, do not worry about your hair. Daisy is a genius. What have you brought to wear? I know you could never wear my gowns, and you have excellent, if simple, style so a little tweak here and there and Oliver will not be able to help but notice you!”

  All her gowns were very soon strewn across the bed in an array of golds, blues and greens while Jane and Daisy made plans without bothering to consult Hannah, who knew better than to argue with her friend.

  “I will take these gowns to the sewing room, if that is acceptable, my lady?”

  “You are at liberty to do whatever you see fit, Daisy,” Jane assured her.

  The maid left with an armful of Hannah’s dresses, and the latter stared at her friend.

  “Do you think it might be worth asking if I have any inclination to catch your brother for husband?”

  Jane stopped as if she had taken root and Hannah watched her friend deflate. “Oh…indeed, do you not? But you would be perfect for each other. I know it!”

  “Jane, dearest, he is a good, kind man. However, he is the heir to a dukedom and I am a schoolteacher.”

  “He married as duty dictated the first time, Hannah, and he was miserable. I want to see him happy. I want to see you happy.”

  “I appreciate that, Jane. I am not unhappy where I am. Many people do not have what I do, and I have my independence.”

  “Very well, I will not meddle in your affairs, but will you please help me to keep Lady Mary away from him?”

  Hannah sighed. It would be torture to be paired with Lord Wolford and know he could never be hers, but that did not mean she would stand by and let Lady Mary hook him by means fair or foul.

  “Of course I will help you.”

  Jane clapped her hands like a giddy schoolgirl.

  The maid knocked and entered again. “I have two of the housemaids working on the gowns, my lady. Shall we trim your hair now, miss?”

  Hannah looked at Jane with her fiercest stare; the one which would set her students’ knees to knocking.

  Jane laughed. “This is going to be positively wondrous!

  Oliver felt as though his death sentence had been handed down. If he had to marry, and he had to pick Lady Fanny or Lady Mary, he might as well flip a coin or roll the dice.

  To be fair, he had spent little time in either lady’s presence, but his first impressions were not favourable. Now Jane wanted him to play games and act the buffoon, when he had an undesirable decision to make. Within nine days, his father wanted the deed done. Did either of the ladies know what was afoot? That would make it so much the worse if they did.

  He gathered his greatcoat, gloves, and a muffler, and put on his oldest boots. Sledding had been fun as a child, but he could not imagine attempting it with ladies.

  He opened his chamber door to see Jane standing there with her hand in a fist about to knock.

  “Oh, good, you are ready. I must speak with you first.” She brushed past him and he closed the door behind her. He raised his eyebrows and waited.

  “I heard what Father said to you this morning.”

  “Have you made your ow
n selection?”

  “Do not be ridiculous. I am a widow with a jointure; he can hardly dictate to me.”

  Oliver sighed. “I do not think he would actually disown me if I refuse to marry, but he said he was ill, and indeed, he does not look well.”

  Jane waved her hand dismissively. “He has looked like that for some time. It is only because you are never in his company that the change appears so drastic.”

  “Perhaps,” Oliver conceded. “He is correct in that I have put off remarrying. I suppose it makes little difference whom I choose.”

  “Oliver! Of course it matters who you choose. Have you forgotten how miserable you were the first time? I will disown you if you choose Lady Mary!”

  “Lower your voice, sister. I have not forgotten. I do not know either of these ladies well enough yet to judge.”

  Jane had a scheming look in her eye. “Father is still permitting you to choose?”

  Oliver inclined his head. “Not that there are many here from which to make my selection.”

  “It appears to me you have three choices.”

  “You mean Miss Bell, I conjecture?”

  “Why ever not? She is a lady and is worth more than the other two put together. Trust me; I have seen the other two in Society more than I care to recall.”

  “Father did not mention her as one of my choices.”

  “Only because he did not choose her himself, I expect. But he did say you could choose, and as long as you do so in time, how can he object?”

  Oliver gave her an incredulous look.

  “Leave Father to me,” she said blithely.

  “Jane…” He almost growled her name in warning. All he needed was her meddling.

  “I noticed you did not object to my suggestion. I knew you and Hannah would suit, which brings me to the real reason I wanted to speak with you. I have little doubt Lady Mary will scheme to entrap you—especially if she knows what is going on. I have asked Hannah to help me keep you safe.”

  Oliver laughed derisively at the thought. “And what did Miss Bell say to that?”

  “Do be serious! It is no laughing matter. Hannah understands the scheming ways of Society and tries to do her part to combat it, but she has not witnessed it firsthand. However, I think if the two of you stick together, everything will work out as it ought.”

  “What of Lady Fanny? Should I not give her a fair chance?”

  “I plan to pair you with her, and even a little with Lady Mary, because it cannot be avoided in front of the Dowager. Even I realize that.”

  “What of the other two gentlemen?”

  Jane shrugged. “I have enough on my mind without worrying about them. Will you promise to consider Hannah?”

  “Of course. She is a person who seems to think just as she ought.”

  Jane eyed him suspiciously and he eyed her straight back, trying to keep his features expressionless. “Shall we go? Everyone will be waiting. You have already promised to be paired with Hannah, if asked.”

  Oliver escorted Jane downstairs to the drawing room, where the others were waiting with their mufflers, mittens, and hats. There were eight of them in total, and immediately Jane began to pair everyone off.

  “Lady Mary, I have put you with Allerton; Lady Fanny, you will be with Romsey; Oliver, you and Hannah will be together, and that leaves me with Dunsmore. There is an excellent sledding hill just beyond the lake, and we will ride over there in sleighs.”

  Indeed, there were two horse-drawn sleighs waiting in front of the house, and they all climbed in and covered themselves in blankets.

  Miss Bell sat next to him on the seat, even closer than they had been in his carriage. There was something different about her, but he could not quite place what it was. She smelled fresh, like soap, and it was difficult not to lean towards her and inhale deeply. There was something very wholesome about her, without the artifice that young ladies of the ton were taught to feign. Oliver did wonder what would happen if he chose her. He was not altogether certain she was of a mind to marry. What if he gave her all of his attention and she was not interested? Perhaps it would be wise to discover how attached she was to her school. There were women who enjoyed independence, but often those were wealthy widows.

  It was still hard to fathom the fact his father wished him to choose from the ladies at this house party. It was not very likely that the Duke would cut him off if he refused—it would hardly further his wishes for a grandchild—but he had always found it difficult to refuse his father’s commands.

  “Here we are!” Jane exclaimed as they arrived at a large hill where servants had placed four sleds. Dunsmore handed Jane down and Oliver took Miss Bell’s hand.

  “I think we should race!” Jane said. She had ever been a romp and clearly had not considered how dangerous snow could be.

  “Jane, you are a madcap! You cannot be serious,” objected Miss Bell.

  “What happens if we win?” Lady Mary asked in a mischievous tone.

  Jane twisted her lips in thought. “You choose your next partner, for the tree hunting excursion tomorrow?”

  “Excellent!” Lady Mary answered with a wicked gleam in her eye that Oliver did not trust.

  “We had better win,” he murmured to Miss Bell, resigned to the indignity of his sister’s sport.

  “Then I hope you know what you are doing,” she replied, “for I cannot be easy about this amusement.”

  “It is simple. Keep your toes up and lean with me.”

  “I think I can manage that, if you will tell me when to lean.”

  They watched the other teams discuss their stratagems and take their places.

  “I am sorry you are to be saddled with me, but I appreciate your assistance,” he said quietly to Miss Bell while they waited.

  “I will throttle Jane. This is all highly irregular,” Miss Bell said roundly. “Do you really mean to choose one of them on such short notice?” she asked after a moment, while watching the others. “Jane told me of your father’s order.”

  Oliver hesitated before commenting. “It will be more choice than I had the first time.”

  She had a thoughtful look on her face. “It is not my place to say, of course, but I hate to see you make an unwanted marriage, and in haste.”

  “As do I, but Father is correct in that I have neglected my duty. There really are no candidates for marriage near Channing Park.”

  “You are welcome to come to my school and choose,” she teased.

  “Good God! I would be a lame duck amongst a pack of wolves.”

  She laughed. “I could limit them to one or two at a time,” she offered.

  “Very gracious of you, I am sure. What do you think I should do?” he asked, wanting an unbiased opinion.

  “That is not for me to say,” she said in a prim, concise voice, making him feel like a student.

  “Come now, you did not hesitate to tell me you think this is a mistake.”

  “That is not the same thing as telling you whom to choose,” she retorted.

  “I am asking you—no, begging you—to give me your opinion. What would you do if you were in my shoes, Miss Bell?”

  She turned to watch the other guests again. Oliver knew she would be a good judge of character after being a headmistress for so many years.

  “I think there is only one wolf here. Perhaps, on further acquaintance, she will appear less predatory. I think you need to spend enough time with both to see if either one would be an acceptable match, despite Jane’s wishes. If not, you should tell your father you will not suit and then pursue your own choice when you leave here.”

  “Acceptable match,” he muttered. How he was coming to detest the thought!

  “It looks as though it is time to start.”

  “Shall we?” He assisted her onto the sled and took his place behind to push. She was so very close that he could smell her soap and feel her warmth.

  “Now, remember to hold on tight and lean when I do. We have a race to win.”

 
; “Most wins from ten races!” Jane called. “Ready, go!”

  On the command, Oliver pushed the sled and began to run, and as the wooden conveyance gained speed, jumped on behind. He and Miss Bell began to get a good rhythm as their bodies pressed together and they moved as one down the hill. There was no time for romantic musings, given the excitement of the race with the concentration it took to stay upright, but Oliver could not help but notice how well they fitted together and how comfortable Miss Bell was to hold. Of a certainty, he preferred her to the others, but was it worth the effort required to fight the Duke on the matter if Oliver made Miss Bell his chosen one? Jane was right, however: he had done as his father wished for too long and had been wholly miserable in his first marriage. This time he needed to marry for himself.

  Chapter 5

  Hannah could not remember the last time she had had so much fun. Sliding down a very steep hill with Lord Wolford was wicked, and a guilty pleasure indeed. Fluttery with a mixture of girlish excitement and the unseemliness of her position, she had leaned too far to the left and tumbled them into a bank of snow on their first run. Quite frankly, the feel of his large, warm, masculine body had both shocked and disturbed her. A spinster, particularly the headmistress of a girls’ school, had very little cause to be in close proximity to males of any sort, let alone in such a questionable manner. Nevertheless, she had learned quickly to adapt so that they might have the chance to win, and they had succeeded in six of the ten races. Now, Lord Wolford would be able to make his own choices.

  They had returned for warm chocolate near the fire in the drawing room, and then everyone had gone to change their dress and rest. Since Hannah rarely had the opportunity to rest during the day, she found it hard to sit in her chamber without occupation.

  Wandering down to the library to select a book, she found the room to be as cavernous as she had hoped. A house of this size was bound to have something she had not read before. For some reason, she wanted to save Mansfield Park for the return journey to Bath.

  The scent of leather and vellum delighted her senses and she paused for a moment to savour it. There was a library at the school, of course, but it served practical purposes and was often filled with students. This was blissfully empty, with a roaring fire in the grate and large leather sofas set about the room.