“Yes,” Jane replied. “While Patrick and Lucy-Ann were touring the servants’ passages, they ended up in the library and spoke to my father, I gather.”
A smile came to Hannah’s lips. “I would like to have witnessed that conversation.”
“He said they were charming.”
“Did he, indeed?”
Jane led the children towards the chairs near the fire. “It was not long before Father informed me that I need to do my duty and marry immediately.”
Lucy-Ann sat on the chair and looked up at her with wide eyes. “Are you to be married?”
“Not if I have any say in the matter,” she assured her before turning back towards Hannah. “I informed him that I would not be marrying, not now or in the future.”
Hannah was silent for a moment as she pondered Jane’s words. “How did the Duke handle the rejection?”
“He was disappointed, and he even threatened to cut me out of his Will.” Jane approached Hannah. “I married for duty once, and that was disastrous. I shall not be bullied into marrying again.”
“I am happy for you,” Hannah said. “It could not have been easy to defy your father.”
Jane smiled as she admitted, “I have never defied my father before. It was terrifying.”
“I would imagine so.”
“Now it is Oliver’s turn,” Jane declared. “He will defy my father by selecting you as his bride.”
“Jane…” Hannah warned.
She waved a hand in front of her, dismissing the caution. “It is evident to everyone that Oliver is smitten by you.”
Hannah gave her a stern glare, one she knew installed fear in her students. However, Jane was not one of her students—not anymore.
“Don’t try to intimidate me, Hannah.” Jane walked over to the door. “I assure you that it will not work.”
“Where are you going?”
Jane placed her hand on the latch. “I need to discover why Dunsmore went down to the servants’ quarters,” she answered. smiling at Patrick and Lucy-Ann. “Will you remain with them while I am gone?”
Hannah nodded. “I will.”
“Thank you, my dear friend.”
Jane left and Hannah turned to the two small waifs. “Would you like to make decorations?”
The two children looked at each other as though they were unsure what that was. Hannah did not know what had happened to these two little souls, but it could not have been good. Jane had never been blessed with her own and it was easy to see why she was drawn to these two. What could they have been through if Jane had found them on the street?
Hannah stood and rang the bell-pull. When a maid appeared, Hannah asked for paper, ribbon, and scissors. The children watched with wide eyes when Hannah brought the supplies over to them and sat on the floor.
“We cut down four trees today. They are called Christmas trees,” Hannah explained.
“What is a Christmas tree?” Patrick asked.
“It is a pine tree you put in your house and decorate. It is a German tradition, and Jane’s mother was from Germany. Her mother always decorated a tree for them each Christmas.”
“We never celebrated Christmas before,” Patrick said, wiping his nose on his sleeve.
“You will this year. I have a feeling this will be a very special year for you both. Shall we make some decorations for Lady Dunsmore?”
Hannah took a piece of paper and folded it in half, then began to cut out little pieces along the fold. When she had finished, she opened it up.
“It’s beautiful!” little Lucy-Ann exclaimed as she beheld Hannah’s very primitive efforts at a snowflake.
Hannah smiled. “Now it is your turn to try.”
It was almost impossible for Lucy-Ann to maneuver the scissors, and her efforts looked more like jagged half-moons. The scissors were large for Patrick, but he was determined and produced some worthy snowflakes.
Lucy-Ann gave up after a while and climbed into Hannah’s lap and helped her tie ribbons on the decorations to hang on the tree.
Hannah had a great deal of experience with older children, but very little with small ones. She had never allowed herself to hope. But there was something so endearing about the innocence this little one had that made Hannah’s maternal instincts begin to roar. The small hands, the fresh smell and the large, trusting eyes…she wanted to squeeze her and protect her. Jane was a fortunate woman, and Hannah knew she would love them as her own.
Patrick was looking frustrated, which snapped Hannah out of her longings.
“What is the matter?” she asked him.
“Mine are not as pretty as yours. Yours look special.”
“I have heard that no two snowflakes are the same. They are supposed to be different.”
“But I wanted them to be perfect for Lady Dunsmore.” He looked disappointed.
“They will be perfect to Jane.”
“They will?” Patrick looked sceptical.
“Of course they will. Because you made them.”
Hannah scooped the boy up into her lap alongside his sister and squeezed them into a hug until they giggled. It was amazing how much joy a simple afternoon had brought Hannah, and longing, for something out of reach, filled her heart. If Jane could not keep these two children, Hannah would.
Oliver found an obstacle on his way to the billiards room. His mind on his outing with Hannah, he had foolishly let down his guard. Lady Mary was lying in wait for him when he rounded a corner in the corridor.
“My lord!” She pretended to be surprised, holding a hand to her chest and dipping a curtsy. She was wearing a pale blue gown with such a deep neck, he could see the rise and fall of her bosom with each breath.
“Lady Mary.” He tried to keep the exasperation from his voice as he bowed in return.
“That was quite a tree you brought in, my lord,” she said as she moved closer. Involuntarily, he stiffened. “I had no idea how attractive it would be to see a man exert himself so,” she continued. “None of the other gentlemen would trouble themselves, thinking it beneath them.”
Had she meant that as a compliment? Her hand reached up and grabbed his arm… and squeezed.
“So firm…” she murmured in a sugared voice.
“Lady Mary, I do not think,” was all he was able to say before she had reached out her hands and pulled his face down to hers. She planted her lips on his and pressed firmly. He did his best to keep his lips sealed, and picking her up, firmly set her down away from him.
She giggled. Giggled.
“Madam, this is hardly appropriate behaviour for a young lady.”
She waved her hand in dismissal. “Everyone here knows you must choose Lady Fanny or myself, so there really is no choice, is there? We might as well have a little fun.”
He stared at her in disbelief as she moved close to him again, still giggling as she tried to reach for his neckcloth.
Taking her hands, he gently tried to push her away. To his horror, however, he was afraid brute force would be required as, undeterred, she began to try to rub the rest of her body against him.
“Lady Mary, stop this at once! Unfortunately, you have mistaken my intentions.” Intentions which, he realized, were becoming ever so much clearer to him by the second.
“Wolford!” Lord Dunsmore’s voice boomed as he rounded the corner, clapping his hands together. “There you are. I have been searching for you all over the castle.”. Oliver released a breath. There was a God in Heaven.
“I was hoping you would play billiards with me,” he suggested.
Oliver’s response was swift and eager. “Indeed, I would.”
“Excellent.” He tipped his head politely at Lady Mary as he acknowledged her. “How are you faring today?”
A frown came to her lips. “I am well,” she said, but her tone was far from believable.
“I am glad to hear it,” he said cordially. “I have just come from the drawing room, where your mother and Lady Fanny are enjoying their needlework. Perhaps y
ou would care to join them.”
Lady Mary’s frown intensified, and Oliver could see the tightness around her mouth and jaw. It made her look far less attractive. “I suppose I shall join them,” she remarked reluctantly. “There is little else to do.” She glared at both men.
“Would you care for me to escort you down to the drawing room?” Dunsmore asked.
Her eyes darted towards Oliver, no doubt hoping that he would offer to escort her. When no offer was forthcoming, she mumbled, “No, I thank you, that will not be necessary.”
They watched Lady Mary as she walked down the corridor until she disappeared around the corner leading to the stairs.
Oliver turned towards Dunsmore with a look of intense relief on his face. “That was close,” he sighed. “Thank you for saving me.”
“It appears that Lady Mary is getting even more desperate in her attempts to trap you.”
Oliver shuddered. “Every corner I turn, I fear that she will be lurking there, waiting to seize me with her talons.”
“That sounds dreadful.” Dunsmore put his hand out towards the open door of the billiards room. “I know I used it as an excuse, but would you still care to play?”
“Yes, I would.”
Once they stepped inside the room, Dunsmore went and retrieved two billiard cues from a rack on the wall. He extended one towards Oliver.
“I hope you don’t mind but Jane confided in me about your father’s ultimatum.”
“Not at all,” Oliver replied. “I had assumed as much since you have rendered assistance with Lady Mary on more than one occasion.”
“You should know that Jane hopes you will select Hannah as your bride.”
Oliver chuckled. “Yes, Jane has been very vocal upon the subject.”
“Have you made your choice, then?” Dunsmore asked as he moved the three ivory balls towards the center of the table.
“I know what I wish to do, but I fear my father’s retribution.”
“Did Jane tell you that she has defied her father?”
With a nod, Oliver replied, “She did, and I am proud of her.”
Dunsmore smiled and was obviously thinking of Jane. “As am I,” he said. “Jane is stronger than she gives herself credit for.” He motioned for Oliver to string for the lead.
Oliver lined up the red ball and took a shot, scattering the three balls across the table. “It is ridiculous that our father is still issuing commands at our ages, and we both widowed.”
“You cannot be thinking seriously of marrying Lady Fanny or Lady Mary?” Dunsmore made a face as he spoke. “It is obvious even to me that neither would suit.”
“Jane opposed Father, and I intend to as well.” Oliver hit the next ball harder than he had intended, sending it swiftly across the baize.
“I hope you will marry where you choose this time.” Dunsmore leaned down and aimed his cue at his ivory ball. Having made his shot, he leaned back and watched the balls roll around the table.
Oliver moved to the side of the table and took his shot. He straightened before saying: “My father arranged our marriages at a young age, not knowing what a blackguard Lewis had become. Jane was too young and naive to see Lewis for what he truly was until it was too late.”
“Poor Jane,” Dunsmore muttered.
“I suppose I was the lucky one, if you could say such a thing,” Oliver commented. “I would not describe Lady Sybil as awful, but our marriage was exceeding dull.”
“You seem to enjoy Miss Bell’s company, if I am not mistaken,” Dunsmore said pointedly.
Oliver brought the cue in front of him and held it with two hands. “Yes, she is a breath of fresh air when compared with what I remember of the London beau monde. My father will not be pleased, but he cannot have his cake and eat it, too…and certainly not twice.”
“I am pleased for you.”
“And when will you make your feelings known to Jane?” Oliver smirked. “It is not that hard to deduce,” he joked as his opponent grimaced. “Furthermore, I have seen the way my sister’s eyes light up when she looks at you.”
Without answering, Dunsmore moved around the table. He had just aimed his cue when the muffled sound of children’s voices could be heard, coming from behind the wall.
He glanced over at Oliver and asked, “Did you hear that?”
“I did.”
Resting his cue against the table, Dunsmore walked over to the wall where the noise was coming from and pressed on a panel. It opened, revealing two young children.
“Come in,” he greeted gently when the children shrank back in alarm. “You have nothing to fear, I promise.”
The blond-haired boy placed a protective hand over the girl’s shoulder, and they hesitantly stepped out of the passage.
Dunsmore smiled at them and crouched down to their level. “May I ask what you were doing in the passages?”
“We were exploring, sir,” the boy said in a timid voice. “Are you going to blab to Lady Dunsmore?”
“That all depends,” he replied. “Does Lady Dunsmore know that you are exploring the passages?”
The boy lowered his gaze towards the floor. “We aren’t suppos’d to ’cause she’s afraid Lord Dunsmore will find out about us.”
“Why is that?” he pressed.
The little girl spoke up. “’Cause Lord Dunsmore’ll toss us out in the snow.”
Dunsmore exchanged a concerned look with Oliver before asking, “Did Lady Dunsmore tell you that?”
The boy shook his head. “No, but she be worried he won’t like that we be ’ere.”
Dunsmore opened his mouth to ask another question when Jane’s voice came from behind him.
“Children,” she said in a stern tone, “Mrs. Long is ready to start your lessons.”
Oliver watched an uncomfortable exchange between Dunsmore and Jane before Dunsmore left curtly.
Chapter 8
It was time for everyone to gather together to decorate the tree and then play Snapdragon. Hannah hoped that Jane would allow the children to participate. The new Lord Densmore was nothing like the old one and she suspected he would not mind the children. When she came down the stairs, the tree which she and Lord Wolford had found had been placed in the entrance hall in a large tub. It stood majestically, as though it belonged there. What a strange thing it was to have a tree inside the house, but it was charming.
She watched as the servants brought in ladders and tables, and placed decorations out for them, along with ginger biscuits and bowls of wassail. It was easy to be swept away by the magic here, Hannah mused. The story of Jesus was real, but their celebrations were out of a fairy tale. She brought the snowflakes the children had created for the tree and set them on the table next to rows of bells, ribbons, and some candied fruit and nuts wrapped in papers.
“Jane never does things by halves,” a deep voice said from behind her, causing Hannah to jump.
She turned and he was standing there smiling, very, very close to her. “My lord!”
“Were you somewhere else?”
“I suppose I was. I was thinking about how magical Christmas is, here at the castle.”
“Indeed. It is certainly more lively than it would have been at Channing Park. I would have attended church and handed out the benevolence baskets, and I expect my cook would have prepared a goose or I would have gone to dinner with one of the local families, but it would have looked nothing like this.”
Hannah might have also shared Christmas with one of the families from church, but she suspected she would have been completely alone.
“What have you there?” He indicated the snowflakes in her hands.
“Ornaments for the tree. I have been busy since I last saw you.”
“I see,” he said as he took one that quite obviously had been made by a child and examined it and then one that she had made herself. He looked at her curiously. “The children have been helping you?”
“You know about them?” she asked quietly.
He ga
ve a nod. “They sneaked into the billiards room a short while ago and Jane seemed upset by it.”
“Oh, dear. They were to have returned directly to the kitchens. Was Dunsmore upset?”
“I think more about the fact that Jane had hidden them from him.”
“That is just what I expected. They are darling children—I would not mind taking them back with me.”
“Perhaps that would be a good place for them if a situation cannot be found here, but I have a sneaking suspicion it will.”
Hannah’s heart warmed at his words, and the look in his eyes made her wonder if he was about to declare himself. Surely not! She had little time to consider that notion when Jane rounded the corner.
“I have come to inform you that we are about to start decorating the tree,” she announced. “Dunsmore has even gone to collect Patrick and Lucy-Ann so they may join us. Is that not wonderful?”
Oliver interjected, “That is rather thoughtful of him.”
“Mother always said decorating the tree for Christmas should be mainly for the children,” Jane remarked.
“That is true,” Oliver agreed. “But we are all children at heart, are we not?”
Brother and sister continued to tease each other, while Hannah was glad that Dunsmore had accepted the children. Hopefully, Jane would now be able to accept that Lord Dunsmore was nothing like her first husband.
Lord Dunsmore brought the children in and Hannah watched as he and Jane decorated the tree with the two youngsters, Lady Mary and Lady Fanny. Even Lord Wolford joined in to help as they aided the small children to reach the highest places by lifting them up. Jane began to teach the children some carols and there was a great deal of laughter and gaiety. Hannah handed them the various ribbons or treats to place on the tree, and felt the merriment, but she was very thoughtful too. Standing back a little, she caught the Duke’s eye as he sat by the fire watching, and he smiled at her as though with approval. Would he be so congenial if he knew of his son’s behaviour; if he knew how her heart wanted to reciprocate?
If he were just a gentleman sheep farmer, it could prosper—she was still a lady—but he was the heir to a powerful dukedom! It was a mésalliance to say the least. But you could make him happy, her conscience whispered. He had not been happy before and he did not enjoy London. Hannah enjoyed visiting the city, and she suspected he would if he was not the object of matchmaking mamas.
The Headmistress (Ladies of Miss Bell's Finishing School Book 6) Page 7
