Raising her brows, Poppy turned back to Aurora. “You look as if you have news as well, Aurora. Were you looking for us?”
“I was in search of a friendly face. Only my mother remains in the house, and I don’t think she would find my news as exciting.” They took the path to a small fountain surrounded by white roses.
Aurora and Poppy sat on a stone bench while Garrett stood near the fountain.
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense for Zeus’s sake. What is your news?” Poppy fussed with a grass stain on her pale blue day dress.
“Helen and I have had a letter from a Miss Stein. She is coming from London with excellent references. She says she can teach both mathematics and science.” Aurora felt ready to burst with excitement at finding someone brilliant enough to teach at her school. She’d thought poor Helen might have to teach on her own.
“Wonderful news! I had no idea there were so many ladies with that kind of education. How did you find her?” Garrett sat on the stone edge of the fountain with his ankles crossed in front of him. Many men would be appalled at the idea that a woman’s mind might be as keen or keener than a man’s. But not Garrett.
Aurora shook her head. “To be honest, I thought the search would be more difficult, but I sent word to an employment firm for women. They mostly place companions and nannies, but Miss Stein was available and fit our needs.”
“When does she arrive?” Poppy grinned.
Frowning, Aurora lowered her voice. “She should be here in a day or two depending on when she left London. Do you think there is any chance of the duke leaving before she arrives?”
“Not if your mother has anything to say about it.” Garrett cocked his head to the side as if he heard something.
“What is it?” Aurora asked.
“I think a carriage is arriving.” Garrett stood.
Poppy jumped up. “Oh, perhaps Mr. Arafa has arrived early.”
Standing, Aurora didn’t see how Geb could have gotten to Cheshire so quickly. She’d only received his note the night before last. He wouldn’t be hiding out in a nearby inn, like her mother. “I had better go and see.”
Flanked by Garrett and Poppy, she rushed to the house. Having people who would stand by her, no matter what, tightened her throat as she strode down the hall, through the grand entry to the front door, where Bickford stood at the ready.
Bickford opened the door to allow them out and then stood like a sentinel in front of the open passage.
A very fine carriage stopped, and two footmen jumped down in fine, though dusty, navy blue and white livery. One opened the door, which was emblazoned with a coat of arms.
Garrett lowered his head. “That is the Marquess of Dorsett’s carriage.”
Aurora’s heart pounded. Had the Marquess come to berate her for offering education to his daughters? She was suddenly very relieved to have Garrett at her side. Not that she couldn’t defend herself, but it was nice to have a duke handy when faced with an angry marquess.
The finely dressed footman opened the carriage door and stood with his hand out to help someone alight.
A small hand took his, and a girl of perhaps twelve with brown curls hopped down, followed by another with similar curls but in a dark honey gold.
Aurora stared at the carriage door, but no one else alighted. She stepped toward the girls, who looked varying degrees of terrified. “Hello. I am Lady Aurora Sherbourn.”
They both looked up at the footman, who was perhaps twenty. He gave them an encouraging smile and a nod.
The girl with the darker hair stepped forward an inch or two. “I am Wilhelmina Belgrove, and this is my sister, Petra. Our father is the Marquess of Dorsett. Mother said we were to come here for school.”
Hoping her eyes were not wide with the shock she felt, Aurora forced a smile. “I see. I did have a letter from the Marchioness, but I didn’t realize you would be arriving so promptly.”
Tears began to tumble down Petra’s cheeks.
Poppy ran forward and dragged the girl into a hug. “Now there’s no need for that, my dear. You are safe and very welcome. We’re just surprised to see you so soon. It does not follow that your early arrival is unwelcome. Come, we’ll have some tea and biscuits and arrange for a room for you both.”
One tear pushed out of Wilhelmina’s eye. “She’s just sad that mother sent us away, but it is still better than father putting us on a ship to the continent.”
Aurora took Wilhelmina’s hand. “Come inside and tell us all about your trip. I will have a room made up, and all will be well, just as Lady Marsden said. Do you prefer to stay with your sister, or would you each like your own room?”
Poppy was already past Bickford with Petra.
Garrett waited at the steps with one hand on a stone lion. His smile was warm and his eyes full of amusement.
Another tear, and Wilhelmina said, “Mother sent a letter.”
“Then we shall read it. Come inside now.” Aurora walked with the child toward the door.
“I have the letter,” the footman said as he pulled it from his coat and handed it to Garrett.”
“I will see that her ladyship gets it. Can you bring in the young misses’ trunks?” Garrett asked.
The footman bowed. “Can we rest here tonight? We have to head back, but the horses need tending.”
“I’m sure it can be arranged.” Garrett nodded to Bickford, who inclined his head.
Aurora let the warmth of knowing Garrett would take care of those details while she dealt with two scared girls roll over her for a moment before she entered the house with Wilhelmina.
They sat in the parlor, and both girls cried quietly while Poppy fussed over them. Aurora sent for Helen, hoping she would do better at calming the girls. They were only about twelve, much younger than she and the other Wallflowers had been when they’d been shipped off to school. What was their mother thinking?
The scene took her back to the frightening moments when she and Poppy first set off for Switzerland. They hadn’t returned to England for three years. At least these girls would only be a two-day ride from home.
Home!
That was the answer. She knelt in front of the two girls on the settee. “Petra, Wilhelmina, I know you are sad because you are away from home, but you may now consider our Castlewick School to be your second home.”
Garrett stepped into the parlor with Helen right behind him.
Wilhelmina looked up. “But this is a school.”
“It is true,” Aurora admitted. “But not an average school and not one where we’ll pack a hundred girls into the space and have one or two of you learn something. Here we shall have ten or twelve young ladies, and each will learn all they can gather in. You will live in this house with teachers, maids, a housekeeper, and butler. We have footmen, and the town of Plumbly is not far. You will always have a home here when you need it. Even after your time here is finished, you shall always be welcomed home when you come to Cheshire.”
Standing, with her throat clogged with emotion, Aurora looked at Poppy, who was grinning from ear to ear. Helen raised a brow, but beamed.
Petra stood and turned slowly to look around the parlor. Her doe eyes turned up to Aurora. “Then when we are old and perhaps married, we might still return here to visit if we wanted?”
“This is your home, and you will always be welcome to it.” Aurora took her hand and smiled down at her.
Garrett crossed the room. “Tea is on the way. May I introduce your headmistress, Mrs. Helen Hazlett-Barrow.”
Wilhelmina joined her sister in standing, and they both made pretty curtsies.
“Hello, ladies. You are our first students, and we are a bit unprepared, so we shall have to figure all of this out together. I hope you will help me as other young ladies arrive in the coming months.”
Suddenly, as if realizing they were to play an important role, the girls stopped crying.
Tea arrived with a mountain of sweets.
Poppy cried out with joy at
the sight of the treats.
Both George and the orange cat, dubbed Tiger, strolled into the parlor and investigated the new arrivals with keen interest.
The girls were happy to sit on the floor with the purring furballs.
Handing her the sealed envelope from the Marchioness of Dorsett, Garrett smiled, and it went right to her soul. Had he always been so good looking? She didn’t think so. Nor had he always looked at her so warmly. He should be furious with her, but instead, he was her friend, as he had always been. There was comfort in knowing he would stand with her no matter her decisions.
She blew out a long breath and broke the seal on the letter. Inside was an account of recent events that must have been written in a hurry. Aurora folded the letter and tucked it inside her waistband to read fully later. She didn’t want her temper to rise while the twins were present, and she’d seen the words shipped off and decided she’d better wait.
A young, curly-haired maid, Beth, stepped inside the parlor.
Aurora said, “Yes, Beth?”
“If it pleases you, my lady, the young misses’ room is ready, and I’d be happy to show them up. I thought they might be tired after such a journey.” Beth had a sunny disposition, and her cheeks were flushed.
Bickford stepped inside.
“You are right, Beth.” Aurora turned to Petra and Wilhelmina. “Ladies, will you go with Beth? She will get you settled in your new room.”
Offering them each a hand, Beth was exactly the kind of well-meaning girl who would be a comfort to these displaced children.
They stepped out.
“Bickford?”
“My lady?”
“Can you see if a suitable housekeeper can be hired locally? It would be nice if the school were a help to the community as well. However, if you do not find someone, I’m willing to send an advertisement to London.” Aurora settled next to Poppy.
Bickford straightened. “I think the neighborhood can provide what we need, my lady. I’ll inquire right away.”
Once the door was closed, Helen said, “So we run it like a house, make it a home and teach them what we know. And what if we find we are not up to the task for one child or another?”
Aurora smiled. “You are being modest, Helen. You are up to the task, and I have high hopes for Miss Stein to join the staff.”
Helen frowned. “I wonder that the Marquess of Dorsett would be happy with Miss Stein teaching his daughters.”
“Because she may be Jewish?” Poppy looked about to blow up into a volcano of all that was wrong with the world.
Holding up a hand, Helen rushed to say, “I am not bothered, but you know some people will be. Even some of the girls may already harbor these types of prejudices.”
Anger that would have no outlet rose up and simmered in Aurora. “They will have to get over it here at the Castlewick School. That type of narrow thinking will not be nurtured, whether or not Miss Stein is a fit for the position.”
Mollified, Poppy relaxed. “What was in the letter, Aurora? Any clues there?”
She’d almost forgotten about the Marchioness’s letter. Pulling it from her waist, she opened it again and read aloud. “Lady Radcliff, I send you my daughters, Petra and Wilhelmina. They are high spirited and often make mischief, but I feel it is only my failings that have made them less the young ladies their father would prefer. Actually, he would have preferred I’d have given him a son, but alas that was not our lot. A ship was to leave London on Thursday, and the Marquess was determined the girls be shipped off. He was already making arrangements for transport to a school in Germany. It’s so far. I couldn’t bear the thought. I convinced him the two day’s drive to Cheshire was quite far enough and the girls could leave immediately. I hope to come and see them in a few months if I can get away. They are good girls, and I hope you will not beat them often. Yours gratefully, Lydia Aasberg, Marchioness of Dorsett.”
“Beat them!” Poppy’s cheeks were red as a beet.
“Who is being beaten?” Mercy asked from the door with Wesley at her side.
“No one,” Helen said, not looking much less furious than Poppy.
Aurora sighed and folded the letter. “No one, indeed. We have enjoyed the arrival of our first students while the two of you were out.”
Wide-eyed, Mercy rushed in and sat. “Have we? Tell me everything.”
“Poppy will tell you.” Aurora’s head, full of too much emotion and responsibility, felt ready to burst. “I’ve got a bit of a headache. I’m going out for some air.”
Garrett followed her out. He offered his arm but said nothing as they walked the garden path.
It was nice to be silent but still have company. Yet she broke the silence. “I don’t think they can be more than twelve.”
“The footman confided that they are eleven, but will turn twelve in September. What do you suppose they might have done to enrage their father so?” Garrett’s tone was light, but concern still rang in his question.
She shrugged. “More than likely being born girls was enough. Perhaps they are high spirited as their mother claimed. We’ll know soon enough. For now, they are scared little girls who deserve a safe place to grow up and become young ladies.”
“They do, and you have given it to them, Rora. You should be very proud of yourself.”
That he was proud was warming and heady. “It just came to me all at once that I was looking at the school the wrong way. We don’t need dozens of girls who will learn to smile when they want to rage, though that does come in handy.”
“I often feel you learned that lesson a bit too well,” he said softly, in almost a whisper.
Smiling, she gave his arm a squeeze. “Society doesn’t like it when ladies lose their temper or laugh too loud.”
He stopped and stepped in front of her. His eyes blazed and it unsettled her. His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Society can be damned. I would give my right arm to see you melt with joy or rage or any emotion. Your stoicism borders on the morose, Rora. Are sorrow and bitterness all that is left inside you?”
Unsure what to say to the truth of that, she said nothing. She held her expression still and watched as his turned from discontent to understanding.
“I see.” Garrett turned and strode away from her.
How could he understand? Passions led a person down a hole they might never get out of. She had long ago turned off those parts of herself. She’d let it slip a bit when she’d told Garrett about her marriage, but now she was more herself. Or, at least she was the person she could get from day to day as. The girl she’d been before had left her long ago and there was no getting her back.
She walked the paths and put aside those lost years to consider her school and all she could accomplish. Thinking about all the angry and hurt girls at the Wormbattle School for girls, herself included gave her more ideas. It was critical that Whickette Park be run like a home where girls learned all they could.
“Am I interrupting a deep thought?” Malcolm smiled as he stepped toward her on the path.
The entire visit was becoming like a farce. How many men would show up before she returned to London. “I was doing some planning in my head, Mr. Renshaw. How are you enjoying being here?”
“I love the area.” He fell into step beside her.
Glad she’d had her hair dressed with two long, sharp hairpins she had to make an effort not to roll her eyes. “It is lovely. My sources tell me you believe there is some kind of hidden treasure on the property, sir.”
He stopped, a darkness crossed his face filling his eyes with anger but it passed, and he gave a sharp laugh. “I assume your source is my cousin and the countess.”
“Wesley told me you think your grandfather hid something valuable here. I see no point in being coy, Mr. Renshaw. If there is some treasure that you feel inherently belongs to your family, I will not lay claim to it.” Maybe he would be satisfied and go away.
He leaned against a maple tree at the end of the path. “Why would you say that
, my lady? Do you know what is hidden?”
The tone of his voice sent a chill up her spine. “It is my understanding the value of the treasure is unknown. At least, Wesley doesn’t know, and he thinks it some myth started by your grandfather to stave off bill collectors.”
“You are very lovely, Lady Radcliff.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her from beneath hooded eyes.
This didn’t bode well. “Thank you. You needn’t flatter me. You may have any treasure you find that is not cataloged in the estate.”
He stepped closer. “You don’t think I am in earnest? Is it not possible that I have developed feelings for you?”
Determined not to back away or run, Aurora held her place. “I don’t care if you are or you are not, sir. I am not interested in being courted by you or anyone.”
“Hexon is a duke and you seem less than thrilled with him. I thought perhaps I might be a better fit for a lovely widow determined to run a school in my ancestral home.” While his words were like syrup, his tone was chilling.
Without bothering to hide it, Aurora pulled a long pin topped with a sapphire from her hair and held it aloft. “You would no more let your wife run a school than Hexon. You may sell your lies elsewhere, Mr. Renshaw. If you wish to continue to stay here, you will cease any pursuit of me or my person. If you think Mercy was brutal with her pin, you will find me twice so. I suggest you keep your charms to yourself, be a gentleman and search for whatever it is you think you might find here at Whickette, or I will have you removed permanently. Do I make myself clear?”
His eyes narrowed on the pin. “You ladies are quite something.” His posture relaxed and he shook his head. “You will find no danger from this corner, my lady. If you were interested in being courted, I would have been honored to throw my hat in the ring. I learned my lesson with Mercy. I’ll not make that mistake again.”
Lowering her hand, she gave him a nod. “Good. I’d hate to ruin a perfectly good day by drawing blood.”
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