by Alice Kirks
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 determined 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.
He found himself wondering what the chaperone thought of him.
“Oh! You mean the one you want me to go to? Oh, yes! She said I could wear the white muslin, if I liked, and she would be sure to check that I knew my etiquette. She joked about it, though. She’s so funny! I like her.”
“I t
rust she didn’t take it lightly,” Matthew asked, feeling worried once more. The chaperone was there to keep his sister safe, above all things, and he had to be sure of her character.
“Oh, brother! You don’t have to be so serious, do you?” Arabella asked. “But no. As it happens, she didn’t seem to scorn etiquette. Not a bit. So, you needn’t worry.” She reached for her teacup and poured more tea.
Matthew smiled. “I trust you, sister. Truly, I do.” He put aside his tea. “I know that you would never wittingly be rude or offensive. It’s not you I worry about – it’s everyone else.”
“Oh, brother. The whole of London isn’t full of scoundrels and rogues. Is it?”
Matthew shrugged. “I can’t say.” He swallowed his tea. He had to admit that, since becoming the only thing Arabella had approaching a parent, he’d become overly aware of the dangers of the world. He truly had started thinking of London as a pit of corruption, but she forced him to think rationally about it, and he found that it couldn’t be true. After all, he was also a Ton member, and he wouldn’t hurt anybody.
“I am so excited!” Arabella giggled. “Oh, brother! I can’t wait to wear my new dress. And Alexandra shall be there! Won’t it be fun?”
“Yes,” Matthew said, glad to have the subject changed. “Yes, it will be fun.”
He would, he decided, just have to keep a close eye on Miss Ilfield and make sure that she was not a bad influence for his sister. Arabella already trusted her, and that meant she must be even more responsible and reliable than he had thought.
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[MJ1]This is a powerful description of what many young ladies felt in this time period. Very well written.
[pm2]Thank you.
[MJ3]‘and has much…
[pm4]Thank you
[MJ5]This wording seems a bit off. Consider rewording for clarity.
[pm6]Thank you
[MJ7]This is a fabulous beginning. The ay the story unfolds into something new and unexpected in each chapter is marvellous. The characters are lovable and endearing, leaving the reader hoping for a happy ending around every turn. I look forward to the next section.