“I hate this place and everyone in it,” she wept, refusing to look at him. “It’s no better than home, and the people are just as mean and accusing. I can’t believe how much cruelty exists in this word.”
“Vanessa? Oh my, I didn’t recognize you with all that mud on your face. It’s me, Evan Landers.” He reached out his hand to pull her to her feet and handed her a handkerchief. “Wipe that mud from your eyes, girl. Let’s get out of this downpour.”
He wrapped his coat around her shoulders and led her under the shelter of a large tree, rubbing her back as she fought to control her breathing. Sir Landers held her hand as she confessed the story and expressed the wounding of her spirit left by the older women’s words; also admitting to feeling cornered with no other escape than to shamefully ‘pull rank.’ Feeling totally and utterly lost with nowhere to go and having no one to turn to, she voiced her fear of destroying her chance to complete the courses necessary to allow Harrison to wed her.
“I’m a total fool, Sir Landers,” she cried, sinking against the wet trunk of the old, gnarled tree. “My temper has always been my downfall and now I’ve put both myself and Harrison into a quandary. He’s going to send me back to England, isn’t he? He has no other option.”
“We always have other options, child. As for marriage, the law states that you are to demonstrate the skills necessary to run a household and be a proper wife, not that you graduate from this academy.”
“It does?”
“Yes, sweetheart, it does. Graduation is only required for the men. Many young women don't have the transportation to bring them to this establishment, so they follow a program at home. Further, that woman did not have the authority to expel you from the grounds. Harrison alone has that power, no one else. Not even the Headmistress.”
“What am I going to do? I hate it here.”
The man embraced her warmly. “Not everyone is as sour as those little chits in that classroom. We will help you. I understand that it’s a big request, but I’m asking you to try to trust us.”
“But the things that they said were all lies!”
The man squeezed her hand with reassurance. “The truth will be exposed. The ladies here tend to be very cliquish when it comes to station, especially those who are not of noble birth. That is why my dear Bess has always felt ostracized. We don’t openly segregate the noble from commoner here on Man, but the division still exists.”
“It’s opposite back in London. The nobles are the snits, not the commoners,” Vanessa sniffed. “I also never migrated towards females, having been raised with brothers. I have no idea how to behave around women.”
“I often wonder if having a lack of female companionship was another reason that Bess felt compelled to do what she had done. It had to have been difficult for her.”
Using the back of her sleeve to wipe her eyes instead of the snowy white cotton cloth that was offered, Vanessa shrugged. “It’s equally possible that her husband either was unable or refused to meet her needs. Hers was an arranged marriage, wasn’t it? That means that she didn’t have any option to refuse once she was found acceptable, correct?”
“This is true. Her husband is kind, but he is slow-witted and extremely passive. Bess is much like you— intelligent, opinionated and strong. She was also raised in a home with minimal female influence and never took to things like sewing and music. I had wronged her with agreeing to this marriage, but my hope was that bringing her a gentle and kind man would help change her appetites and perhaps mold her into being what I believed a woman should be. Her sin is as much my fault as it is hers and I will never forgive myself for it.”
“Your intent was pure. Surely, she can’t blame you for that.”
“She blames me for nothing, which increased my guilt even more. I can only hope that one day I can make things right for her,” the man said sadly. He forced Vanessa to lift her chin to look at him. “Had she been teaching that class then you would have been praised for standing up for yourself. She would have been asked you to share the difference seen between the two cultures.”
“Harrison is going to be incensed. It seems that I bring nothing but controversy everywhere I go.”
“You bring color into a gray world. Look at the meadow.” He pointed to the hill covered with purple flowers. “The clouds can’t completely shroud the beauty of the heather, nor can the rain beat those blossoms down until they can’t rise again. Now and then, the sun breaks through and shines down so that you can see the green grass and all those colors. Time will be like the sun. Eventually, everyone will see how beautiful you, and your way of thinking, can be.”
“I wish I could believe that. I feel so hopeless.”
“You are too strong to give up the fight.” Thunder cracked a short distance away. “We need to get out of this storm before the lightening makes its way here. My home is just over the hill so let’s get you inside and warm you up. I’ll go back to the academy and let Harrison know where you are so he doesn’t worry. I’ll also let him know what you have told me. He’s going to want to talk with all the girls and the instructor about this.”
“They’re going to support each other and lie. I just know it.”
“Don’t underestimate his ability to get to the heart of a matter. He can see through a lie as easily as we look through a window, and everyone knows this. It’s his gift.”
“He’s going to beat me for running away.”
“He has never beaten anyone. Well, except for his father.” Sir Landers grinned, lifting her onto the saddle. “That boy has outshone his old man every step of his political and social career, and it has brought about quite a great deal of conflict between the two. The senior Ansley felt that he should represent the queen and has never let go of his animosity to being usurped by his own son.”
“Is that why the Head of State is said to be so harsh?’’
“Harsh? Better to describe him as rude, uncaring, self-serving, greedy and manipulative. He is consumed with jealousy and self-loathing. We can talk about this later. Hang one,” Sir Landers said, wrapping his arms around her waist as he spurred his horse towards the hill.
He carried her into the house and handed her over to his staff. She was stripped of her outer layers of clothing and bundled in warm blankets, and then scooted to sit before a large, blazing fire with a cup of steaming hot tea shoved into her hand. Before she even had a moment to shiver, her boots were removed, and her bare feet were submerged in a tub of hot water with floating flower petals. As her feet soaked, one woman tenderly washed the mud from her face and hands with a warm, lavender-scented cloth. The thoughtfulness that she received from the attentive staff brought about more feelings of shame and guilt.
“Why are you crying, dearie?” the older maid asked, her blue eyes gazing at the girl with concern. “Are you in pain?”
“Only in my heart. You're so caring to me without even being ordered. I said some terrible things about the people here, and now you show me such kindness that it shames me.”
“People are going to be different no matter where we go, and we can’t place any expectations upon them. We just have to accept the possibility that they might not be like us. My parents came from Ireland and life there is much different than here. It took them a long time to adjust to the changes, but now they are happier than they have ever been. Give yourself some time and the grace to make mistakes and adjust. You weren't deliberately cruel, were you?”
“No, of course not. The things I said were in defense to their gossip, and I automatically associated all the residents with them. Edward? What are you doing here?” Vanessa asked, seeing her former guard and Harrison’s valet enter the sitting room. He sat across from her and removed his riding gloves.
“I live here. Didn’t you know that Sir Landers is my father? What happened? Father was very brief as he ran out the door, only saying that you were safe and that he had to get to Harrison.”
With a groan, Vanessa repeated the story, her guilt growing with
each passing word. She left nothing out and prepared herself to witness the look of condemnation that she would receive. There was none, only a shaking of the head.
“I warned Harrison that it was too soon to introduce you to the classroom, especially after our experience together during our journey from London. He’s stubborn and refused to listen. I even asked my sister to speak with him, but he was insistent that you did things the way that everyone else did.”
“She isn’t accustomed to our ways, Mr. Edward,” the maid said, rubbing Vanessa’s hands to warm them. “It was unfair of him to expect her to be able to fit in without time to know the people and our ways. He should have allowed her a couple of weeks with Miss Bess’ girls to start.”
“I agree. Nessa was placed in a precarious situation with a group of brooding hens who all want the same rooster. I don’t think Harrison realizes how many females have their eye on him.”
“He’s a handsome devil, that one is. I’m sure he will see his error and correct it. He only wants the best for all of us. He trained me,” the woman said with a soft smile. “I was to be married to a stableman, and yet His Lordship taught me the ways of a lady. He also mentored my husband, and we can’t be happier.”
“You said that your parents weren’t from the island. Do they believe that the laws here are helpful to bringing people joy?” Vanessa asked.
“They say that there is no better place. I tend to agree, especially since Lord Harrison took control. Let me get you some more tea.”
Edward waited until the maid left the room and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Let’s talk about your incident. Did you really tell that old bat a thing or two? I wish Bess would have had that courage. That nasty woman has been the bane of her existence since she took over the position of headmistress.”
“I shouldn’t have said what I did. She’s an instructor.”
“But you spoke the truth, and that woman knows it. Of all people, she knows that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Her home isn’t any different than ours where the staff does all the planning, shopping, and maintenance. She merely has to decide the time and date of an event, and it was done. Those girls in the classroom don’t have that luxury and can’t understand, but she certainly does.”
“Why would she attack me then? I tried to explain myself but then was rebuked. I also broke my promise to Harrison and allowed my temper to get the better of me.”
“Why? You’re her nemesis and the one person who threatens what little control she has left over Harrison. Nessa, that woman is The Lady Ansley; Harrison’s mother. Didn’t she introduce herself?”
“Oh, dear Lord, no! I had no idea. He didn’t tell me that she would be teaching there. I’ve ruined everything!” A fresh flood of tears began to flow.
“He doesn’t handle the instruction schedule. All the women who have full grown children are required to share their skills with the younger girls. Please don’t cry. You’re going to have to come to the place of accepting yourself if you want others to accept you.”
“She wanted to paddle me!”
“Calm down. Your words put that woman in her place, and she is not going to be happy about it. She tried to exert herself and show her dominance. As for paddling you, no girl who is in active betrothal is permitted to be struck by anyone other than her future husband, father or the Headmaster. Her actions merely proved that she was refusing to recognize her son’s engagement to you and brought insult to him, not you.”
“I need to make this right. What can I do?”
“You can start by not being so hard on yourself. There are many people here who want to see you and Harrison succeed. Trust us.” Edward stood and kissed the back of her hand. “You stay here and keep warm. I have to go back to the Governor’s manor to work and spend some time with Marie. Everything will be fine, I promise.”
Chapter 8
Several hours later, the sound of a carriage drawing up to the front of the house caught Vanessa’s attention. She had been reading a book in front of the fire with blankets tucked snugly around her legs, a fresh cup of tea in her hands, and her belly full of hot food. Harrison raced into the room and wrapped his cold arms around her shoulders.
“Are you all right? I got here as soon as I could,” he said, holding her face in his hands. “Sir Landers told me everything. Did my mother touch you? I am so sorry; I had no idea that she would be teaching that day. I would have kept you home had I known.”
She handed him her cup to warm his hands. “I’m fine. I disobeyed her demand to allow her to strike me and left. Were you told of all the awful things I said?”
“I was. I also heard what the girls had remarked as well. I spent the afternoon interviewing all of them.”
“I m willing to guess that their stories were quite different than mine.” She lowered her eyes.
“Some were, but most of them confirmed what you said. The culprits were named as well, and all three happen to be working for my father. I should have listened to Edward and allowed you some time to incorporate yourself into our society. I’m so sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Aren’t you angry with me?” Vanessa blinked. “I’m confused. I expected you to be in a fury, especially for using your position against them.”
“I’m very angry, but not with you. Although, we do need to work on your temper.” He smiled, touching her mouth with his index finger. “You promised that you would not allow it to dictate your actions.”
She ignored his comment. “What you need to work on is changing of these laws. Your parents and others are going to use them to prevent you from marrying me.”
“I’m sure Sir Landers explained that the law requires that a woman is to prove her skills in the duties required by the house, not that she attends specific classes. We provide the academy for those who don’t have older women to teach them and to deliver an environment of supervised accountability for the men. Since I don’t have a woman with grown children working in my home, I don’t have someone who can teach you the skills needed. I have to find a way to accommodate that.”
“But is that right? What of other girls in my situation or ones that live too far from the academy to attend? Do they all have the opportunity or resources to be privately accommodated?”
“No. For those lacking in finances or a mentor, we provide training and living arrangements here. All of my girls are actively engaged, and the majority come from that situation. They will live and work in my home until they pay back the funding owed and will have the option to remain here as permanent staff, like those ladies you met here in Sir Landers’ home.”
“So women become indentured servants in a system that requires they have all the skills necessary to run a home and the attitude needed to keep a marriage. It sounds like the men have a wonderful program for themselves.” She made no attempt to disguise her disapproval.
“The men are treated no differently than the women. The fees for mentoring are extremely high, and men have no options regarding attendance. It is mandatory that any man who wishes to wed must graduate from the academy and, if he lacks the funding, he works to maintain the property and learns a trade to care for his wife and family. We try to accommodate couples in host homes as well. It provides an extra pair of hands for the families and allows the couple to be mentored together.”
“I wasn’t aware of that.”
“There are a lot of things that you aren’t aware of, which is why I should have exercised more responsibility and allowed you the opportunity to get to know Man and her people before I threw you into the lion’s den. I promise that I will find a way to help you gain these skills and pass the requirements.”
“The problem still exists, though. Unless you change the law to accommodate for everyone, it’s not right to do so just because of me. Won’t that bring about more controversy regarding you bringing a foreigner into your country?”
Harrison sat back and crossed his arms. “Yes, but this situation also shows how a biased indivi
dual can interfere as well. I need to figure out a way to repair these tears in our system, but I don’t want you to worry about it. That’s my job.”
“I’m sorry, Poppa,” Vanessa said with a resigned sigh. “I’ve brought you nothing but perturbation. It seems to be my curse.”
“You are not bringing anything of the sort, baby girl. Not at all. Besides, I know how to handle difficulties when they occur, so have no fear,” he said, his eyes smiling affectionately into hers. “It’s the schemers that irritate me and provide real conflict.”
“Am I going to be punished for this?”
“Ordinarily, I should blister your backside for running off without telling me where you were going. In a storm, none the less. What were you thinking? You could have been struck by lightning or fell in the mud, smacked your head on a rock and drowned in a puddle! I told you to come to me if there were any problems. Do you have any idea about how worried I was when I couldn’t find you during the break and heard that you had left the premises?”
“I just reacted to her command to leave the property and didn’t think of anything else except getting away. I didn’t know where I was going so I just ran. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“She doesn’t own the property, and no one has the right to order anyone off except for me. You should have come to me.” Harrison repeated firmly.
“I know. I just reacted. I’m really sorry.”
“We will take care of this when we get home. There will be no arguing either, hear me?”
“Yes, sir. I—” He interrupted her by pressing his mouth to hers as he lifted her from the chair and into his strong arms. She returned the kiss, allowing herself to enjoy the warmth of his contact and the reassurance of his presence. “Dear God, I want you. I hate seeing you cry,” he whispered into her ear.
“We don’t know one another well enough to give into passion. It’s wrong,” she whispered back as he nipped her throat.
“It’s only wrong if you and I both feel that way. I don’t care about anyone else’s opinion.”
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