The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor, Scott, Regina [e novels to read online .TXT] 📗

you can enliven a boring summer, I canenliven a boring winter. I’d like to see more of this Mrs. Todd.”

He should protest. Nothing good could come of it. Yet, healso wanted to see Hester again, if only to assure himself she fared well.

“As you wish,” he repeated and hoped he didn’t sound aseager as he felt.

Chapter Three

Hester was glad when Monday came around,in part because it was easy to slip into her routine and in part because shealways felt a tingle of pride when she walked into the school.

Rosemary had envisioned the dame school and developed itscurriculum to be the finest in Dorset. Mr. Jenkins, the rector at St. Mary’s,had been so impressed with Rosemary’s plan that he’d offered her the use of theold coach house behind the church. The church leaders approved the annualbudget, which came largely through donations.

So many families had pitched in to clean and refurbish thespace. Two of the fathers had built the wood floor, and several of the mothersnow took turns seeing to its cleaning and polishing. Other parents hadconstructed benches, painted the walls a friendly blue, and mounted achalkboard at one end. Mr. Howland, the magistrate in the area, had purchasedprimers for reading, and Hester had convinced the local merchants to provideslate boards and chalk for the children to use in copying out their letters anddoing their sums.

Rosemary had started as teacher, with Hester assisting her,but some of the fathers had complained to the rector that a young, unmarried womanshouldn’t be teaching their sons. So, Hester had been promoted to teacher, andMrs. Mance, who kept the rectory here as well as the vicarage inGrace-by-the-Sea, came up for part of the three days the school was in sessionto assist Hester.

They had fourteen students, counting Rebecca, ranging in agefrom six to twelve. The school ran all year, but, fromspring to fall, Hester was never sure who would show up, as many of thechildren were needed by their families. Businesses in town must cater to spa visitorsor those coming in for one of its events. Families farther out from Upper Gracetended crops or animals.

But now, with harvest over and the fair done, all her pupilscrowded into the room to take their places on the benches. Sunlight coming throughthe only window along one wall anointed heads with hair slicked down andshoulders tight in worn cotton or rough-spun wool.

“Time to begin,” Hester announced from the top of the room.

Fourteen bodies wiggled into position,gazes bright. Hester clasped her hands in front of her, and they all mimickedher.

“Dear Lord,” she prayed, “bless us and our families today.Give us ears to hear and eyes to see the goodness of your world. May we berespectful and diligent in our work so that we may in turn be a blessing toothers. Amen.”

“Amen.”

Heads popped up, hands fell. Allbut one.

Rebecca waved her little fingers over her head.

“Yes, Rebecca,” Hester said, trying not to smile.

“May we please read more about The History of LittleGoody Two-Shoes?”

Hester had taken to reading to the children every day aroundthe noon hour. They were very engaged at the moment in learning what wouldbefall Miss Margery Meanwell and her brother Tommy as they sought to rise frombeing orphaned.

“Later,” Hester promised, “if everyone works very hard and finishes their work this morning.”

Rebecca dropped her hand and sighed, gaze darting to JimmyWelton, who cringed even though he was three years older. Jimmy had a problemwith paying sufficient attention. If anyone would be late in finishing, itwould be him.

Hester started them on spelling, choosing simpler words forthe less experienced students and challenging words for the more experienced.While Mrs. Mance listened to their spelling, white hair like the crown of adandelion around her face, Hester set up a series of arithmetic problems on theboard, again segregated by ability. The light darkened a moment, and sheglanced up to see a carriage passing close to the building.

Jimmy must have seen it too, for he jumped from his bench andrushed to the window. “Who’s that?”

Two more of the older boys followed him to press their nosesagainst the glass.

“Nobody from around here,” one of them claimed.

“Look at those horses,” the other marveled. “My brotherwould call them goers.”

Their exclamations had an effect on the girls as well.Hester turned as half the class strained to see out. Mrs. Mance even joinedthem, hands clutching her black skirts.

“That’s enough, students,” Hester said. “Whoever it is will mostcertainly not be coming to see us. Return to your benches.”

Slumping, with many backward glances, they did as sheordered. Mrs. Mance, however, clung to the window. Before Hester could geteveryone focused again, the round little housekeeperhurried to her side.

“It’s Viscount Peverell,” she hissed.

Rob’s father, here?

She must have paled, for Mrs. Mance clutched her arm.“There, now, he’s not nearly as fearsome as his father, God rest his soul. Andhe could certainly use some kindness, after losing father, brother, and motherin that awful accident.”

She felt as if the schoolroom was spinning around her. “Areyou saying Robert Peverell now has the title?”

Mrs. Mance nodded. “He and his sister were in church thisSunday. It was the saddest thing you ever saw, the way they sat at the rear asif they were penitents. The vicar has been trying to determine when it might besuitable to go up and comfort them, poor dears.”

So, that had been his sister at the ball. Pleasure she didnot understand was quickly snuffed by sorrow. He’d lost nearly everyone in hisfamily. As much as Rob had hurt her, she could not wish such a tragedy on him.

“Perhaps he’s come to see the rector,” she ventured.

“Quite possibly,” Mrs. Mance agreed before aiming a frowninto the schoolroom. “Ho, Jimmy. Back to your seat now.”

Jimmy skulked to the bench even as a knock sounded on thedoor.

Everyone froze. Hester could hear the tick of a beetle inthe wall.

Mrs. Mance licked her lips. “Will you get that, or shall I?”

“Please,” Hester managed.

The housekeeper bustled forward, black skirts sweeping thefloor. Hester hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until her chest beganto ache.

“Good morning, my lord,” Mrs. Mance warbled. “Miss Peverell.How might we