He did not doubt that for a moment.
“With a girl like Miss Lumlee, I prefer to forge a relationship before I teach etiquette and expect focus and progress in the schoolroom. A child like Miss Lumlee needs to feel secure and cared for before she is ready to obey rules she does not like or which go against her natural inclinations. I do admit, those inclinations have not been curbed as much as they should have been in a child of seven, but that is understandable, given the circumstances.”
“You are all but dancing in that cow pasture, Miss Brooking,” Rory said. “I don’t think I like what you are implying.”
“I assure you I mean no disrespect to you, my lord, nor any slight. The child has been through a tragedy, and in my experience, any person of any age who has experienced the sort of loss she has needs security. First, I provide the security. Then I provide the discipline.”
Rory’s head spun.Any person of any age who has experienced the sort of loss she has needs security…
He hadn’t been there for her, hadn’t provided her any security. Rather than taking her in, he had sent her to grandparents she barely knew and disappeared without a word.
Any person of any age who has experienced…loss…
Had she meant that to refer to him? Did she implyheneeded security? What he’d needed was to escape. That was why he’dgone to the Continent. He hadn’t wanted to be where he would be reminded of the death of his wife and child. He wanted to be far away from all the people who would look at him with pity in their eyes. He wanted to go where no one knew him or his sad story. He’d sought not security but anonymity.
But perhaps obscurity was security in a sense as well.
“I don’t know if I agree with your methods, Miss Brooking,” Rory said, finally. “But I have always thought of myself as open-minded. I can give you the benefit of the doubt. For the time being.”
“That is all I ask, my lord.”
Frances returned then, stomping down the stairs like a herd of cows in that proverbial pasture. She held her doll close and looked from Miss Brooking to him. “Is the coach ready?” she asked.
“Not yet.” Miss Brooking knelt so she was at eye level with Frances. Rory wondered if that was another of her methods. “May I smooth your hair and tie your ribbon again?”
Frances nodded, and Miss Brooking moved behind her and set to work, quickly putting the child’s unruly hair to rights. While she worked, Frances peeked up at him. Rory tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind.
“All done,” Miss Brooking said after what seemed hours of silence.
“Miss Genevieve, I hope Harriet isn’t cold. Her dress is quite thin.”
Still kneeling before the child, Miss Brooking examined the doll as though the toy could actually feel temperature. “Do you have a cloak for her?”
“No.”
“What about a spencer or a pelisse?”
Frances shook her head. “I don’t have any clothes for her, save these.”
“Those are very pretty, but perhaps we could make new clothes. Do you know how to sew?”
“No.”
“I’ll teach you, and we will sew Harriet a beautiful wardrobe. Perhaps we could even learn some embroidery and decorate a pillow for her.”
“Can we do that today? After the tea party?”
“I don’t see why not.”
Rory still had his doubts about her methods, but he couldn’t deny that, if he was not mistaken, she had just convinced the girl to learn embroidery—a staple in a young girl’s education. And she had made it seem like Frances’s idea.
He had best be careful around Miss Brooking. He was no child, but she was certainly an expert at managing people. If he did not watch his back, soon she’d be managing him.
Miss Brooking stood, and Rory caught her eye. She winked. Rory started violently at the gesture. Well-bred ladies did not wink. And yet…he liked it. He liked the intimacy her wink implied.We share a secret,she seemed to say.Isn’t that exciting?
“My lord,” Gables said, entering the foyer. “The carriage is ready.”
“Let’s go.” Frances started forward, taking the hand Miss Brooking held out for her. Then, to Rory’s shock, with her free hand, she clasped his. He didn’t know what to do, so he held on to her and allowed himself to be led to the coach. Her little hand was so small in his and so fragile, but her grip was strong and sure. In that moment, Rory felt his heart give a lurch.
