Jane looked at Mrs. Caldwell standing a few paces behind her and then returned her gaze to this girl who had proven time and time again to be exasperatingly difficult to handle.
She knelt down to the young lady's level.
“I understand that learning can be annoying sometimes,” she began in a soothing tone. “So annoying that you might feel the urge to skip a day in class because the lessons can be…”
“Boring,” Margaret and Jane chorused the word.
Jane smiled after she watched a faint grin appear on Margaret's face.
“See? We're not so different, you and I,” she added.
Margaret was silent for a while.
“But do I really need to learn?”
“Yes, sweetheart, because whether we hate it or not, learning is important. And I promise, it'll go by quickly. Afterwards, we can have our fun.”
“Promise?”
“Promise,” Jane said, holding out her pinky finger. Margaret hooked her pinky around Jane's, sealing the deal.
With the young ladies in tow, Jane and Mrs. Caldwell led them back to the schoolroom and Jane stayed back for a couple of minutes until Emma, the housekeeper, showed up at the entrance.
“Your Grace,” she called, her voice tinged with reverence.
It was then that Jane remembered that she had a schedule with her this afternoon.
“Are you set for the tour around the estate?” Emma asked.
“I can take you on the tour. I know everything and everywhere there is to know around here,” Louisa said delightfully, taking her eyes off the book on the table before her.
“That's really sweet of you, honey, but I think Emma has got that handled.” Jane rose to her feet. “You keep feeding those big brains until I get back.” She kissed both girls on the head and left with Emma.
Through the opulent halls, Jane followed her guide, paying rapt attention to the lessons about the Montford Manor and its history.
As they walked, Emma pointed out various rooms and notable features of the manor, explaining each in detail.
Jane was intrigued by the knowledge this young housemaid had about her new home and the passion with which she taught was admirable. She spoke like she was there when the historical events of the manor unfolded, which led Jane to ask. As it turned out, Emma had grown up in the Duke’s estate, assisting her mother who was the previous housekeeper.
The library, filled with towering shelves of books, the grand dining hall with its long, polished table, and the drawing-room with its elegant furniture and artwork. Each feature and room they stopped by seemed to carry a significant story that was marveling to Jane.
They eventually made their way to a quieter wing of the house. Emma paused by a large portrait of a handsome man in his early thirties.
“Who's that?” Jane asked her, looking at the portrait as well. There was something about it that seemed familiar but she hadn't placed her head around it yet.
“That…” Emma replied. “That is the late Duke of Montford, older brother to His Grace the current Duke,” Emma explained softly.
“Did something happen to him?” Jane inquired.
“You don't know?” Emma turned to her.
“Know what?” Jane's curiosity was pricked but she could feel Emma's resistance to talk.
“He passed away a year ago.”
Peering closely at the portrait, she noted the resemblance with Colin.
“He must have been a great loss to the family,” she said to Emma.
