"As it happens," she said, softening her words with an amiable tone, "my employer need not take whoever offers her the most money. She will require some weightier reason before considering your request."
"Your employer's discriminating taste does her credit, as does her unusual curriculum. But surely neither of you would let some arbitrary limit on the number of pupils persuade you to turn away a girl of superior intelligence who might bring credit to your institution."
"There are other schools— "
"I wouldn't enroll my horse in them, much less an impressionable young woman. They're badly run, providing an indifferent and frivolous education."
Well, well, he'd certainly investigated the matter thoroughly. And surely Mrs. Harris could make room for another girl, with some adjustments. Besides, if Madeline could do this favor for Lord Norcourt…
But first she'd have to convince Mrs. Harris to allow it, and for that she must learn more. "Why have you been given charge of your niece? Isn't it unusual to name a bachelor as a guardian?"
"The married man that my brother named died a few years ago, and Wallace never took the trouble to change his will." An edge entered his voice. "Negligence was his particular talent."
So she'd heard. In Telford, Wallace Dalton was known as an extravagant dullard who'd neglected his Surrey estate in his pursuit of high living. Madeline wouldn't be surprised to learn that he'd left his younger brother a mountain of debt.
"Fortunately," the viscount continued, "my niece is to inherit a substantial sum through her mother's marriage settlement, which my brother couldn't touch. So if you're worried that her legacy can't cover the fees— "
"I'm simply trying to understand your legal standing. Are you Miss Dalton's guardian or not?"
For the first time since she'd greeted him, the viscount's confident manner faltered. "I am not," he admitted, then added quickly, "But I hope to be soon. The court must appoint someone and I've petitioned for guardianship. I fully expect to have my petition granted."
With
his
reputation? Madeline didn't know much about the courts, but she doubted they'd assign a bachelor rakehell as guardian to a young girl.
Still, he was a viscount. And would he be here if he weren't certain of the outcome? "Your niece has no other relations interested in serving as guardian?"
A muscle flicked in his jaw. "My maternal uncle and aunt have also petitioned the court for guardianship."
Did he mean the Bickhams? But their daughter, Jane, was grown. Why would they take on a young relation at their age? Unless…
"Your brother's estate must offer a nice sum to the guardian," she said.
Any vestige of his charm vanished. "It's not my niece's money I seek."
"Oh, I didn't mean that
you
— "
"Tessa has been living with my Aunt Eunice and Uncle Randolph since her parents died, and they make her more miserable by the day."
Madeline could well believe
that.
The Bickhams would make anyone miserable, especially a grieving girl who needed comfort, not moralizing.
Poor Miss Dalton. When Madeline had lost her mother to consumption a few years ago, she'd at least had time to prepare herself. Nor had she been caught in a battle between her relations afterward.
"Misery is one thing," she said, "but surely your relations wouldn't actually mistreat her."
"That's precisely what I fear." His features grew shuttered. "They've done it before."
To whom? Surely not him. If she remembered correctly, he'd lived with the Bickhams for a brief while as a child, but his father had been alive then, and even the Bickhams weren't so arrogant as to mistreat a viscount's son.
Perhaps Lord Norcourt referred to his cousin Jane. She'd married and settled in Telford, yet noticeably avoided her parents. That gave Madeline pause.
"I must get Tessa out of that unspeakable place," he went on. "Neither of those two is fit to raise a child, especially my aunt."
"I understand your concern," she said softly, "but I don't know how enrolling your niece here can help."
"The Bickhams cultivate a façade of cozy domesticity. They're a high-ranking, respectable family in a stolid country town. In the eyes of the court, their advantages outweigh the disadvantages of my being a bachelor with an unsavory reputation, even a titled one. The only way to tip the balance is to show I can offer her other advantages— the refinements of town, exposure to a society more fitting her rank, and an exemplary education, the sort she couldn't possibly receive in the country. That's why it's so important that you accept her."
"I see."
She saw a great deal. His niece's situation was almost as desperate as her own. But they could both be helped if Madeline could do this favor for the viscount.
"Very well, my lord, I shall speak to Mrs. Harris on your behalf. Wait here until I return, if you please."
She walked off, tamping down the pain roused by the viscount's clear affection for his niece. Papa had been just as protective of her own future, until Sir Randolph had ripped his reputation and livelihood from him.
A sob rose in her throat. These days, Papa couldn't drag himself from the bed, much less defend her. His melancholy overwhelmed him too much to fight, and without the income from his practice, they would soon run out of funds, despite her modest position here.
She
must
restore Papa to his former life— even if that meant begging a favor from the viscount. But she could only do that if she convinced her employer to enroll Miss Dalton.
That proved more difficult than expected. Even after Madeline explained Miss Dalton's dire situation, Mrs. Harris still wavered.
"He's a scoundrel, for heaven's sake," Mrs. Harris bit out. "He shouldn't be raising a young lady."
"He wouldn't be," Madeline pointed out. "
We
would. Besides, you know how the gossips exaggerate. His reputation can't be nearly as bad as reported."
"You think not?" She snorted. "Then you haven't heard what I have. What about those debauched social affairs that his lordship throws, the ones they're always writing about in the papers?'
"If you're speaking of my nitrous oxide parties, madam," came a taut male voice from the doorway, "those are held for the sake of intellectual enquiry."
Madeline groaned. She should have known that the viscount wouldn't leave this to her. He was the sort of man to take charge.
As Lord Norcourt entered, anger flared in his finely carved features. "My parties are attended by some of the leading minds of science and the arts."
Which was precisely why Madeline was trying to help him. But right now, with his temper up, the arrogant fool was sealing his fate with Mrs. Harris. "Lord Norcourt, this is my employer," she said hastily, determined to regain control. "Mrs. Harris, may I introduce— "
"No need to introduce a man whose reputation precedes him," said Mrs. Harris, her own temper high as she turned to the viscount. "And your 'leading minds' aren't the only guests, sir. What about the half-dressed females who cavort about while the young men 'of science and the arts' puff on their bladders and ogle the women for sport? According to my very reliable sources, your parties aren't always given for the 'sake of intellectual enquiry.'"
Irritation glittered in his eyes. "You must have very interesting sources. And yes, I am aware I will have to be more discreet with a young woman in my household. There will be no more parties for bachelors at my lodgings, and no women except a respectable lady's companion to attend Tessa. When my niece isn't here, she will live the same life as any young daughter of a lord."
"So you mean to give up your mistresses and your long nights at the clubs?"
"She'll never hear or see aught to shame or corrupt her," he said evasively. "I doubt you'd get more than that from any married man whose daughter attends here, blissfully ignorant of her papa's…activities."
Mrs. Harris knew better than to claim that her pupils' fathers didn't engage in such behaviors; many men of fashion did. "If I thought your lordship capable of discretion, I might make a place for your niece this term, but given your reputation for flaunting your wickedness, I rather doubt— "
"Do you question my word, madam?" He spoke the words softly, which only made their quiet menace more chilling.
And Mrs. Harris had always despised being threatened. "Let's just say that through the years, I've grown cynical about a man's ability to change his habits."
The viscount stalked up to plant his hands on the desk. "Cynical is one thing, cruel and heartless another. I
swear
that if my niece is raised in the household of my harsh relatives, her spirit will be scarred for life."
Though Mrs. Harris flinched, she didn't relent. "Then you will have to enroll her in another school for ladies."
"I can't!" He grimaced, then shoved away from the desk with an oath, as if he hadn't meant to admit that. "I can't enroll her anywhere else."
"Why not?" Mrs. Harris demanded.
"They won't take her."
"I thought you said that
you
did not want
them,
" Madeline put in.
"I don't. But they also refuse to promise her a place until I gain guardianship. They don't want to become embroiled in my fight."
"Neither do I," Mrs. Harris said.
"Yes, but you have the reputation to pull it off. They don't. Unfortunately, unless I find a reputable school to enroll her, so I can prove that being raised by me is an advantage, I won't be approved as her guardian. That is my dilemma."
Mrs. Harris tipped up her chin. "Your dilemma is that headmistresses aren't as easily charmed into betraying their principles as your usual female companions."
He clenched his jaw. "I see that even a woman as forward-thinking as you can be exceedingly small-minded when it comes to men. I didn't approach you until the end of my search because I suspected that your well-known 'principles' would keep you from helping me. Apparently I was right. Good day, ladies."
As he stalked away, Madeline panicked. She couldn't let Mrs. Harris drive the viscount away. He might be her only chance to help Papa!
"Perhaps his lordship could
prove
that he would make an acceptable guardian to a young female," Madeline burst out.
As the viscount halted, a wary hope flickering in his face, Mrs. Harris glowered at her. Oh, dear. Madeline had to handle this delicately. She couldn't afford to lose her position in her zeal to gain her favor from the viscount.
"If his lordship demonstrates he can keep his private activities discreet," Madeline went on, "wouldn't it benefit the school to enroll his niece? Think of the cachet of having a student who is a previous viscount's daughter and a current viscount's niece. We have few noblemen's daughters as pupils."
"True," Mrs. Harris said, "but by agreeing to take her, I'd be showing approval of his lordship's petition for guardianship, which makes me uneasy."
"You wouldn't commit to anything until you're satisfied that Lord Norcourt is capable of being a good guardian."
"I cannot twiddle my thumbs waiting for some overly high-minded headmistress to decide my fate," he growled. "I have my brother's debts to settle, an estate to put to rights— "
"I understand. But proving your suitability shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks. My proposal would enable you to be useful to the school…and in the long run, to your niece."
"Really, Madeline, this is pointless," Mrs. Harris put in. "What could his lordship possibly offer of use to the school?"
Madeline focused her persuasive power on her skittish employer. She wouldn't let this chance slip through her fingers! "How often have you bemoaned the girls' lack of practical experience in dealing with fortune hunters and scoundrels? No matter how much you warn them, the minute they're in the presence of a handsome gentleman spouting compliments, they forget everything."
"What is your point?" Mrs. Harris said irritably, not denying Madeline's claim. They often despaired over the foolishness of impressionable young girls.
"If the girls could hear warnings from an expert in such manipulations, they might actually heed them." Squaring her shoulders, she faced her employer down. "I think the viscount should give our girls lessons."
Mrs. Harris gaped at her. "What kind of lessons could he possibly— "
"He can teach them how to avoid the machinations of scoundrels and rogues." Madeline smiled. "Rakehell lessons."
Chapter Two
Dear Cousin,
I don't remember ever telling you that I hate numbers. How did you know that I would rather scour washbasins than do the school's accounts?
Your curious relation,
Charlotte
A