To Walk in the Sun (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies - Book 1) (7 page)

His valet shrugged his shoulders. “There is
much damage. I suspect that most of the men will be seeing to their
own homes before they can help anyone else.”

That was not the answer he wanted to hear.
“What about this house? Is there anything that requires immediate
attention?”
That could possible keep others from living
here?

“Very little, actually. It should take no
more than a day or two to set the estate to rights. Most of the
work required is cleaning up the debris on the grounds.”

“If there is no heavy manual labor to be
done, the students can set the estate
to rights
. That should
keep them out of the house a good portion of the day.”

“Sir, you cannot expect gently reared ladies
to pick up tree limbs and such.”

Vincent narrowed his eyes at the valet.

“Very well, sir, I can see where the fresh
air would be beneficial to them. I shall mention it to Mrs.
Wiggons.”

“Have my staff determine what needs to be
done to get the school finished as soon as possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hire others if necessary.”

“That could be costly, sir, and I am not sure
the funds are available.”

“I’ll pay for an entire new building if I
have to. As long as the job is done quick and right.”

Wesley grinned and bowed. “I knew you would
do the right thing, Lord Atwood.”

Vincent stood. “Before you announce my
intentions to Mrs. Wiggons, I suggest you have her and the teachers
meet with me prior to anything being settled. There will be ground
rules all of them must adhere to.”

“
A good work! a blessed deed!” – returned
the sorcerer

with a smile of scorn; “for me there exists
nor good nor evil;

since my will is always the same. Ye alone
know evil, who will is

always the same. Ye alone know evil, who will
that which ye would not.”

Wake Not the Dead

Johann Ludwig Tieck

Chapter 7

Vincent regretted his agreement the moment
the ladies were seated in his parlor. Introductions had been
exchanged and Mrs. Zobard rolled in a cart loaded with a tea
service, cups and a number of cakes, some types he had never seen
before. She beamed at Mrs. Wiggons and the six teachers after she
served the guests. “Please, let me know if there is
anything
you will be needing.”

Mrs. Wiggons inclined her head. “Thank
you.”

“It is rather dark in here,” Miss Natalie
Pritchard mumbled as she looked around the shadowed room.

Red velvet draperies were closed against the
daytime. Heavy brocade furniture was assembled around an almost
black, carved wooden table placed at the center of the sitting area
which now held the tea service and cakes. Some light came from a
bright fire that burned behind Vincent in the large, dark
fireplace. The rest came from candles lit in the dull gold sconces
along the wall. The furnishings in the room had not been changed
for generations. His mother didn’t have the heart to remove the
antiques and he assumed Veronica, his wife, never had the
opportunity.

“I like it this way,” Vincent retorted, a
little too sharp, even to his own ears. However, the last thing he
needed was a bunch of females redecorating, thus modernizing and
opening the curtains in
his
home.

The cup shook in Miss. Pritchard’s hand and
she set it back on the table and folded her hands in her lap.

“I apologize. I am adverse to sunlight and
ask that you understand that the windows in
my
house will
remained covered, at all times.”

Miss Pritchard acknowledged with a nod of her
head.

“Lord Atwood also has an aversion to noise,”
Miss Crawford offered with a smile and a bit too cheery tone.

Vincent cleared his throat and sat forward.
“Yes, I do. In fact, I would appreciate it if during the day hours,
the girls remain on this floor and I will remain above. In the
evening, I will be in my library working and wish the girls to
retire early or at least be in their rooms by nine.”

“I think that is reasonable,” Mrs. Wiggons
agreed. “Will we have use of the rooms on the main floor for our
classrooms?”

“Of course. There is a music room, ballroom,
library, two dining rooms, this parlor and sitting room. I assume
those will be sufficient.” If they stayed on the main floor then he
could sleep in blissful silence.

“Oh, that would be wonderful,” Miss Claudia
Morris sighed.

The remaining three teachers remained mum and
Vincent wondered if they were ever vocal. So far, it had been Mrs.
Wiggons, Miss Pritchard, Miss Morris and of course, Miss Crawford,
who had spoken, and in fact, took the seats closest to him. The
other three were older teachers and clearly more reserved. They
barely said hello when introduced. He wasn’t sure it was wise that
such exuberant young ladies were left in the care of those three.
No wonder the students felt free to roam his house, and the
country, without a by your leave. Miss Wiggons was probably
grateful to have the three younger teachers to help. If he said boo
to the others, they may expire on the spot. The thought brought a
smile to his face.

“I have arranged for some of my servants to
see to the repairs and the possible rebuilding of your school. They
will be able to determine by the end of the day what will be needed
to accomplish the task of bringing your school back to its former
glory.”

“I cannot begin to thank you for all of your
assistance, Lord Atwood.” Tears formed in Mrs. Wiggons’ eyes.

No, not tears
. He smiled through
clenched teeth. “It is the least I can do. Your school is an asset
to the community and it would be a shame to lose it.”

“Your generosity will not go unrewarded,” she
assured him.

Vincent had to wonder at exactly what type of
reward, but he suspected it was one of a more eternal kind. So,
that made one other person present who did not believe the rumors.
Unless Mrs. Wiggons thought a vampire could make his way into
heaven. He fought not to chuckle.

“I understand there is something you would
like the students to do in return?” Miss Crawford asked.

He turned and focused on her pewter eyes. He
had never seen the likes and wondered if they were more silver in
the sunlight, not that he would ever know. She also had the
thickest, blackest lashes he had ever seen on a female. Sultry and
beautiful.

Vincent turned away and decided to focus on
the quiet group at the back. They at least didn’t distract him and
he could not understand why Miss Crawford did. He cleared his
throat when he noticed the expectant eyes on him, waiting for him
to answer the question. “Well, most of my staff is at your school,
but I have matters that need to be addressed here, before winter
sets in.”

“Go on.” Miss Pritchard sat forward. Clearly
she had recovered from her earlier nerves.

“I was hoping to have their assistance in
cleaning up the debris from the yard. Nothing too strenuous, of
course, but small limbs, sticks and such.”

“What of your gardens?” Miss Pritchard
asked.

“My gardens?” He hadn’t thought about them at
all. Though, perhaps he should have. Eventually, the neighbors may
get tired of him stealing the flowers for his wife’s grave from
their yards.

“I mean no disrespect,” Miss Pritchard
continued, “but I did note they have not been well maintained.”

“No, they have not.” Where was she going with
this?

A smile broke on her face. “If you don’t
mind, I would love to bring it back to life, or at least have it
prepared for the winter.”

“To what purpose?” Why should it matter and
what use could it be to her?

“For our botany lessons, of course.”

“Botany?” Since when did young ladies study
botany? What kind of school was Mrs. Wiggons running?

“I have never heard of such studies for young
ladies.” It did boggle his mind.

All of the teachers, even Mrs. Wiggons,
straightened as if a rod had been shoved down each of their spines.
Good Lord, now what?

“We do not adhere to the teachings that a
young lady need only know how to paint, play an instrument, sing,
and run a household,” Miss Crawford insisted.

“Apparently not,” he offered in a dry tone.
“What subjects do you feel are appropriate?” Did he really want to
know?

“I teach math and finances,” announced one of
the older ones from the back. He could no longer remember her
name.

“I understand math, for household accounts,
at times, and pen money, and such. Why finances?”

The woman pursed her lips and inhaled threw
her nose. For a moment he thought she would not answer. The
question had clearly insulted her. But, finances and women were not
topics that usually coexisted. “At one point in her life a lady may
find herself alone, without a
gentleman
to take care of her.
She should always be aware of the opportunities available, and to
be on guard if a guardian takes advantage of her wealth.”

Vincent had a sneaking suspicion the same had
happened to the woman, but he did not ask.

“I teach biology and astronomy,” the oldest
one, next to the first, said. At least he assumed she was older
given her white hair and severely lined face. Of course, looks
could be deceiving. “I assume you don’t believe young ladies need
this knowledge at all?”

He sat back, not sure how to answer.

She rapped her fan on the table. “The world
is no longer flat, Lord Atwood, and it would be best if gentlemen
quit treating young ladies as if it were, or should believe it
is.”

Oh dear, he had underestimated the quiet,
older ones. He was almost afraid to ask what the last one taught.
She answered before he could question.

“Animal husbandry and agriculture.”

Vincent choked on his tea. “Pardon?”

“Most of these young ladies will marry
gentlemen with estates. If they are knowledgeable about everything
involved, perhaps they could be of better service. At the very
least, she may appreciate the concerns that could plague her
husband.”

The woman pursed her lips and said no
more.

He turned to Miss Crawford. “You teach
literature, correct?” He guessed given she was the one the girls
referred to with regard to taking books from the library.

“Yes, I do, as well as history. I also thank
you for the use of your vast library.”

He inclined his head and smiled. “It is my
pleasure.”

“Miss Morris, what do you teach?”

“French and Latin,” she answered with a
smile.

At least those two subjects were not unusual.
Well, perhaps the French, but certainly not the Latin.

“If a student shows aptitude, I will also
instruct them in Italian, Spanish or German. It is their choice, of
course.”

Vincent was amazed the woman could speak so
many languages enough to teach them. Few men he knew spoke more
than three. He turned to the owner of the school. “Mrs. Wiggons, do
you instruct the young ladies as well?”
Please let the answer be
no, or at least a reasonable subject
.

“I train them in the proper running of a
household, watercolors and embroidery. Though, in all honesty, we
have very little time to spend on these lessons and are lucky to
give them attention once a month, let alone weekly.”

Finally, a sane teacher among the bunch.
Well, besides Miss Morris and of course, Miss Crawford. But why did
she encourage the other teachings in the first place. He shook the
thought away. It was none of his business and why should it matter?
It wasn’t as if he was going to marry any of the chits.

He turned to Miss Pritchard. At least he
believed she could be of use to him, at the moment. “Are you
familiar with greenhouses?”

Her eyes lit. “Oh yes, do you have one?”

“It is in sore disrepair.”

She scooted to the edge of her seat and bit
her bottom lip as if he were telling an intriguing tale. He had
never known anyone to get so excited about plants.

“You have my permission to do what you will
in the place. It certainly cannot suffer more than it has over the
past year from lack of attention.”

“Oh, thank you, Lord Atwood. This is the most
wonderful opportunity.”

Perhaps this may work to his advantage,
provided the girls were quiet. He stood, glad to have the
interviews concluded. “Now, if you will please excuse me. Mrs.
Zobard and Wesley will see to your comfort and that of the girls.
It is time I retired once again.”

“It is barely one in the afternoon, Lord
Atwood,” Miss Morris pointed out.

He raised an eyebrow. How dare she question
him?

“Lord Atwood sleeps all day and does his work
in the evening. Thus, the reason for the girls to remain down here
during the day.”

An “oh” formed on the younger ladies mouths,
but thankfully they said no more.

* * *

Tess toured the guest rooms with Mrs. Zobard
while the other teachers returned to the school to gather
belongings and pack clothing. With a list in hand she began to
assign the rooms.

On the main floor there were a total for
twelve rooms, but only eleven could be used. At least the beds were
large enough that there could be two or three girls to a room.

“The teachers can double, as can the
students.” Tess stood in the middle of the hall trying to determine
what she should do. “However, we can only sleep twenty-six or
twenty-seven on this floor. ”

“How many more are there?”

“Between the remaining students and teachers,
fifteen.”

“Oh dear.” The housekeeper’s eyebrows shot
up. “I had no idea there were so many girls.” She pursed her lips
and turned a circle in the hall. “I have an idea.”