Chapter 13 #2
“Not really. Everything is still standing, in good working order, and the staff at each estate is looking after everything as needed.” David grimaced. “I’m not looking forward to travelling up to the Lake District soon, though. That’s going to be a very long time on the road.”
“But you need to go yourself, don’t you?”
“I do. However, I’m sure I can leave that for a little while.
” David looked towards the curtained window, remembering the clear night with the moon shining bright above him.
“Maybe I’ll do it next month when the weather’s still nice.
I can recover from the travelling I’ve just done, and maybe I can take Henrietta and Gwen with me.
The Lake District is perfect for everyone, and it should be enough for the two of them to wear themselves out. ”
Caroline smiled.
“That sounds like a good idea. They’re going to enjoy spending that much time with you.”
“You’re going to be coming with them as well,” David reminded her. “Just because they’re going on holiday doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do any schoolwork. I want them to keep going regardless.”
He thought she would laugh and make a jesting remark about his sisters not being happy about it, but Caroline’s eyes were wide and round, her mouth falling open. It was almost so comical that David had to stop himself from laughing.
“You … you want me to come with you?”
“Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I’ve never gone to the Lake District,” Caroline murmured. “I never thought I’d get the opportunity to go anywhere outside the county.”
“Well, you’re going to get an opportunity now. I promise you that it’s a beautiful part of the country.”
Caroline still looked a little dazed. David was tempted to wave a hand in front of her face to see if she was still with him. It was actually cute, much to his surprise. He never thought anything like that would be adorable.
“I’m glad you’re doing well with Gwen and Henrietta.” David took another gulp of whisky, the ice cube bumping against his top lip. “I love them, but they are headstrong.”
“You just need to know how to tame them. They’re lovely girls.”
“I’m glad to hear it. It sounds like you’ve fitted in well.”
Caroline spread her hands.
“It wasn’t as difficult as I thought. You just need to know what’s needed and how to use what they like to your advantage.
I knew they wanted to have some fun, so I dangled that in front of them so they would finish their schoolwork.
More time doing what they wanted made them do their schoolwork quicker.
You’ll see the change in their work when you look at it. They’re really focusing.”
“I wasn’t able to get them to focus like that. Is Henrietta practising the piano as well?”
“Her tutor comes in twice a week. He’s impressed with her abilities and has given her harder pieces to work on. Henrietta is really working hard on that.”
Now David was surprised at that. He thought Henrietta was marvellous on the piano, but she tended to stay safe and not push herself for anything tougher than what she could do.
To hear that his sister was actually going with harder music was surprising and very pleasing.
David had a feeling something Caroline was doing was helping with Henrietta’s creativity.
He didn’t want to draw any conclusions until he had spoken to Henrietta, but Caroline’s presence was the only thing that had changed recently, apart from moving to a different house. That had to be it.
Caroline was actually a good influence on his sisters. That was something they needed in their lives right now.
Now all I need to do is find a woman I can marry who can do the same thing.
Why did that thought leave an uncomfortable taste in his mouth?
“David?” Caroline was looking at him oddly. “Are you alright? Now you’re looking odd.”
“Oh.” David shook himself. “I think sleep is catching up on me. I thought I would be conscious enough to have a drink and then go to bed.”
Caroline tilted her head to one side.
“Then perhaps you should retire? You’ll end up falling asleep where you are if you stay any longer.”
“I suppose so.” David finished his drink, shuddering as the ice pressed on his mouth and tickled his nose. “Maybe we should attempt to carry on this conversation in the morning. While we’re on the picnic.”
“On the picnic.” Caroline hesitated. “I haven’t ridden a horse in a while. I walk everywhere.”
“Well, you won’t have to worry about anything. We’ll have servants with us, and if you don’t want to ride, we can walk instead.”
“I’m sure Henrietta and Gwen will like that. They love walking, but they both start complaining after a while.”
David smiled. He wasn’t surprised. They had the energy to run around like mad things, but when it came to walking a long way, it was a different matter. Even Henrietta grumbled after a certain point.
“How about we go to the place in the woods we used to go to as children? The clearing next to the brook? There’s enough shade there, or we can sit in the sun, and the girls can paddle in the brook.”
Caroline’s eyes brightened.
“I haven’t been there in some years. That will be a good place to take them.”
“Good. I’ll let Hadleigh know the details in the morning.” David pushed himself to his feet. “I should retire before I fall on my face on the staircase.”
Caroline giggled.
“I remember that time when we were thirteen, and you snuck some of your father’s alcohol.”
David groaned.
“You still remember that?”
“Of course I do. Eleanor and I told you that you shouldn’t drink it, but you and Joseph were adamant to try.
” Caroline’s giggles turned into a full-belly laugh.
“You got into trouble because you were drunk when your father got home, and he sent you to your room. You couldn’t stay upright when you did that, so you were using your head to climb the stairs. ”
David remembered that and how he felt the day after.
It had been some years before he had been brave enough to try again, this time as a grown man instead of a boy with no tolerance for alcohol.
His father hadn’t been impressed at the time, but he and his mother did laugh about it later.
It was more amusing to them if David got embarrassed by it.
“At least everyone got a good chuckle out of it,” he grumbled.
“Well, you did do something daft.” Caroline got to her feet, still laughing. “I think you were as sick as a dog for about a week.”
“You can stop laughing now, Caroline.”
“Forgive me.”
Caroline put her hands over her mouth, but the giggles still came out. David shook his head and turned away before he started laughing himself.
“I’ll leave you to it. Just don’t wake Henrietta and Gwen up when you go back to bed.”
“I promise.” Caroline hiccupped and managed to stop. “I want to finish my book before I go to sleep.”
“Even though you’re going to be tired tomorrow? Didn’t you learn from when you were a child?”
Caroline picked up the candlestick she came in with.
“There are times when you know something is just right, and you won’t be able to let go. That’s what it’s like with me and my reading. I won’t be able ever to let go of that, and I’m willing to lose sleep over it.”
That sounded like the Caroline he knew and grew up with. She had changed in so many ways, but at the same time, she was still the same as before. David liked that.
“Well, if you fall asleep and start snoring again, that’s your own fault.”
“I do not snore!”
“Interesting you protested over that and not falling asleep during the day.”
“I know what I know will happen and what won’t. And I know I won’t be sleeping.” Caroline smiled before stepping past him. “If you’re retiring now, I’ll head upstairs myself. What time do you want us to leave for the picnic?”
“How about nine-thirty? That way, we can avoid most of the hottest part of the day.”
“I’ll let Nanny Drew and the children know in the morning.” Caroline gave him a small curtsy. “Goodnight, Your Grace.”
David almost forgot that she was supposed to address him informally, but he got distracted by watching her walk away.
Then he caught himself and turned away, waiting until her footsteps faded.
He shouldn’t be staring at her like she wasn’t a governess.
He wasn’t even looking at her as he would a friend.
Caroline had an uncanny ability to get under his skin and didn’t even need to try. David wasn’t sure how he would get that feeling to go away. Given that she was now working for him, it felt somehow inappropriate.
But it also felt like the most normal thing in the world, which left David feeling a little shaken.
Something was really wrong with him. Maybe taking Caroline and his sisters to the Lake District was a good idea; space between them was making something shift in the air, and that wasn’t a good idea.
And yet…