Chapter Seventeen
V erda sat before the hearth in her chamber and ran her fingers through her newly cleaned hair. Her feet were encased in warm, woolen stockings and she wore her heaviest brown frock. As tempted as she was to crawl into bed, she had yet to meet Miss Bash, Julius’s new nursemaid.
It was not her place to approve of the woman, she reminded herself, but Julius was an infant.
Also true, Noah would pitch a scandalous fit if he found the woman lacking, but Verda wished to confirm the woman’s capability herself and as exhausted as she was, she would never rest well not knowing.
She had Lizzie braid her hair and loop the ends properly off her nape in the event she happened into, say, er, Mr. Oshea.
Outside her cozy chamber, the castle could have been encased in ice. Her toes too, but for her thick stockings. Her sensible shoes echoed on the uncarpeted floors and the wooden steps up to the schoolroom level.
Julius’s cries reached her before her feet hit the third floor. She took off in a run.
“What’s wrong?” she demanded on a breathless rush of air.
Noah stood in front of a young woman whose dark hair was pulled tight at her nape. She couldn’t have been fourteen—younger than Verda had expected—holding Julius. And with a full bosom that nearly spilled from her not-so-serviceable gown.
Noah had his hands planted on his hips and was leaning forward in an aggressive stance. “She doesn’t know how to hold him.”
Miss Bash looked as if she were about to cry.
Verda took in the situation. “Master Noah, I implore you to take a deep breath.”
He didn’t.
She went to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “In the event you’ve forgotten, you had to show me how to hold Master Julius as well.”
“But—”
“No,” she said, sternly cutting him off. “You must afford Miss Bash the opportunities you allowed me. I insist. Now, breathe, please.”
He sucked in a deep breath and let it out, though not as slow and steady as she would have preferred.
“Thank you. I would like a moment with Miss Bash. Wait for me in your chamber. In fact, I believe a Lady Docia Hale is around somewhere. You may visit with her.”
“Docia!” He stomped to the door. “I’ll wait in my chamber for you. Alone.”
She let out a sigh. “Fine. Then I shall speak with you shortly. Close the door on your way out.”
With a scowl on his face, Noah did as she’d bidden.
Verda turned to Miss Bash. “Would you like me to hold Master Julius for a minute?”
“Thank you, miss,” she said, handing him over. “I-I was unprepared for his brother’s attack.”
“Yes, he’s quite protective.” Verda gave her a small smile. “Their mother died in childbirth as I understand it.”
Her expression softened. “I’d heard, of course.” She looked toward the door. Her eyes flickered. “I don’t believe any of that nonsense that the castle’s haunted. No matter what the people in the village say.”
Her words momentarily distracted Verda. “The townspeople believe—never mind.” She laid Julius over her shoulder and patted his back, which instantly soothed him. “I’m relieved you are so sensible. The place is daunting, but I’ve yet to run into ghosts.” She studied the girl. “Is this your first position as a nursemaid, Miss Bash, Maura… Do you mind if I call you ‘Maura’?”
She shook her head, “Maura is quite all right, miss.” Her teeth grabbed her bottom lip. “If you don’t count my five younger siblings—”
Verda stopped her. “Um, how old are you, dear?”
“Twenty-two,” she said to Verda’s shock. Maura let out a sigh. “Mama didn’t want me to leave, but Papa…” Her voice trailed off.
“Your papa?”
“I shouldn’t say, but, well, we need the blunt, and he quite insisted.”
Verda suspected her ‘papa’ resembled her own in many ways when it came to funds, and of course, did not do much in the way of assisting with the younger children. Disgust rippled over her. Men. But then an image of Julius in Mr. Oshea’s capable hold materialized in her head.
Maura strolled to a small table and picked up Julius’s cylinder. “Master Noah thrust this at me and said Master Julius needed to eat. As you can see, he hasn’t.” She stared at the bottle. “There is no wet nurse, is there?”
Verda winced. “No, the wet nurse was a sot. Master Noah couldn’t wake her for a night feeding and Mr. Oshea dismissed her. She was dispatched the next morning. You don’t imbibe, do you?” The horrified look on the nursemaid’s face reassured Verda. “Never mind. I was jesting.”
Julius let out a hiccup that Verda realized could quickly escalate into a full-blown fit.
“Why don’t you try feeding him?” she suggested. “I’ll wait here with you.”
“A-All right,” Maura said softly, hesitantly.
“We’ll try a non-moving chair to start with before the rocker. It will feel more stable,” Verda instructed. Maura sat down and Verda placed Julius in her arms. “Master Noah must have laughed his fool head off when he showed me how to hold him. I have no experience with children, you see.”
“You’ve never married?” She sounded so horrified, Verda laughed.
“No. Much to my own papa’s consternation. Nor, have I ever before been a governess. I much prefer my independence. Settle him in your arms. Then I’ll hand you the cylinder. He’s really quite sweet.”
After a moment, Verda handed her the cylinder and watched as Maura concentrated on working the nipple of the cylinder in Julius’s mouth. “He is, isn’t he?” It finally took and Maura smoothed a hand over his fuzzy head, a tiny smile curving her lips.
Verda watched Julius gobble down the watery goat’s milk so she could report the progress to Master Noah. “If you don’t mind a bit of advice…”
Maura glanced up. “Of course, ma’am.”
“I would recommend allowing Master Noah to assist you. The child knows his brother. And he truly is a great help.”
“I will. Thank you,” Maura said on a rush.
“Now, I best move along to placate, er, reassure him.” Verda left the hungry Julius into the sweet care of Maura Bash and walked the two doors down to Noah’s chamber.
He was pacing like a feral cat until he spotted her in the arch.
“You didn’t bring him?” Goodness, another two seconds and he would have been fit for Bedlam. Something to which she could easily relate.
“He’s fine, Master Noah.”
“He cried the second I handed him over.”
“And once you left the room, he calmed down.”
The familiar mulishness firmed his lips.
Verda moved into the room and took a small, wooden chair. He stormed by her, but she caught his hand, stopping him. “Darling, it’s very difficult to share something or someone so precious, but you want the best care for your brother, don’t you? If something were to happen to you, heaven forbid, who would be there to look after him?”
He was quiet for a long time before his shoulders dropped and a suspicious sheen glistened his eyes. “Nothing will happen to me.”
“Likely not. But there are no guarantees. And you will be leaving for school in a few years.” She paused. “Remember how frightened I was to hold him?”
He gave her a reluctant nod.
“But the second you dropped him in my lap, I learned that he would not break. I implore you to think beyond yourself and think of Master Julius. I believe Miss Bash will make a wonderful nursemaid for your brother, given half a chance.”
The stubbornness remained, but after an interminable time, his little chest caved in. “I suppose she is not so far from the ancient days.”
Verda let out a shocked cough. “Er, no, I suppose not. She is younger than I.”
“You’re not old,” he said magnanimously.
“Am I not?” she asked with mock worry.
“No.” With every word, he came more into himself. “Papa and Uncle Sander are much older than you. I suppose I can give Miss Bash a chance.” His fists landed at his hips again. “But she’d better not drop him.”
“I don’t think you have to worry,” she assured him. “Now, about Miss— Lady Docia…”