Chapter Two
Darius clasped his hands together on his desk as he contemplated his response to the nursemaid.
He truly did not wish to dismiss her, but he also couldn’t have her coming to him to counter his wife’s orders.
On the other hand, his wife’s plan did seem to be beyond the norm.
“And have you brought your concerns to the marchioness?”
Anna nodded. “I have, sir, but she insists that she knows far more about reading, writing, and history than any governess and that under no such circumstances will she hire one. But there is more, sir.”
He closed his eyes briefly. Of course there was.
He opened his eyes and glanced at the small clock on his desk.
It had been barely fifty-eight hours since he’d brought his bride home and a mere four hours since his parents departed, and already his housekeeper, butler, a maid, and the nursemaid had come to him with concerns about the new Lady Ferncroft.
How could his life have seemed so normal just the day before last and now be something he didn’t recognize? “Do continue.”
The nursemaid clasped her hands together. “Peter doesn’t like the new marchioness. He’s been refusing to do anything she says and insists that if she does not leave, he will starve himself!”
That his son would even think to refuse eating had concern rising hard in Darius’s chest. Peter had been born too soon and was too small for his age as it was. The last thing Darius needed was for his son to starve himself.
“Would you like me to fetch my lady?”
There was something in the nursemaid’s tone of voice that had him thinking again upon his response. It was as if she’d expected to be the final straw against his wife. Was his staff more opposed to Lady Ferncroft than his children?
His housekeeper, in her complaints, had mentioned the lady’s red hair as if that made her have a temper.
The maid mentioned that a teacup had been overturned as if on purpose, and the butler had been unhappy when Lady Ferncroft refused to take a footman with her into the garden.
And now it was his wife’s refusal to hire a governess.
It was time he investigated the truth of the matter.
He returned his gaze to the nursemaid. “No need. Go to the kitchen and tell Cook to sit you down with a cup of tea and prepare some Shrewsbury cakes.” He rose from his chair. “I will search out my wife.”
The nursemaid rose as well. “She’s in the nursery with Peter and Maggie.”
He had surmised as much, since the nursemaid was with him. “Thank you. Now go see Mrs. Clark.”
“Yes, my lord.” The nursemaid rose, gave a brief nod, then exited his study.
He pulled down his waistcoat. His new wife, despite her hair, had seemed very calm, even appearing quite pleased when he’d informed her the night before that they could postpone their wedding night until they knew each other better.
In fact, she seemed relieved, which he had expected.
He did still need another son, but he hoped to engender his wife’s loyalty and empathy.
Though she was unaware of his black moods—a situation he wished to keep—her connection with his children was essential to their lives.
His bouts of strong melancholia brought about not only unreasonable anger but harsh words that if inflicted on others could completely change the future of any relationship, which was why he sequestered himself for days on end.
He could not control his actions at such times, so to keep everyone safe and his authority and image intact, it was necessary to remove his presence from others.
Having a wife his children could depend upon during his absences was of the utmost importance to him.
It was also quite possible that one day he would follow in his uncle’s footsteps, and if that unfortunate event were to happen, it was imperative that his wife be able to provide love and comfort to Peter and Maggie.
He would sacrifice everything to ensure they were well cared for and protected.
He started out of his study and headed upstairs toward the nursery.
His mother had taken an instant liking to his new wife, and even his father, the duke, approved.
All seemed to be progressing according to his well-thought-out parameters.
He could see no reason for the upheaval his staff seemed to be experiencing.
At the top of the stairs, he paused. Childish laughter came from the left where the nursery was situated. Magpie. His chest filled with warmth to hear his daughter’s laughter again. That sound alone had him anxious to discover the reason.
He strode down the corridor past his wife’s suite of rooms, past her private parlor to the final room before the building took a right toward the guest rooms.
A squeal of laughter penetrated the door as he approached, followed by a lovely, full-bodied laugh that could have only come from his new wife. Not wishing to make too much of a disturbance, he quietly opened the door.
The scene he walked in upon had him halting.
Lady Ferncroft had a napkin draped over her head and what appeared to be hot cocoa above her lip like a mustache as she sat at the table facing his daughter, who had a blanket wrapped about her like a cloak.
Both had smiles on their faces, but his son, who sat next to Maggie, had rolled his lips in as if trying not to grin, his arms crossed over his chest. A bowl of melted ice cream sat nearby, while the bowls before his daughter and his new wife were empty.
Ice cream was one of his son’s favorite sweets, so for him not to be eating any was serious indeed.
It was the last that had Darius’s contentment evaporating. “What goes on here?”
“Father!” Maggie jumped off her chair and ran over to him, then gave a curtsey like a lady. “You must join us, sir. We are learning about the flowers that bloom at night. Did you know there are flowers that bloom in the dark?” Her pretty blue eyes rounded.
“I did.” He strode forward.
“Darius, you must join us. We are having hot cocoa with ice cream, though I fear you are too late for the latter. Learning is more palatable with a sweet, don’t you agree?” Lady Ferncroft smiled up at him as if her idea was the most logical of ideas, her chocolate mustache now gone.
Her use of his name caught him off guard. Only his mother called him that. However, it did remind him of his agreement. “Eleanor, why do you wear a napkin on your head? Why is my daughter traipsing about in a quilt? And why is my son not allowed to eat?”
His wife’s smile disappeared and her brow furrowed. “Is it not obvious? I am the Sheriff of Nottingham and Maggie is Maid Marian. We invited Peter to be Robin Hood, but he refused. I assume he didn’t wish to eat the caramel ice cream because he wanted to give it to the poor.”
It was his turn to be puzzled. “And what does Robin Hood have to do with night-blooming flowers?”
Maggie sat down next to his wife. “Father, isn’t it obvious? We are learning about Nottingham catchfly flowers. Did you know they bloom for three nights? Could we have some planted in the garden?”
“I don’t want any flowers.” Peter scowled. “I don’t want anything.”
Lady Ferncroft took the napkin from her head. “Surely you want something.”
“I want you to go away.”
If he hadn’t been watching his wife, Darius would have missed her tiny flinch at his son’s words. Not happy with such rudeness, he opened his mouth to reprimand him, but she spoke first.
“Is that all you wish for? Then, Peter, I will be happy to leave.” She rose. “After all, I have many duties to ensure the house is run efficiently, and having fun with you and Maggie truly is not on my list. I’m so glad you let me know. I will happily remove myself so you may enjoy your day.”
“Please don’t go.” Maggie grabbed her hand. “You didn’t finish teaching us about the flowers.”
Crouching down, the lady of the house put herself on an equal level with Maggie.
“Perhaps that lesson is best saved for spring. I promise to talk to the gardener about having the various night-blooming flowers planted so that in the spring we can venture forth at night and see them bloom. Would you like that?”
“Yes. I would. Will you come back tomorrow and teach us something different then?”
Lady Ferncroft looked over at Peter. “Would you like me to come back tomorrow?”
“No.”
The lady sighed as she rose. “I’m in a quandary now. You wish me to return, and Peter wishes that I don’t. Perhaps you two could discuss it and let me know?”
“We can do that.” Maggie gave her brother a serious look.
“Now, I best get back to my duties. Darius, did you wish to have cocoa? There’s plenty here.”
He did indeed, as he wished to talk to his children, but he also wished to talk to his wife. “As much as I would like to partake, I also have duties to attend to. But I promise to attend another ice cream and cocoa lesson in the future.”
He didn’t miss the pout on his son’s face, nor the disappointment in his daughter’s eyes.
He steeled himself against it. It was his responsibility to be sure his new wife and his staff were in accord before he could enjoy any time with his children.
It was critical that everything fell into place before he needed to leave again.
He held his arm out for his wife. “I would be happy to escort you.”
“Thank you, Darius.” She strode toward him. She did not glide or stroll. It was another characteristic he had noticed about her. Wrapping her arm around his, she looked at him expectantly. “Shall we?”
He led her from the room and back downstairs directly into his study. He released her and closed the doors behind them. “May we talk?”