Chapter 9
When he came down to breakfast the following morning, he found Lady Violet still in the dining room.
It would be their first time eating together, Jonathan observed as he made his way in and sat down, and it was not something he had planned on.
He had gotten into the habit of coming to the table late in the morning and early in the evening, picking up on her pattern and ensuring that their paths did not cross.
But he must have made a mistake on his timing today, for there she was, sitting in front of a plate of eggs and sausages, with Noah sitting opposite her.and ensuring that their paths did not cross.
But he must have made a mistake on his timing today, for there she was, sitting in front of a plate of eggs and sausages, with Noah sitting opposite her.
She looked up in surprise as he came in and even jumped slightly, obviously startled by her presence. Well, that was fine; he was startled by hers, too. At least he wasn’t alone in that.
“May I sit?” he asked, indicating one of the empty chairs.
“I think you will, no matter what I say about it,” she said.
The words were outstandingly rude, but her tone was even and well-mannered enough, as though she didn’t actually take any exception to his presence.
He decided to operate on the belief that that was the true way of things, even though any fool knew that it wasn’t.
He sat down and nodded his thanks to the man who began to pour him out a cup of coffee.
Lady Violet adjusted herself in her seat and said nothing at all, and Jonathan wondered whether this would be a meal taken in complete silence.
That would be awkward, but even so, he was unwilling to turn away from what he had started now that he was here.
He picked up a piece of bread and started to butter it.
It was Noah who broke the silence. “You don’t usually have breakfast with us,” he said frankly.
“Noah,” Lady Violet said. “If you speak to the duke, you must call him Your Grace.”
“But why must I?” Noah asked. “Since we all live in the same house, can’t I just call him by his name?
That was what Madam Margaret said. She told me I didn’t need to call her anything fancy, that just her name would do fine, and in fact she would prefer it.
I was the one who started calling her Madam, even though she said I didn’t need to do that.
In the end, she decided it was sweet, but it was more like a nickname between us than anything I had to say. ”
“Well, it isn’t like that with the duke,” Lady Violet said. “You may call me by my first name—you and I can simply be Noah and Violet to one another. As a matter of fact, I agree with my aunt—I think I would like that.” She smiled at him. “But the duke will want to be shown proper respect.”
“Now, that’s not necessarily true,” Jonathan spoke up.
It was mostly out of amusement at the opportunity to thwart her that he did, and he was rewarded for his efforts with a small scowl, though no words were forthcoming.
“I think young Noah’s idea is a fine one,” he went on with a smile.
“We should all call one another by our first names. Noah, you may call me Jonathan.”
“I didn’t know that was your name,” Noah said frankly.
“I can’t think of any reason why you should have,” Jonathan said.
“But you know now.” He paused, and, seeing an opportunity to vex Lady Violet further, carried on.
“You know, I want to apologize to you for yesterday,” he said.
“After some personal reflection and private thought, I came to the conclusion that I was a bit cold with you when I spoke to you in the library.”
Lady Violet’s head jerked up in obvious frustration at the suggestion that it had been all his own idea to reflect on his words of yesterday.
But Noah was beaming in response, so what could she say?
She couldn’t intervene and tell the boy that wasn’t what had truly happened—not now that he and Jonathan were actually showing signs of getting along.
She would have to choose between seeing their relationship flourish and getting credit for her words, even if it meant sabotaging them.
Her choice was no great surprise to Jonathan, but he did notice with some satisfaction how tightly she gripped her fork as she returned to her breakfast. He had been successful in getting under her skin, and sure enough, there was the fiery woman he had gotten to meet yesterday.
This being the breakfast table, she kept herself composed, and that was equally enjoyable to watch.
It was like seeing a fire that stayed contained, not spreading or catching anything around it.
Hot and powerful, dangerous…but controlled.
“It’s all right,” Noah said slowly. “I didn’t really mind. You surprised me.”
“When I said that I would get you a governess?”
“Yes,” the boy conceded.
“Is it that you don’t want one?”
“No, it isn’t that,” he said. “I just wasn’t really expecting it. I still don’t know what to think. There have been…a lot of new people lately.” He looked down at his plate.
“Ah,” Jonathan said. “And you’re a bit worried about adding a new one to the mix? Is that right?”
Noah nodded.
“Well, I have good news for you,” Jonathan said.
“At least, I hope you will think this is good news.” He smiled at the boy.
“You must have a governess—you have no choice in that matter, I’m afraid.
But as for who it is, I happen to care a great deal about your opinion.
I want to find someone you like, someone you will feel at ease with.
Now, I’ve taken the liberty of hiring someone, and she’ll be here next week to meet you and begin teaching you.
We’ll have her work on reading, as well as any other gaps in your education.
These things are nothing to be ashamed of, you must understand, but a young man of London society must have certain abilities, and the ability to read is one of them.
It’s simply something you are going to have to learn. ”
Noah nodded. “I can do it,” he said.
“I have no doubt that you can. However, if the governess I’ve selected doesn’t meet with your approval, then I want you to tell me at once,” Jonathan said.
“What we really want to do is to find someone that you are happy to work with. If my first choice is not the right match, that’s all right.
You just let me know, and you and I will take it from there. ”
“You’ll really allow me to say no if I don’t like the person?” Noah asked.
“As long as you promise me that you will give her a fair try,” Jonathan said evenly.
“If you give her a chance and she isn’t right for you, then yes, I will dismiss her.
But if I can tell that you are not giving her a hand, and that you are just saying no in order to be stubborn, I won’t have much patience with that.
You’re not a little child. You’re old enough not to behave that way. Right?”
“Right,” Noah said firmly. “I won’t do that. I will give her a fair chance.”
“Good, then,” Jonathan said. “I’ll be going into town today to get the supplies you need.”
“What supplies do I need?”
“Books, mostly.”
“This house is full of books,” Violet spoke up at last.
“Yes,” Jonathan said. “But they aren’t the sort of primers a young man needs to learn to read.
He can tackle the more difficult books when he is ready, of course, but until that day comes, it will be best for him to start with something very easy.
I’ll find some good things that meet that description. ”
“Will the books be very dull?” Noah asked with a frown.
“Some books that are easy for beginning readers to read might be dull,” Jonathan said. “But dull books are rather awful, aren't they? You should have some that interest you, so I’ll look for some things that seem interesting.”
“Do you think you could find something about animals?” Noah asked eagerly.
“About animals?” Jonathan frowned. “I don’t see why not. There must be plenty of animal books. Are there any in particular that interest you?”
“Bears,” Noah said firmly. “Bears and crocodiles are the most interesting animals. I would learn to read very quickly if I was reading about them.”
“Big things with a lot of teeth.” Jonathan smiled. “That sounds just about right. I liked similar topics when I was your age, Noah. In fact, I still do. I might have to look through these new books myself. Maybe I’ll learn something.”
Noah giggled. “Maybe I’ll be willing to share them with you!”
Jonathan was amazed at how quickly he seemed to have made a good impression on Noah. Perhaps Lady Violet had had a point yesterday about his needing to be a little softer with the boy. He couldn’t deny that that was exactly the approach he’d taken here, and it had worked wonders.
He looked over at Lady Violet to see how she was responding to his success.
The answer was not very well. Her gaze was fixed down at her plate, and she was scowling as though something she intensely disapproved of was happening.
She can’t be too angry, though, he reasoned. After all, I’m doing exactly what she wanted me to do. She might not be happy with the way it’s being done—I can understand that—but she wanted me to form a good relationship with the boy, and now I have.
The rest of breakfast passed in relative silence, but Jonathan was happy to see the smile on Noah’s face persist. He had never seen that boy smile, he realized.
Every time he and Noah had crossed paths before now, he’d been met either with a look of discomfort or with an outright scowl of displeasure.
That was gone now. This was the way a young boy ought to look—carefree, at ease. Happy.
So Lady Violet was right about something else. I suppose I do have a responsibility to the child.
Unlike Noah, Lady Violet wasn’t smiling at all. She finished her breakfast quickly and got to her feet. “Noah,” she said in a low voice, “I’m going to be in the conservatory for the next few hours, practicing on the pianoforte.”
“I didn’t know you played,” Jonathan spoke up.
She ignored him utterly. “If you need anything,” she told Noah, “you know where to find me. Or, if you simply want to come and sit with me for a while, that would be fine as well—I would relish the company.”
“Are you angry?” Noah asked her with a frown.
She smiled. “Of course I’m not angry with you, Noah.”
But that, Jonathan couldn’t help observing, had not been the question Noah had asked.
She left the table without so much as looking in Jonathan’s direction, which was as good as an answer—she definitely was angry.
She just didn’t seem to want to say what had angered her—but it wasn’t that difficult to guess.
Jonathan was no fool. After all, he’d set out today with the intention of disturbing her peace.
Could he really be so surprised that he had been successful?
Then he was on his own with Noah.
He and the boy regarded one another for a moment, and the smile slowly disappeared from Noah’s face.
“You made her mad,” he said quietly.
That was perceptive—and unexpected. Jonathan sat back in his chair. “Did she tell you that?” he asked, taking a drink of his coffee.
“No,” Noah said, his tone surprisingly sharp. “She didn’t tell me. And she didn’t have to. Anyone could see it. And you might be a duke, but if you couldn’t tell she was angry with you, then you’re also a fool."