Chapter 10 #2
The soft words brought a smile to Cy’s face. “I’m hardly a boy anymore, Father.”
The edges of his frail mouth rose slightly. “Ah yes. All that fuzz about your face. But you will always be my boy.” With his next breath, a cough wracked through his body, and Cy leaned forward, holding the man’s arm, helpless until it quieted.
The cough the doctor had promised had arrived.
After he’d settled, he looked at Cy once more. “Your sister had some interesting news.”
“What? She told you?” Blast. He’d wanted to be the one to explain things. “I wish she would’ve allowed me to tell you. She doesn’t know half the story, nor the reasons behind it. I’m meeting with the family in a few minutes, but I wanted to discuss it with you first.”
Father studied him and adjusted his head on the pillow. “Ruby told me that she wants to teach harp lessons at a college the Whittemores are opening. I thought it a splendid idea.” He frowned. “What news do you have for me?”
Cyril drew back. “Oh.” He felt a flush to his face. “Good. Yes, splendid.”
Father waited, suppressing another bout of coughing.
“Forgive me,” Cy said. “Everything has happened so fast, and I … I hope I’m doing the right thing. For the family. For Mother. For Oakleigh.”
Father lifted his hand and rested it on Cy’s. “Those are the very best reasons to do anything. Tell me what’s happened.”
A short while later, Cy entered the family parlor.
Ruby played the harp. Mother sat nearest her, her eyes closed as she listened.
George, Henry, and Patrick played a family-favorite board game called The Prince’s Quest. Oscar, clearly deep in thought, stood tapping his fingers on the fireplace mantel, which had no fire because of the mortar repair work outside.
Still, it had been a warm spring, and the room was comfortable enough.
While it was generally a cheery space, a pall hung over it, likely from the sense of not knowing what the coming days or weeks would bring to his family.
Cy cleared his throat.
Ruby paused in her playing, Mother’s eyes opened, and his brothers all straightened and turned to face him.
Mother had sent a telegram to his brother Simon, who had replied to say he’d meet her in London and stay there for the duration.
It had been a relief to know one of his brothers would be with her.
Cy was struck by how dear each and every one of these faces were to him.
“Thank you for gathering here before Mother and Father leave for London. I’ve asked for your time today to perhaps ease some of your concerns and to inform you of the plans Father and I have agreed upon while he is away.
” He looked about the room and crossed to the settee before the fireplace.
“Ruby? Mother?” He motioned for them to take a seat.
“Boys, come around.” He stood next to Oscar as the others moved forward.
He had no desire to address them from across the room.
“I am worried.” He lifted a shoulder and chuffed a laugh at himself. “There. I said it. I’m worried, and now you know I’m not a high and mighty pillar of strength and fortitude you can’t approach with your concerns.”
“I’ve never thought that,” George said.
“Thank you, George.” The others snickered. Trust his family to find laughter in a dark time. “I want you to know you can come to me. We should turn to one another. That is what Father has stressed as his utmost desire. Now and for always.”
Mother took Ruby’s hands in her own, her eyes glued to Cy.
“Having said that, there will be some changes, albeit temporary, here at home.” He took a deep breath and let it go. “I’ve accepted a position as headmaster of the new Locke Hill College for Exceptional Young Women.”
Mother and Oscar gasped. Mouths gaped.
He pushed forward. “The position is tentative, based on my performance over a summer term. I took it, knowing we would need the boost of income for the expenses from Father’s treatment.
As it stands, we should be in no danger, but I ask you all to be judicious in your needs and spending.
It is a good practice even when we are not facing such a challenge as this. ”
Oscar pushed away from the mantel and folded his arms, his expression unreadable. “How will that look to others?” he asked.
“I hope it will look honorable. Yes, there will be speculation. But I encourage you, when questions arise, to mention the family connection to established avenues of education in this county and that my passion has led me to embrace the tradition of my forefathers.”
Oscar’s mouth tightened.
“It is not a lie, Oscar. Perhaps circumstances have pushed me to move in this direction, but my desire, aptitude, and proclivity have opened this particular door.”
The corner of Oscar’s mouth lifted. “Well, now you’re just showing off, Mr. Proclivity.”
Cy clapped his lexicon-deficient brother on the shoulder and turned to the others.
“Mother has told you of Pimms Mill. As it turns out”—he eyed Ruby, who had the nerve to look innocent—“the college is just north of Pimms, along the Tillingbourne River, so I shall be moving into the cottage and determining needed improvements there while working at the college. Of course, I shall visit Oakleigh as often as I can. Having said that, my exit leaves room for some rearranging here.” He turned to his youngest brothers.
“Henry, you are hereby released from your time in the nursery and can move back into your room today.”
Henry’s eyes widened and he looked at Patrick with a smirk.
“You will, however, assist Mr. Cochran in the stables daily for the next week.”
The boy’s shoulders slumped. Henry did not care for cleaning up after any animal, but most especially large ones.
“Patrick,” he said.
Patrick lifted his head. “You shall pack your things and take up residence in my room. I’m having it readied as we speak.” He noted the slow dawning of understanding on his brother’s face.
“Truly?”
A grin pulled at Cy’s mouth. “Yes, truly. Take good care of it.”
Patrick beamed. “I will.” George leaned forward and mussed Patrick’s hair. Patrick shoved his arm away, his smile still prevalent.
Nearly done. Cy squared his shoulders and turned again to Oscar. His brother lifted his dark brows.
“Oscar, it is Father’s wish that you undertake the learning of estate management under the tutelage of Mr. Thorpe.”
Oscar drew his head back in surprise. “But I’ll not have Oakleigh. That is yours.”
“Do you intend to marry?”
Oscars face flushed. “Yes.”
“And you wish to have a home? A family?”
“Well, yes.”
“And do you not already have Eventide?”
Oscar blinked. As suspected, Oscar had not seemed to consider his inheritance as his fast-approaching future residence, at least not for a bride and forthcoming children.
“But Eventide is not an estate,” he argued.
“It is a sprawling home on thirty acres of lush farmland and seaside. Are you confident in your ability to manage it yourself?”
Oscar’s sputtering answered the question. No doubt he’d intended to leave all of that to a steward. Father believed a man should know the running of his home, steward or no.
“You will begin meeting with Mr. Thorpe tomorrow morning. You will be my eyes and ears for Oakleigh while I’m away and run all decisions to be made by me first. Improvements already begun here will continue to completion, as they are contracted and I will not deprive the men doing their jobs their wages.
I’ll not be far, but I will be busy. Will you do this? ”
Oscar set his jaw. “Yes. Of course.” He gave a sharp nod, as if to put an exclamation point to it.
“Excellent. George?”
George leaped to standing and saluted. “Yes, sir.”
It was Cy’s turn to smirk. “You shall be joining Oscar and Mr. Thorpe.”
Next to him, Oscar hmphed, while George let out a pathetic whimper.
Cy turned to Ruby. She smiled at him, eyes shining. “Ruby, Father tells me you are to take a position teaching harp at the college. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She glanced a smile at Mother. “It doesn’t start for a few weeks yet, so I’ll be remaining at home. Someone has to keep an eye on Henry. And George, of course.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” George snarked.
“Which brings me to my next item,” Cy said, ignoring George’s outburst and Ruby’s giggle.
“Aunt Margaret will arrive in two days. It is her desire to help. Please, do not leave her care solely in Ruby’s hands.
And do not leave Ruby at her mercy when she learns that her great-niece of such esteemed favor is teaching harp lessons at a college for girls. ”
“That will be easy enough,” Oscar said. “All we’ll have to do is tell her that her great-nephew of such esteemed favor has become headmaster at said college for girls.”
At their joined laughter, Cy felt his heart gladden and his shoulders lift. They could do this. God willing, they could weather this storm.
He met Mother’s gaze. She smiled, wiping at tears. Thank you, she mouthed and blew him a kiss.
He bowed to her. It was the very least he could do.