Chapter Six
The Belinda School for Curious Ladies
Silver Meadows
At the knock on her door, Sophie turned in her dressing table chair to find Georgie walking in, her pretty pale-green day dress swishing at her brisk movement. “We must go to the activity room, posthaste.”
Sophie rose. “Is something amiss?”
“I don’t know. My maid ran in to say we must all descend immediately.” Georgie was already walking back to the door to exit.
“It may be that Lord and Lady Sommerset wish to let all the ladies know of the duke and duchess’s absence. Remember, we only learned of it on the carriage ride to school yesterday.”
Georgie halted as quickly as she’d started. “You’re right. I forgot no one else knows. Though I did tell Felicity last night when she came to my room to ask about the ball she’d had to miss at Ellie’s.”
Fortunately, the duchess’s absence wasn’t a secret. Georgie was terrible at keeping secrets. She wanted to be liked, so she helped however and wherever she could. Sophie gestured toward the door. “Did you tell Felicity all about the costumes and skating?”
Georgie’s eyes widened. “I fear I neglected those aspects.”
Sophie had no doubt that Georgie had spoken only of her dancing with Lord Ashfield. “It’s just as well, as we wouldn’t want her to feel she missed a grand time. Now, we’d better hurry. It would not be a good impression on Lord and Lady Sommerset to be tardy.”
Georgie threw open the door at that, and they walked arm in arm through the corridor of their wing to the grand stairs, where they could hear conversations as others converged upon the meeting place.
Once below, they joined the other ladies, making their way to what was originally the concert room and library, but which during renovations had been converted into one large room that the students used for indoor physical pursuits.
It was also where everyone met at the start and end of the term and for any special announcements that might be needed.
Once inside, Georgie saw Felicity and moved toward her.
Sophie took the opportunity to remain in the back, sitting in a chair against the wall where no one else was.
There were a number of chairs in rows in front of her, filled with women renewing acquaintances and meeting for the first time.
The noise in the room was a constant hum of voices, and the excitement of the new term filled both students and instructors alike.
From her spot, Sophie could easily see Mrs. Kingman, her mentor for literature.
She couldn’t wait to tell her about all the books she’d read over the recess.
Well, not all the books.
She felt her cheeks heat as the illustrations from the book Ellie had given her popped into her head.
She’d been hard-pressed to stop reading it, but forced herself to go to sleep before the sun rose, knowing she’d be traveling back to Silver Meadows.
Then last night she’d read even more, but still hadn’t finished it, as the tome was quite long.
She couldn’t imagine Ellie finishing it, but then again, she couldn’t imagine her enjoying the activities depicted.
As surprised as Sophie was at the new information she was learning about relations between married men and women, she admitted, only to herself, that she found it exciting.
Some of the books she’d purchased with her pin money made more sense now, and had her yearning for that which she was quite sure she would never have…
true love. Despite what her mother told her, she was convinced that being timid and quiet was not sought after among men of the peerage.
Based on Elsbeth, Dory, Lissa, and Ellie’s marriages, it was bold women like Rosalind that men preferred. If only she could be Rosalind in truth.
The ringing of the bell, by Harrison, the butler, had the crowd quieting. Lord and Lady Sommerset, who stood with the various instructors, took two steps forward.
Lady Sommerset waited until silence reigned. “I welcome you all to the Hilary Term at the Belinda School for Curious Ladies.”
Someone sliding into the seat next to Sophie had her turning.
Rose put her finger to her lips before facing forward.
Sophie groaned silently. Rose must have been setting up a prank to be late to the gathering. Not wanting to know what it might be, Sophie returned her attention to Lady Sommerset.
“…so Lord Sommerset and I will be running the school in the duke and duchess’s absence.
Many of you know me from my lectures and conversations with you about art movements and art history, but with the duchess absent, I will also be involved with the history focus, while Lord Sommerset will take over my mentor duties and the duchess’s mathematics students.
In addition, we have brought another instructor to run the philosophy conversations.
He’s been a mentor at Oxford for the last few years, so he is well versed in this role.
” Lady Sommerset looked over her shoulder. “Where are you?”
Lord Sommerset turned as well. “Lord Tamworth, please step forward.”
Sophie’s heart stuttered to a stop as the wind left her, and she stared in shock as Lord Tamworth stepped from behind the physical defense instructor to join his brother.
The Sommersets had said nothing about Lord Tamworth joining the school! If she’d known, she’d have skipped the Hilary Term completely. He couldn’t be here. He knew her and they’d kissed. And he’d held her. She felt her entire body heat at the memory of her body lying on top of his on the ice.
Panic filled her. She would write her mother and ask to come home. It was all she could do.
Rose leaned over and whispered, “It sounds like the first years are all atwitter over Lord Tamworth.”
She frowned at Rose, not understanding at first. But as she refocused her attention on the room, there did seem to be a light buzz, much like a bee hovering nearby.
“How disappointing for them all that he has no plans to marry until after he’s thirty.
” Rose grinned, obviously enjoying the conflict that would be brewing for Lord Tamworth and the students.
“I think Lady Sommerset just realized that any conversations led by the lord will need to be chaperoned. Look at her.”
Lady Sommerset did appear to understand the problem, as she leaned over and whispered something to her husband.
Sophie could picture Lord Tamworth being followed around by a gaggle of students. He was not only handsome but very approachable. “Rose, you should let our classmates know.”
Her friend shrugged, her smile still in place.
Sophie felt sympathy for the young ladies who were already excited about the new mentor.
Would Lord Tamworth discourage them? Based on what she’d observed at Ellie’s, he would.
In fact, she doubted that he’d even notice.
He seemed far more involved with his friends.
Then again, his friends weren’t at the school. It was a school for ladies.
Though she knew she should write her mother to send a coach for her, a part of her couldn’t resist observing how the lord would navigate his new circumstances.
Maybe she would wait and see. As a second-year student, she no longer needed to participate in philosophical discussions, so there was no reason to think she need converse with the man at all… if she were careful.
She returned her gaze to the Sommersets to see that Lord Tamworth had blended back into the crowd of mentors, but now that she knew he was there, she spotted him in the back.
He was easy to pick out, since he was broader than any other instructor.
How she’d missed him when entering the room was beyond her.
His very presence commanded attention. It had to be that she simply didn’t expect him in her safe place, what she considered the school. Did that mean she was no longer safe?
His gaze scanned the rows of seats. Was he determining who he knew already? Or was he looking for someone? She sincerely hoped he didn’t search for her.
“I do think I need to determine the appropriate welcome for our new instructor. What have you observed about him so far?”
At Rose’s whispered question, she frowned. “You know him far better than I.”
“I know, but you always have such wonderful insights. All I know is what my brother tells me and from the times he was at Sunnydale Manor. Felton says Lord Tamworth is a pleasant man who smiles too much and isn’t nearly serious enough.
Of course, this is from my brother, who rarely smiled before Lady Dory came into his life.
I know that Lord Sommerset was worried about his brother following in their father’s footsteps, but I have no idea what that means or what his father did that would be a worry.
There is rumor that Lord Sommerset married his wife to shore up his low finances rather than sell his art collection, so maybe the father gambled?
From what I heard at Ellie’s, Lord Tamworth won a significant amount of money from my brother, which I admire, as that is no easy feat, and he won a townhouse in London from Lord Durham. ”
Sophie gasped quietly at such a wager. “Are you sure that’s true?”
“I heard it from my brother himself.” Rose gave an emphatic nod, making it clear the information could not be doubted.
For some reason, the thought of Lord Tamworth betting such significant wealth disappointed her. Though it was obvious he enjoyed himself, she did not have the impression that he was frivolous, and he appeared to be a kind man.
“Tell me, Sophie. What have you observed?”
She chose her words carefully. “He appears to be well liked by both men and women. He also seems nice, and I did speak with him briefly at the ball, so I know he’s familiar with Shakespeare.”
Rose chuckled then quickly covered her mouth with her hand as two ladies seated in the row of chairs in front of them turned to frown. She leaned in closer. “Only you would remark on what a man has read. But actually…”
At the look in Rose’s pretty blue eyes, Sophie stiffened. “What are you thinking?”