Read Online Steam & Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape - Free Book Online
Authors: Cindy Spencer Pape
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newly chaotic household. At the very least she’d gotten them to sit quietly for ten minutes—a miracle in itself.
Dorothy nodded decisively. “Then I suggest you all take yourselves back upstairs and try not to break anything for a few minutes. Your guardian and I need to talk to Miss Bristol privately.”
Merrick was amazed at how swiftly the children obeyed her, each one bidding Miss Bristol a polite good day as they left the room.
When the door closed behind them, Dorothy laughed. “Well, Merrick, I believe you owe me an apology for doubting my judgment.” She turned to Caroline. “He didn’t believe I knew someone who could calm them so quickly.”
Merrick shook his head. “I suppose I do. Miss Bristol, that was amazing. Whatever salary you normally require, consider it doubled if you’ll take pity on us and stay.” The one thing that might keep him sane with a beauty like this in the household was the reminder that Dorothy had mentioned Miss Bristol expressing her preference for teaching over marriage. Come to think of it, maybe she was like Dorothy and didn’t care for men at all. Though he had no evidence to support the idea, he clutched it like a lifeline. He’d never thought he’d be glad to assume that a desirable young woman preferred other females.
“I don’t think—” she began.
“Come, Caroline. You know you need employment rather urgently.” Dorothy’s tone was uncharacteristically cruel, but Merrick trusted his aunt’s instincts, so he didn’t say anything to soften her harsh words. Moments later, Dorothy did it herself. “And as you can see, these aren’t ordinary children. They need you, Caroline. Not just any governess, but one with your gift for understanding. They require that quite desperately.”
Miss Bristol sat silently with her hands folded in her lap as she thought. Finally, she gave a slight nod. “Very well. If you’d be so kind as to send a carriage, I can have my things packed and be back by tomorrow morning.”
Merrick heard a crash in the distance and winced. “We’ll send a servant to help you pack. You can be installed by suppertime.”
That entire day proved to be one Caroline would not soon forget. She gazed in amazement at the luxuriously appointed guestroom to which she was shown.
“Surely, this can’t be meant for me.” She turned back to Miss Hadrian who’d escorted her personally to her new quarters. “There must be some mistake.”
“You’ll see.” The older woman’s amusement was plain in the crinkling of her dark eyes. “This will be perfect. Tommy has the room next to you, and when his new tutor arrives next week, he’ll be placed on the other side. The nursery is directly across the hall.”
“Surely there’s a room in the nursery suite for the governess?”
“There is. But the girls have claimed it as their own—even though they were offered this one as an alternative. Besides, Caroline, I’m afraid your position in this household won’t be a normal one. Everything about this arrangement is topsy-turvy, so you might as well enjoy what you can about it. You’ve enough difficulties ahead, and Merrick and I want you to know how much we value your assistance. You’re to consider yourself a guest, whenever you’re not occupied with the children. It’s the least we can do.”
“Miss Hadrian, I’m still not certain this is the best of ideas—”
“Nonsense. You know you love a challenge, and you told me yourself that teaching is your true vocation. Can you imagine a greater achievement than civilizing that lot?” As she spoke, two of the children ran past the open door, yowling as they went.
“I suppose that’s true.” There was something appealing about the idea of being needed and actually valued by her employers. “Very well. What time do the children take supper? I assume they dine in the nursery?”
“We’ve been having them take one meal a day in the dining room with us—luncheon usually seems
Dorothy nodded decisively. “Then I suggest you all take yourselves back upstairs and try not to break anything for a few minutes. Your guardian and I need to talk to Miss Bristol privately.”
Merrick was amazed at how swiftly the children obeyed her, each one bidding Miss Bristol a polite good day as they left the room.
When the door closed behind them, Dorothy laughed. “Well, Merrick, I believe you owe me an apology for doubting my judgment.” She turned to Caroline. “He didn’t believe I knew someone who could calm them so quickly.”
Merrick shook his head. “I suppose I do. Miss Bristol, that was amazing. Whatever salary you normally require, consider it doubled if you’ll take pity on us and stay.” The one thing that might keep him sane with a beauty like this in the household was the reminder that Dorothy had mentioned Miss Bristol expressing her preference for teaching over marriage. Come to think of it, maybe she was like Dorothy and didn’t care for men at all. Though he had no evidence to support the idea, he clutched it like a lifeline. He’d never thought he’d be glad to assume that a desirable young woman preferred other females.
“I don’t think—” she began.
“Come, Caroline. You know you need employment rather urgently.” Dorothy’s tone was uncharacteristically cruel, but Merrick trusted his aunt’s instincts, so he didn’t say anything to soften her harsh words. Moments later, Dorothy did it herself. “And as you can see, these aren’t ordinary children. They need you, Caroline. Not just any governess, but one with your gift for understanding. They require that quite desperately.”
Miss Bristol sat silently with her hands folded in her lap as she thought. Finally, she gave a slight nod. “Very well. If you’d be so kind as to send a carriage, I can have my things packed and be back by tomorrow morning.”
Merrick heard a crash in the distance and winced. “We’ll send a servant to help you pack. You can be installed by suppertime.”
That entire day proved to be one Caroline would not soon forget. She gazed in amazement at the luxuriously appointed guestroom to which she was shown.
“Surely, this can’t be meant for me.” She turned back to Miss Hadrian who’d escorted her personally to her new quarters. “There must be some mistake.”
“You’ll see.” The older woman’s amusement was plain in the crinkling of her dark eyes. “This will be perfect. Tommy has the room next to you, and when his new tutor arrives next week, he’ll be placed on the other side. The nursery is directly across the hall.”
“Surely there’s a room in the nursery suite for the governess?”
“There is. But the girls have claimed it as their own—even though they were offered this one as an alternative. Besides, Caroline, I’m afraid your position in this household won’t be a normal one. Everything about this arrangement is topsy-turvy, so you might as well enjoy what you can about it. You’ve enough difficulties ahead, and Merrick and I want you to know how much we value your assistance. You’re to consider yourself a guest, whenever you’re not occupied with the children. It’s the least we can do.”
“Miss Hadrian, I’m still not certain this is the best of ideas—”
“Nonsense. You know you love a challenge, and you told me yourself that teaching is your true vocation. Can you imagine a greater achievement than civilizing that lot?” As she spoke, two of the children ran past the open door, yowling as they went.
“I suppose that’s true.” There was something appealing about the idea of being needed and actually valued by her employers. “Very well. What time do the children take supper? I assume they dine in the nursery?”
“We’ve been having them take one meal a day in the dining room with us—luncheon usually seems
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