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Authors: Deborah Hale
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golden opportunity to further her plans. She fancied she could feel the warm hand of Providence resting on her shoulder, approving her efforts and helping to move them forward.
“The girls are quite well, thank you, Captain,” she assured him, encouraged by his sudden concern for their welfare.
When he’d first entered the library to find her there, Marian had feared her presumption might cost her beloved pupils dearly. All she’d wanted was to apologize and make her escape as quickly as possible so the captain might forget she’d ever been there. To her surprise he seemed anxious for her to stay and not at all offended that she had made use of the library without his permission. Such generosity only made her moreashamed for sneaking around and assuming he would refuse her if she had asked.
“As for Dolly,” Marian continued, “she has not uttered a single word of complaint about church, though she has asked a great many questions about ships and the sea. I believe you sparked her interest in those subjects. I hope to make use of that enthusiasm to engage her more fully in her studies.”
The captain’s brow furrowed. “And how do you propose to do that, pray?”
Did he truly want to know? It sounded as if he did.
“Today, for instance,” she explained, “I had Dolly read a little verse about the sea, then choose a particular line to copy to practice her penmanship. Later we examined the atlas, and I pointed out some of the waters in which you might have sailed.”
“I believe I understand your method.” Was it a trick of the candlelight, or did a twinkle appear in the captain’s gray eyes? “For sketching you would have her draw a ship. In music you would have her play or sing a sea shanty…one of the less bawdy variety, I hope.”
His unexpected jest surprised a gush of laughter out of Marian and brought an answering quip to her lips. “Is there such a thing?”
The instant the words were out, she clapped her hand over her mouth, but it was too late. How could she have said such a thing, least of all to a man of the sea? Her years at school and later serving as a humble governess had trained Marian to guard against giving offense. Yet something in the captain’s manner seemed to invite her to speak her mind.
His rumbling chuckle assured her he did not resenther thoughtless jest. “I have never heard one. Still, I approve of your manner of teaching. I wish my old tutor had used something like it.”
The captain’s sincere interest in her profession gratified Marian. “Thank you, sir. Far too many people regard the education of girls as nothing more than furnishing them with a few superficial accomplishments necessary to snare a suitable husband.”
That was one positive thing she could say about the Pendergast School. Its pupils had received a rigorous education, training them to make their own way in the world. It had been continually impressed upon them that their lack of fortune made it highly doubtful they could ever hope to marry.
“What about you, Miss Murray?” The captain set his candle on a low table beside one of the chairs upholstered with dark leather. “How do you view the education of girls—my young cousins in particular?”
No one had ever bothered to ask her any such thing, especially in a way that suggested respect for her opinion. For that reason, the captain’s question flustered her, though in a strangely pleasant way.
“I—I suppose it means cultivating the development of my pupils in all areas—not only their intellect, but artistic sense and character—to the best of which they are capable. No doubt that sounds like a lofty ambition for a simple country governess.”
The captain shook his head. “It sounds like a fine aim to me, Miss Murray. My young cousins are fortunate indeed to be taught and cared for by someone so devoted to them. Your task cannot have been easy considering the losses they’ve suffered.”
Marian raised a silent prayer of
“The girls are quite well, thank you, Captain,” she assured him, encouraged by his sudden concern for their welfare.
When he’d first entered the library to find her there, Marian had feared her presumption might cost her beloved pupils dearly. All she’d wanted was to apologize and make her escape as quickly as possible so the captain might forget she’d ever been there. To her surprise he seemed anxious for her to stay and not at all offended that she had made use of the library without his permission. Such generosity only made her moreashamed for sneaking around and assuming he would refuse her if she had asked.
“As for Dolly,” Marian continued, “she has not uttered a single word of complaint about church, though she has asked a great many questions about ships and the sea. I believe you sparked her interest in those subjects. I hope to make use of that enthusiasm to engage her more fully in her studies.”
The captain’s brow furrowed. “And how do you propose to do that, pray?”
Did he truly want to know? It sounded as if he did.
“Today, for instance,” she explained, “I had Dolly read a little verse about the sea, then choose a particular line to copy to practice her penmanship. Later we examined the atlas, and I pointed out some of the waters in which you might have sailed.”
“I believe I understand your method.” Was it a trick of the candlelight, or did a twinkle appear in the captain’s gray eyes? “For sketching you would have her draw a ship. In music you would have her play or sing a sea shanty…one of the less bawdy variety, I hope.”
His unexpected jest surprised a gush of laughter out of Marian and brought an answering quip to her lips. “Is there such a thing?”
The instant the words were out, she clapped her hand over her mouth, but it was too late. How could she have said such a thing, least of all to a man of the sea? Her years at school and later serving as a humble governess had trained Marian to guard against giving offense. Yet something in the captain’s manner seemed to invite her to speak her mind.
His rumbling chuckle assured her he did not resenther thoughtless jest. “I have never heard one. Still, I approve of your manner of teaching. I wish my old tutor had used something like it.”
The captain’s sincere interest in her profession gratified Marian. “Thank you, sir. Far too many people regard the education of girls as nothing more than furnishing them with a few superficial accomplishments necessary to snare a suitable husband.”
That was one positive thing she could say about the Pendergast School. Its pupils had received a rigorous education, training them to make their own way in the world. It had been continually impressed upon them that their lack of fortune made it highly doubtful they could ever hope to marry.
“What about you, Miss Murray?” The captain set his candle on a low table beside one of the chairs upholstered with dark leather. “How do you view the education of girls—my young cousins in particular?”
No one had ever bothered to ask her any such thing, especially in a way that suggested respect for her opinion. For that reason, the captain’s question flustered her, though in a strangely pleasant way.
“I—I suppose it means cultivating the development of my pupils in all areas—not only their intellect, but artistic sense and character—to the best of which they are capable. No doubt that sounds like a lofty ambition for a simple country governess.”
The captain shook his head. “It sounds like a fine aim to me, Miss Murray. My young cousins are fortunate indeed to be taught and cared for by someone so devoted to them. Your task cannot have been easy considering the losses they’ve suffered.”
Marian raised a silent prayer of
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