Page 15 of The Storybook Hero
Emma eyed her warily, surprised to be spoken to on such equal terms. “You do?”
“It’s not very pleasant.” She picked up one of the thick leather-bound volumes that lay on the desk. “Do you enjoy Mrs. Radcliffe’s writings?”
The girl’s lower lip jutted out in defiance. “My last governess forbid met to touch such books. She said a well-bred young lady does not read such scandalous rubbish.”
“What a prosy bore,” remarked Octavia. “No wonder you headed straight for the bookshelves.”
Emma stared at her in disbelief.
“Have you discovered Miss Austen’s as well? I should think you might enjoy her book even more than these gothic tales. The heroines have infinitely more pluck and common sense, and are not always expecting some clod of a male to sort things out. ”
“I … I don’t think Uncle Albert has any of them on his shelves.”
Picturing the stiff bearing and colorless features of both Mr. Renfrew and his wife, Octavia could well imagine that was true. “No matter. I believe I have a copy ofSense and Sensibilityin mytrunk. But for now, perhaps you will acquaint me with what sort of subjects you have been studying?”
There was only a brief hesitation before Emma reached for the pile of notebooks on one side of the desk. “In history, I have been learning about the reign of Elizabeth….”
The conversation was nearlyas bland as the overcooked joint of meat. Octavia took a small swallow of wine and tried to think of yet another innocuous remark to make about the state of the weather or the color of the draperies. An earlier try at discussing current events had been squelched by a disapproving glance from the head of the table.
“That is not a subject you ladies should trouble yourselves with,” Mr. Renfrew had announced. “Rest assured the proper people are dealing with such important matters. The complex issues would merely serve to confuse or upset you. Don’t you agree, Mrs. Renfrew?”
His wife nodded a vigorous assent.
Hah! thought Octavia. As if men haven’t been making a dreadful hash of things for the past decade and more. But she let the matter drop without argument. Given the circumstances, she really couldn’t afford any slip of the tongue. She needed this job. And so she forced a smile and pushed at the unappetizing morsels on her plate.
It was with great relief that she watched the stout housekeeper bustle in to clear the table and serve the pudding. Surely the interminable meal could not last a good deal longer. There was at least some solace in knowing it was not an ordeal that would have to be endured nightly. The lady of the house had already informed her that after being honored with an invitationto dine at their table this evening, her first in the household, she would be expected to take her meals with the rest of the help.
Mrs. Renfrew had ended her lecture with a tight smile. That was how a proper English house was run, so it wouldn’t do to relax the rules, she explained. Didn’t Miss Hadley agree that order and discipline was what made life run smoothly?
Octavia found herself gripping her wineglass with nearly enough force to snap the stem. It was not hard to imagine what sort of life it was for an orphaned child in this sort of surroundings?—
“So, Miss Hadley, you have met your charge. What think you of your ability to keep the young person under control?” Mr. Renfrew smoothed a hand over his severely cropped silver hair. “Be assured that you need not fear being thought too strict. The child has an unfortunate tendency toward willfulness which must be dealt with. We do not wish to spoil her.”
Octavia bit back the urge to tell him that her trunk of whips and chains seemed to have gone astray during the voyage from England. “Oh, I daresay I shall be up to the challenge,” she answered, striving to keep her tone neutral.
Husband and wife exchanged relieved looks. “Well then, we will leave you to your duties, Miss Hadley. If there is anything you require, you may inform Mrs. Renfrew.” He turned his attention to the thin slice of apple tart set before him, finishing it off in dead silence. Then his chair scraped back, signaling an end to the meal “I have a number of matters to attend to in my study,” he said brusquely, not bothering to see whether either of the two ladies were done.
His wife abandoned the last bite on her plate and rose hastily to her feet. “I must see to several things as well.”
Octavia stood up, her hand tightening on the back of the uncomfortable straight back chair to keep a grip on her risingtemper. “Thank you for your kind hospitality,” she murmured, hoping that the note of sarcasm was not too evident.
Mr. Renfrew inclined his head a fraction. “Think nothing of it,” he said magnanimously. “After all, it was our duty to make you feel welcome.”
Welcome indeed!
“Good evening, Miss, er, Hadley,” said Mrs. Renfrew as she made to follow her husband from the room. “You look to be a capable young woman. I do trust you will be able to handle the child without needing a great deal of guidance in the matter.”
Octavia didn’t trust her voice enough to respond with anything more than a murmur that could be taken for an assent. It wasn’t until she was climbing the narrow stairs to her own cheerless quarters next to the schoolroom that she dared unclench her jaw. Two colder fish she couldn’t imagine. Perhaps their cruelty was unintentional, but the thought of an orphaned little girl having to endure such guardians kindled a hot anger inside her.
Knowing full well what it was liked to be unloved and unwanted, she vowed that, as long as she was around, the child would have a friend.
Four
Agreat, shaggy bear was breathing down his neck, and try as he might, Alex couldn’t seem to make his legs move. Its stale, unwashed odor was filling his nostrils, and it seemed to be getting closer and closer …
With a choked cry, he lashed out a booted foot?—
“Have a care who you kick, my friend,” grumbled the burly peasant beside him, though he did shift his bearded chin from Alex’s shoulder and roll his considerable bulk to the other side, drawing a muttered complaint from one of the other passengers.
