Page 14 of The Butler and the Bluestocking
“Ahem, yes, please forgive my attempt at humor. As an adult, I’ve had little opportunity to encounter children, but I would like to learn. Experience with children could be an asset when I look for my next position.”
“Hmm. Very well. Lady Susana really does need to finish the sewing she started. I’ll go up to tell her she’s not needed and explain that you will accompany the children and me in her place. I’ll bring the children when I return.”
“Very good, my lady.” He gave the correct bow then allowed himself the pleasure of watching her leave. He’d no idea if he would like spending hours with the children, but he was certain he would enjoy any time spent in Lady Bess’ company.
Chapter Eight
Somehow, Kentigernhad found a huge, if rather ancient, carriage with an equally ancient driver. The driver being very aged and—as Kentigern quietly informed her—impeded by lumbago; it was her entirely too well-educated butler who opened the door and let down the steps. Bess entered first, hesitantly placing her gloved hand in his. The memory of her uncovered fingers twined with his was stronger than the kid covering their hands. She let go as quickly as courtesy would allow. Next Kentigern handed in Emma and Merrilyn. He put up the steps and closed the door then climbed up beside the driver.
The girls asked so many questions during the drive to Clifford’s Tower—the first stop on their tour—that Bess was challenged to answer them all. In fact, she deferred several about the history of the tower to when they arrived at the building. Kentigern took charge of the girls, as Bess was delayed for a short moment, seeking out a retiring room in which to mend a small tear in her hem. She soon joined Kentigern and her sisters on the second floor of the stone fortress, and stopped to listen to him with her sisters.
“Why is this called Clifford’s Tower?” asked Emma, ever the more studious of the two girls.
Kentigern pointed toward the battlements, “Sir Roger de Clifford, one of the rebel leaders who fought against King Henry III, was chained ahm . . .”
Bess was pleased to note that Kentigern hesitated to describe lurid details of a hanging to a young girl.
“Punished, here. Sir de Clifford was punished for his rebellion.” supplied Bess.
“What did the king do to him?” asked Merrilyn.
“The exact details are unimportant. Since he had offended his king, you can be certain the punishment was quite terrible,” said Kentigern. “That is why his name has been attached to this tower ever since.”
“I don’t know,” pondered Merrilyn. “I think being sent to bed without supper is a horrible punishment. If the king did even worse to Sir de Clifford, the man must have done something very bad indeed.”
“Quite right, sister. Rebellion is a very bad thing. I dare say Sir de Clifford lost a great many suppers.”
“Then, in a sense, he is still chained to these stones,” whispered Emma.
Kentigern knelt beside her. “That is a very perceptive comment, Lady Emma.”
Emma blushed.
Bess enjoyed the easy way Kentigern had of explaining history. It kept her as enthralled as her younger sisters. “How much of the history of the tower have you been able to explain while I was delayed?” she asked.
“He told us about the Hebrew people who died here, and the fire, and the blood on the stones, However, it wasn’t really blood, at least that’s what Kentigern thinks. He thinks it was iron that leached from the stones of the tower.” Merrilyn finished with a disappointed frown.
