Page 15 of The Captain's Midwinter Bride
While the apprehension on Beth’s face was replaced by relief, Mr. Newell scowled. “Surely such an expense is unnecessary. My mother has already offered to teach Miss Dalton the skills she’ll need to help me advance in politics.”
A sneer appeared on Phillip’s face for the briefest moment before he smoothed it away. “I’m sure your mother would be a stellar instructor, but as Beth’s parents, we feel it our responsibility to see to her education and instruction.”
Mr. Newell’s mouth opened, but Annalise spoke before he could. “And we are sure your mother has many responsibilities that demand a good deal of her time. She is kind to offer her assistance to Beth, but I’m sure her deft hand could be used elsewhere.”
While she nodded knowingly to the young man, she glimpsed Phillip run his hand over his mouth as if to contain a smile.
To her annoyance, Mr. Newell pressed the issue. “But surely my mother is the best tutor for such a job. No tutor could teach Miss Dalton the lessons my mother could with her long experience.”
Phillip propped a foot on the opposite knee and reclined back. The relaxed pose seemed a juxtaposition to the severe expression that settled on his face. “Is that so? Well, I’ll be sure to tell Lady Jersey you said so.”
Mr. Newell’s eyes went wide, and his jaw slackened. Annalise would have laughed if she wasn’t surprised as well.
“Lady Jersey?” Beth said in an awed voice.
“Julia Peel, as I knew her. But yes, she up and married the Earl of Jersey while I was at sea.” Phillip leaned toward her, as if to impart a great secret. “I had the occasion to meet Sir Robert Peel on many occasions, both when he founded the Metropolitan Police Force and later when he served in Parliament.”
“And Lady Jersey has agreed to assistme?” Beth whispered.
Phillip’s nod was resolute. “She offered to help find you a suitable tutor. But if Mr. Newell believes his mother is still a better tutor than one tapped by the countess and the daughter of the former Prime Minister, then I’ll certainly write the good lady and let her know.”
“Oh no,” Mr. Newell declared, shaking his head furiously. “I’m sure my mother will understand that given the very generous opportunity to learn from the countess, Miss Dalton was, of course, obliged to accept the offer.”
Inclining his head, Phillip smiled. Or at least Annalise thought the twitch of his lips was his attempt at a smile. “We can discuss it more at the breakfast table, my dear. In the meantime, perhaps you would be gracious enough to entertain the party with another song?”
As their daughter nodded enthusiastically and returned to the pianoforte, Mr. Newell in tow, Annalise shook her head as she considered how quickly Phillip had secured the girl’s unwavering esteem.
“Did you really intend to discuss finding a tutor for Beth with Lady Jersey?” she asked, in a voice barely above a whisper.
“I do.”
Annalise gaped at him. “So you truly know her?”
“Of course I do. I met her when she was a girl.” He yanked on his cuff. “I was not lying when I said I knew Peel.”
“I would never dream of calling you a liar.”
Faint lines of amusement appeared at the outer corners of his eyes. “You are all that is good and proper, Mrs. Dalton. Do forgive me.”
She chuckled but sobered quickly. “Do you believe you’ll able to convince Lady Jersey to help Beth?”
“I do. I helped the earl out of an unfortunate situation several years ago, and I suspect she’ll be willing to assist as thanks.”
Annalise nibbled on her lip before realizing what she was doing. Dropping her voice, she said, “I do not want Mrs. Newell to tutor Beth. She’s always been pleasant to me, but she’s known as a hard woman. Strict, judgmental, and harsh in her criticism. And since her husband was part of the Board of Guardians, no one has stood up to her. I would prefer that Beth not learn at the knee of such a woman.”
“Did Mrs. Newell extend the offer to mentor Beth to you first?” Phillip asked.
“She did not.” She swallowed. “I only found out when Mrs. Newell mentioned it during a dinner.”
The woman had tossed out the offer to Beth loud enough for the people sitting near them to assume it was an agreed-upon arrangement. Annalise had been incensed. Now she only hoped to be nearby to catch Mrs. Newell’s expression when she learned about Lady Jersey’s mentorship.
“I had hoped this dinner would assuage my concerns about this marriage,” he murmured, his gaze once again on their daughter, “but it’s done anything but.”
Unable to think of a response, Annalise held her tongue.
“Do you suppose she felt compelled to accept his proposal?”
“It’s a possibility.” She considered Beth, playing intently on the pianoforte. “Most of her friends have already married and set up their homes. Perhaps she feels she should do the same.”
