Page 17 of The Moonstone Governess
He nodded. “I shall dance with others. But ours must be a waltz. If I am to share only one dance with you, I ought to make the most of it.” He tossed her a grin and pressed on before she could comment. “And now I need your guidance on another matter entirely. Since you are a teacher, you are just the one to advise me. My nephew is six years old and a bit wild.”
“Six?”
“Yes. What is so odd about this?”
“You described him as an infant, so I assumed he was no more than two or three years old. Well, I suppose you do not have much experience around children. Never mind—do go on.” The duke obviously regarded every child under the age of fourteen as some toddling creature to be avoided at all costs.
“The boy needs some distractions. What would you suggest I have in readiness for his room?”
“Books, for certain. I can help you select some suitable reading material for his governess to read to him. A large slate board and chalk. Tin soldiers and marbles, as well. I think he will enjoy playing with those. Children also enjoy spillikins. A ball for him to kick or toss around. I have a few cousins with children of similar age. Would you be averse to having them play together?”
“Matthew will like that. He isn’t suited to London and the confines of my townhouse, even though it is quite large by any standard. He feels lonely rattling around the halls with no one to speak to but his grandmother.”
Brenna frowned. “What about his governess?”
“He has not liked a single one of them yet. They march in like commanding generals but rarely last the month before dashing out like frightened rabbits.”
“Perhaps this is their mistake, to come at him with brute force instead of gentle understanding.”
The duke shrugged. “In truth, I do not know. I require each governess, as part of her duties, to take him to the park whenever possible, for he’s a handful and never seems to tire. I thought being outdoors and having the chance to meet other children might do him some good. So far, my idea has not worked out very well. He comes home sullen. The governesses complain. They make it quite clear he isn’t an easy lad.”
Brenna nodded. “Does he come in with his shirt tucked in or out?”
“What does it matter? I did not take notice.”
This man, as well-meaning as he was, certainly knew nothing about children. Had he never been a child himself? “Boys at that age need to expend themselves, run around, get messy. Simply have fun. If he returns as neat as he left home, then one can assume the governess did nothing but restrict his fun.”
He appeared to give her comment serious consideration. “I never gave it a thought, to my shame, I suppose.”
“I think it is more to the shame of these governesses who hold themselves out as experts in dealing with children. Give it thought now, Your Grace. I think it is important for the boy. I will own that girls at this age are often easier to manage. I’ll ask my uncle to fix the swing in the garden. Matthew will like that, too. He might enjoy long walks in nature, because everything fascinates children at that age. The shape of the grass, a fallen leaf, frogs and insects. Did you notice the stream running behind the house?”
“Yes, one can hear the sound of softly rushing water whenever the wind shifts directions.”
She nodded again. “The stream forms a little pool in the glade not far from here. It is an excellent place to swim. Your nephew will enjoy that, too. Does he swim?”
“No,” he said with some dismay.
Brenna did not want the duke to think she was criticizing him, since he obviously cared for the boy and wanted to do what was right. “Then you can teach him. It is an excellent way for the two of you to build a rapport.”
“What makes you think I can swim?” He cast her a sardonic grin.
A trill of laughter escaped her lips, but it soon died down and she gentled her voice. “Your Grace, you accused me of having a controlling nature, but I pale in comparison to you. That coiled snake haunts you, and you spend much of your time running from it. You fear it will strangle you and drown you. Swimming is one of the first things you must have sought to master, I expect. I think you have the prowess to swim across the sea to France if this is what it takes to escape your snake.”
He groaned. “Bloody blazes, Brenna. Where do you think up such nonsense?”
But she knew it wasn’t nonsense. “Can you swim?”
“Yes,” he said, letting out a long, deflated breath.
They walked back into the house and began to close it up before returning to Moonstone Landing, each of them silent and lost in their thoughts as they went about the task. Mr. Priam was eager to get back, and made no secret of it, drawing out his watch fob and continually checking on the time. “I must return to my office if I’m to have my clerks prepare the lease in time to be signed tomorrow.”
They all climbed into his curricle, the three of them squashed together, as these rigs were only designed to comfortably accommodate two persons. Brenna found herself practically on the duke’s lap. There was nowhere else to be while trying to keep out of the way of Mr. Priam’s elbow as he struggled with the reins.
“Sorry,” she muttered, falling against the duke.
“Quite all right, Miss Angel.”
“Sorry,” she muttered again, accidentally poking him in the ribs with her elbow as she fell into him again. She emitted a soft cry when it happened a third time, and he suddenly drew her onto his lap. “Your Grace!”
