Page 92 of Harpy of the Ton
“Insult my wife, Mrs. Chantry, and you insult not only me, but every virtuous woman in the kingdom. And now you’ve taken up enough of my time. I’ve been away from home and have missed my family. I don’t want to spend another moment apart from them. I don’t expect you to apologize, for I fear you lack the grace, but if I hear you’ve been gossiping about my wife, you’ll regret it.”
“Is that a threat, Mr. Baxter?”
“No, Mrs. Chantry,” he said. “It’s a promise that you’ll reap the consequences of your sins—a lesson I’m sure you teach the children in your charge every day. Do I have your promise that you’ll desist from gossiping about my wife? I won’t leave this room until I do.”
The teacher glanced at Bella, then, at length, she nodded.
“Good. I expect to hear that my wife’s treated with more respect in the village from now on.”
He led Bella outside to where the children sat waiting.
“Lawrence, I—”
“There’s no need to say anything, Bella,” he said. “I’m only ashamed.”
“What for?”
“For not realizing folk were gossiping about you.”
“Nothing else?”
“Perhaps I’ve not voiced my appreciation enough, for all you do.”
She nodded, her eyes glistening, and looked away.
“Is something the matter?” he asked.
She shook her head and sighed. Then she forced a smile. “So, I’ve worked without a single word of complaint?”
He let out a chuckle. “I didn’t think it right to tell Mrs. Chantry about the time you threw a pan at my head. I didn’t want her thinkin’ I’d married a harpy.”
“Or a sla—”
“Don’t take names to yourself, love. I meant what I said. And I want to know if Mrs. Chantry is uncivil toward you.”
“I can weather her insults,” Bella said. “But the children…”
“Mama, what’s for supper?” Jonathan asked.
Bella glanced at the little boy and smiled. “Roast mutton,” she said. “Mr. Ryman brought round a hindquarter yesterday—said he got it cheap.”
“Should I be jealous if another man’s calling on you?” Lawrence teased.
Her smile died. “Why did you come by the school? It’s not on the way home from the inn.”
“I went home first, but you weren’t there,” he said. “I didn’t want to wait a moment longer before telling you.”
“Telling me what?” she asked, her voice tight.
“It’s good news,” he said. “Mr. Trelawney wants me to prepare a proposal for his garden. If he gives me the job, it’ll mean a fair bit of work, but it could be good for us. You wouldn’t mind a bit more money for your housekeeping, would you?”
“There’s more to life than money, Lawrence.”
“What about you, children?” he asked. “You’d not say no to some new toys from Midchester. We could go there for a treat.”
“Oh yes, Papa!” William cried. “I’d like ahorse!”
“You’re too small, silly,” Roberta said. “You’d fall off.”
