Page 138 of Doxy for the Ton
“I hope we can admit our first pupils in September,” Mimi said. “I’ve received several inquiries—thanks, I suspect, to you.”
“There are many girls in the county in need of education,” Lady Radham said. “Is Lily to teach there?”
“She’ll be giving lessons in embroidery,” Mimi said. “I’ve said she can live with me as long as she wishes, and I’ve set aside a parlor for her dressmaking work. But she insists on moving to the school once Mrs. Briggs has settled there. I’m not certain Lily’s ready—she’s still wary of strangers—but I commend her courage.”
“As do I,” Eleanor said. “Are Lily and her son enjoying life in the country?”
Mimi nodded. “She’s quite transformed, and little Sam has blossomed. He spends all day helping Mr. Wade in the kitchen garden. He was so proud that he’d picked the beans for supper last night, the dear child.”
Someone tapped on the window, and Mimi turned to see Sam and Gabriel holding a basket aloft.
“Look what we’ve got, Miss King!” Gabriel said. Then they disappeared with a clatter of footsteps and laughter.
Eleanor leaned forward, fixing her intense gaze on Mimi. “How does it feel to hear your real name?”
A somewhat forward question, but Mimi had accustomed herself to her friend’s frankness.
“Eleanor!” Lady Radham chided.
“It’s all right, Lady Radham,” Mimi said.
“Juliette, please.”
“Juliette.” Mimi smiled. “Your sister has every right to ask. I deceived everyone into thinking I was a widow. I cannot imagine what you must think of me.”
The sisters exchanged a glance and smiled, as if sharing a private joke, and Mimi felt her cheeks warm.
“F-forgive me, I…”
Eleanor let out a snort, and Juliette stifled a giggle.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” Juliette said. “Posing as a widow is a family tradition of ours.”
At that moment, the door burst open and two whirlwinds entered—Sam and Gabriel, followed by Lily.
“Boys!” Lily cried. “Sammy—look at your hands!”
The smaller of the whirlwinds stopped and inspected his hands. Then he wiped them on his breeches and clasped them behind his back.
“Gabriel and I have been picking peas, Miss King. We’ve got a whole basketful! And we’ve cut some roses for you. Mr. Wade helped so we wouldn’t cut ourselves.”
The larger boy approached Juliette and moved to put his thumb in his mouth, but she caught his wrist.
“Wash your hands first, sweetheart.”
“Yes, Mama. Mr. Wade cut a rose for you and Aunt Eleanor as well.”
“And he cut one foryou, Ma,” Sam said to Lily. “Mr. Wade likes you.”
“What nonsense you speak!” Lily said, blushing, and Mimi smiled to herself. Mr. Wade, the soft-spoken manservant, seemed to have appointed himself as Lily’s personal guardian. The timid young woman had responded to his gentle kindness in a manner that warmed Mimi’s heart. Lily had little reason to trust the male sex, but Mr. Wade was evidence that there was at least one man in the world who could be trusted.
Or, perhaps, there was another…
“Come along, boys,” Lily said. “Shall we see if your tea’s ready? It’s such a fine day, I asked Cook if we could have a picnic in the garden. What do you say to that?”
“I say hurrah!” Gabriel cried, abandoning his mother’s side for the prospect of a picnic.
“Wash your…” Juliette began, but before she finished, the boys had gone, Lily in their wake. “Boys are such a handful,” she said, leaning back with a sigh. “I can never get Gabriel to sit still. And he justeats!”
