Page 11 of A Lady to Reveal (Sherton Sisters 4)

Chapter Five

Gilbert stepped out of the alcove he was in and stared toward the space where his daughter and her new companion had been. There was more to Miss Felicity Jones than she was letting on, he strongly suspected. Once again, he was put in mind of that other Felicity, but he dismissed the thought immediately as he considered the complication of this present Felicity. Her explanation of the life of a duke revealed considerably more knowledge than he would have expected from someone with her simple background. Or she was a much deeper thinker than any young woman he had ever encountered. Sending a hand through his hair in a sign of frustration, Gil resolved to keep an eye on the new member of his household. Just one more thing to keep track of on his very full list of responsibilities. He had hoped hiring her would simplify his life.

Shaking his head, he reminded himself that he really couldn’t just blithely pass his daughter’s care over to a newcomer without paying at least a modicum of attention at first, so nothing had changed. Miss Jones had come very highly recommended. The letters of recommendation she had included with her correspondence of inquiry about the position had been glowing. He ought to trust the process. And what he had overheard should actually have reassured him, not discomfited him, he reminded himself. She was obviously well able to care for his active, imaginative daughter and seemed to be well positioned to be able to prepare Adelina for her future, whatever her title might be.

Gil knew he couldn’t judge every gently bred woman by his experiences with his late wife, but it was a challenge. He felt scarred in the region where his feelings ought to be from the experience. While he did wish his children could still have a mother, he didn’t think they were worse off for not having that judgmental harpy in their life. No, Miss Jones would have to do, he decided with a decisive nod.

He knew he ought to be happy about the young woman joining the household. But he had the oddest sensation that life as they’d known it had just changed irrevocably.

He hadn’t been completely wrong.

As the days became weeks, life at Rathnelly became lighter than it had been in years. Gil couldn’t put his finger on exactly what had made the difference. He was certain childish laughter had been heard ringing through the hallways and corridors of the massive building since his children had been born, but it seemed to him that the last couple of weeks had been filled with more laughter than the entire previous decade. It made him consider bringing his sons home from school, too. But boys needed school even more than girls did, he was sure. Despite that, though, he was determined they would come home for their next break rather than going to other boys’ homes as they had been doing in recent years. He just needed to find the right way to tell them. Gilbert stared out the window as he pondered the letter he ought to be writing.

Wickham, he had started writing before second guessing himself. Ought he to be addressing his son by his courtesy title? Since when had he come to question everything? It was all that woman’s fault. Since Miss Jones had arrived with her watchful gaze and intelligent questions, he found himself wondering if everything about his life were being called into question, and he didn’t like it one bit.

With a new piece of parchment before him, Gilbert began again.

Dear Gardner,

It has been far too long since we have been together as a family.

He paused for a moment and realized that it had probably been since their mother’s funeral. Gil swallowed the guilt that threatened to rise up and carried on with his letter.

Your sister misses you.

As do I, Gil thought but wondered if he ought to tell the boy so.

It would be best if you and Easton come home for the summer. It’s time you take more of an interest in the estate and spend time with Adelina.

Gil worried the boy would dread the time there and didn’t want him to try to refuse coming, as he and his brother had become so in the habit of avoiding home. He would have to sweeten the offer.

If you have a friend or two who would like to accompany you home to Rathnelly, you may supply me their names so I can write to their parents.

Sincerely,

With a breath of frustration, Gil read what he had written and wished to start over, but he was already on his third piece of parchment. He was a duke for pity’s sake. This ought to be a straightforward correspondence. But he didn’t even know how to close the letter. Ought he to sign off with Father or Rathnelly? It was a ridiculous question. With a flourish he signed his name and sanded the paper.

His boys needed to come home. They would come home. Whether that was their desire or not. Gilbert had no intention of granting his permission for them to go elsewhere this time. Those days were over. He needed to spend time with his sons. They needed to spend time on the estate. If they were grieving for their mother, they could do that as well here at home as anywhere. Their sister needed them. And that was a responsibility he would not allow them to shirk. He had been shirking it enough for the lot of them.

Ought he to hire a tutor for them, though? For the first time, in that moment, Gil wished his wife were still alive. While she had been a cold, selfish woman, she had known what the children needed and always made sure to provide it. She would have known if they could go through the summer without lessons. Perhaps, Miss Jones would know. He was certain she would have an opinion on the subject. The thought brought a smile to his lips as he anticipated the conversation over dinner.

He ignored the surge of happiness the thoughts brought to him and turned back to the pile of reports in front of him. Perhaps, he ought to curtail their evening meals together if they were going to prompt him to such happiness. But the thought of disappointing Adelina prevented it. He would just have to learn to control his own joy. He had no intention of limiting his daughter’s.

Gil reached for the bell pull that would have his steward brought to him. There was much business to cover before he would allow himself the pleasure of the evening meal.

Gilbert was still contemplating the matters he had been dealing with that afternoon when the clatter of his daughter’s footsteps brought his gaze and attention to the door.

“Oh dear, are we late?” Adelina asked with a twist of her lips as she dipped into a curtsy. “Jonesy said we would be, but I had thought you are never on time, so we needn’t rush.” The child laughed, not truly repentant. “She’s always right. It’s most vexing.”

The young woman in question had heard the entire exchange. Gil watched in fascination as a tumult of expressions fought for dominance upon her face before she blinked them all away and without comment, offered a nod and a curtsy to the duke before silently following him to the dining room. He felt a strange flutter in his midsection that he quickly dismissed. He wasn’t a schoolboy.

“Did the two of you have an enjoyable day?” Gilbert asked as the footmen began serving what smelled to be an excellent meal.

“Thank you, Father, we did quite,” Adelina replied with a grin. She then turned to the footman, who was offering her a salver laden with food. “My favourite, thank you, Thomas.” She then eagerly turned to her companion. “This is your favourite, too, isn’t it Jonesy?”

The young woman grinned at his daughter, suddenly appearing far younger than she usually did with her severe hairstyles and less than fashionable gowns. “It is, yes, my lady. It seems that the kitchens have outdone themselves once more.”

“Do you know how to cook?” Adelina asked around her mouthful of food.

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