Page 43 of Dubious about the Duke (Second Sons of London 5)

He came and took Win’s hand. The small gesture moved him in no small way. Charlie pulled him along, from the schoolroom and through a connecting door.

“This is our room,” he announced proudly. “This is where I sleep and that bed is for Freddie.”

“Why, I slept in that very bed when I was a boy,” he told Charlie. “I liked it because it was by the window. I would go to bed and look out at night, watching the wind move the tree limbs and listening to the owls hoot.”

“Did anyone sleep in Freddie’s bed?” Charlie asked. “Did you have a brother?”

Win tamped down the loathing within him. “I did but he was much older than I was. He had his own room by the time I came to the nursery and then was old enough to sleep in here alone without a nursery governess.”

“What’s that?” Freddie demanded. “A nursery governess.”

He turned to the boy. “Very wealthy parents hire people to look after their children,” he explained. “The Cutler children had a nursery governess when small. Someone to change our nappies and feed us and read to us. Watch over us and help us dress and play with us. Later, when I was older, I moved to this room and took lessons with a tutor in the schoolroom. I learned my letters and numbers and how to read. After that, I went away to school.”

“We didn’t have that,” Charlie said solemnly. “We weren’t wealthy.”

Win knelt before the boy. “But you were loved. When I met your mama shortly before she passed, all she could talk about was you and Freddie. She spent her days caring for you. My mama and papa lived in London much of the time, while I stayed here. Even when they came to the country, I rarely saw them. They didn’t love me and did not spend time with me.”

He placed a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “You may not have been rich in material possessions, Charlie, but your mama showered you with love.”

“Mum did love us,” Charlie agreed. “She told us that all the time.”

He rose. “All right. What is your routine?”

A maid appeared with hot water and Freddie took command, walking Win through what they had done for the last couple of nights while at Woodbridge. They changed into nightshirts, which had his very initials embroidered into them, and made a note to see that they each had ones of their own.

Sera took over after that because both boys wanted to climb into bed. She insisted they wash themselves and even did it for both boys, making certain they cleaned their faces and washed behind their ears. She showed them how to use the tooth powder beside the basin and both peeled with laughter as she demonstrated what to do.

“You look funny, Miss Nicholls,” Freddie said.

Sera mumbled something but it was garbled because of the tooth powder. She rinsed her mouth and said, “Now, it is your turn.”

Once they finished cleaning their teeth, she had them comb their hair and then she instructed them to use their chamber pots.

“I will give you privacy to do so. Come and get me in the schoolroom when you have finished.”

She left and he watched both boys, cautioning them to aim carefully.

“Why?” Charlie asked, clueless.

“Because if you don’t, one of the maids has to clean up after you. Yes, it is their job to clean each room but you never want to make work for someone when you can do the right thing.” He paused, deciding that was the first lesson he would teach this pair. “Always strive to do the right thing.”

“Why?” Freddie challenged.

“Because you want to be the best person you can be. Doing the right thing is the first step toward that. You also should treat everyone with kindness and courtesy. Most people only treat those in a position of power or authority with respect. But I say be nice to everyone. Treat them as you would want to be treated.”

Freddie nodded thoughtfully and then said, “I will fetch Miss Nicholls.”

When they returned, she helped them turn back their beds and climb in, covering them carefully.

“Normally, I would read a story to you but, tonight, I will merely tell you one,” she said.

“The other two didn’t do that,” Freddie told her.

“Different people establish routines they are comfortable with. My mama and papa helped put my sister, Minta, and me to bed every night. They would always read or tell us a story and that is what I like to do with my charges.”

“Were you poor like we were?” Charlie asked.

“Not poor but certainly not as wealthy as His Grace’s family. My papa works for the British government. In fact, he is in North America now, helping with the administration of Upper Canada.”

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