Page 29 of Snowdrops and Winterberry
Flustered and a bit embarrassed, Robbie said, “Nothing to interrupt, I assure you.”
The lady nodded but not as if she fully believed Robbie’s assertion. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, since you are better acquainted with Her Grace than I am, whether or not you think she is likely to allow Adam to spend his school holidays here. We would very much like him to do so whenever possible. Obviously, sometimes it won’t be feasible. But when he can stay with us, we would like for him to.”
That did Robbie’s heart good, but her mind immediately pointed out a coming difficulty. “You will soon enough have a bairn of your own to look after. As your family grows, having Adam among your number will grow less convenient.”
Lady Jonquil did not look discouraged. Indeed, she appeared almost amused. “My husband and I both came from large families, at least compared to others of our station, and we hope to have a large family of our own. A bit of chaos will hardly sink us.”
“Adam is not likely to invite chaos. He’s far more likely to be overlooked.”
Lady Jonquil shook her head. “He is quiet, yes, but even at only eight years old he has a presence. He may be overlooked now, but were I one to place wagers, I’d bet every shilling to my name that he will grow up to be a gentleman no one overlooks.”
“I suppose it is difficult for me to imagine him grown. I still sometimes think of him as the tiny infant I used to hold.”
“I suppose that contradiction is difficult to reconcile for many people. In time, children become adults.” And then, her voice a little quieter, she added, “If life is kind.”
She seemed to shake off the heaviness of that observation. Her face lightened once more. This was a lady who’d known sorrow and had found a way to continue on. It was little wonder she’d so easily recognized the grief Adam felt.
“Would you accompany me a moment?” she asked. “There is something else I wish to ask you.”
Robbie agreed. The two of them walked away from the window and to the staircase, with its intricate carved flowers.
“Before I ask my question,” Lady Jonquil said, “I must make a somewhat indelicate observation.”
What could that possibly be?
“Upon your arrival here, I realized you are younger than I thought when I first saw you for that brief moment at Falstone Castle. In my defense, the room you were in was poorly lit, the morning was quite early, and without divulging too many personal secrets, I was struggling with a very heavy worry at the time. My mind was not entirely clear.”
“I am not offended,” Robbie reassured her. With a smile, she added, “The fact that you offered up poor lighting as an excuse for my apparently elderly appearance does wonders for my potentially battered confidence.”
“I thank you for your generosity. My reason for making theobservation is that I had thought you might not be interested in a new position after your time ends at Falstone Castle, which, considering Adam is at the age when he would have a governess, is likely soon. But you are quite young enough to be anticipating many more years as a nursemaid.”
They crossed through a small antechamber, with two doors on either side. Lady Jonquil led the way to the door on the right. The bedchamber beyond, with its soft fabrics and dressing table with lady’s toilette accessories, must have been Lady Jonquil’s. They passed through it and through yet another door. This one led to a cozily appointed sitting room, perfectly circular in shape, with one section of the walls made entirely of windows. The view was breathtaking: the mountains in the distance, the grounds of the estate spread out below.
“We will be welcoming our addition to our family before the year is out.” Lady Jonquil brushed her hand lightly over her middle, something she likely didn’t realize she did somewhat regularly. “If you are interested in continuing to work as a nursemaid, we would be deeply grateful if you would consider the possibility of coming here. As I said, we hope ours will be a large family. You would have a secure position for years to come if that’s what you want.”
Though servants didn’t usually speak about personal matters with people of Lady Jonquil’s station, Robbie couldn’t help being as forthcoming as the lady had been with her. “I’ll confess, my lady, you’ve hit upon a matter I’ve been pondering myself. My time with Adam will be over soon enough—there’s no avoiding that—but I’m nae certain what I hope lies ahead for me. I’m far more worried about what lies ahead for him.” Robbie realized something. “If I am here as a nursemaid, he would see me regularly too.”
“Please do not think that is the only reason we have extended the offer. I have seen again and again your kind tendernessand your willingness to help Adam do difficult things, and he clearly loves you and depends on you. That speaks highly of you as a nursemaid. That the arrangement would allow Adam to continue to have you in his life is simply an additional benefit.”
Robbie paced a little bit away. “I have enjoyed being a nursemaid, but...” How could she explain her hesitancy to accept a position that anyone else in her situation would’ve dropped to their knees in gratitude to have been offered?
“But your thoughts have begun turning to even more pleasant possibilities?” Lady Jonquil said.
Robbie felt a bit at a loss for words. Admitting to the feelings she herself had only just begun to recognize froze her tongue.
“Lest you think I am shocked or horrified or disapproving”—the lady motioned to the wall of windows—“I brought you here because I felt it would be more conducive to your efforts than your previous location.”
Robbie crossed to the windows and looked out. She needed but a moment to understand Lady Jonquil’s purpose. These windows offered a full view of the workers on the grounds. She could see all they were doing, all that was being accomplished. She could see Howard as he walked about offering instructions and assistance. This was not the tiny glimpse through an awkwardly placed window she had afforded herself below.
“I hadn’t come here expecting this.”
“Do you mean you hadn’t come to this room expecting this view?” Lady Jonquil asked. “Or that you hadn’t come to Brier Hill expecting to meet someone like Mr. Simpkin?” There was no mocking in the question, only heartfelt compassion.
“Both,” Robbie admitted. “I don’t know how to proceed. I do think he has many of the same feelings for me that I do for him. There is a possibility that, if those feelings grow, we could build a life together. I very much like the idea of that.”
Lady Jonquil did not offer her own thoughts or make anyeffort to interrupt. She simply listened.
“Adam has a degree of dislike for him, though I’m at a loss as to why.” She shook her head. “I don’t think there is anything about Howard—Mr. Simpkin’s character that warrants that distrust. I cannot sort out why Adam dislikes him.”
