Page 59 of A Lady's Past
Watching as the ladies left the library or study or whatever Alex wanted to call it, Jacques wished for many more hours spent in the stacks of books with Diana in his arms.
ChapterFourteen
Taking Honoria’s advice, Diana had bundled herself up in her warmest wool day dress, a sturdy pair of boots and a fur cape she borrowed from the castle. Cecilia had insisted that the fur would be necessary as the temperatures had dropped.
Mrs. Fallcraft met them in a small, perfectly manicured garden at the other side of the castle. The shrubs were bare but made a low maze around an empty fountain. In the summer it would be a lovely place.
“How do you do?” Mrs. Fallcraft was perhaps an inch taller than Honoria and half as wide.
Diana couldn’t help the amusement she kept bottled up at the thought of all those large men on the other side of the castle being afraid of this tiny woman. “So nice to meet you, madam.”
They all curtsied.
Mrs. Fallcraft gave each of them a long look before smiling. “It is rare for the boys to bring anyone back to Buckrose. I have to admit, I’ve been curious to meet you both. It was very kind of you to send a note and call on me.”
“I could not resist meeting the lady who manages to keep all those grown men on their toes.” Honoria giggled. “You should hear how they speak of you.”
Jessica Fallcraft had keen eyes the color of a stormy sea. Her gray hair had been pulled into a loose bun and tucked under a black cap with white lace at the edge. “Shall we walk?”
A path through the garden had been cleared of snow. Larger cedars, surrounding the little haven, blocked the biting wind, making a stroll pleasant after she’d been tucked away in houses, carriages and castles. Diana took a deep gulp of crisp air. “Lady Chervil is correct, madam. The gentlemen are quite in awe of you.”
Her eyes flashed with joy. “They were students or the children of students. I suppose to a young boy who has been tossed from other schools or bullied because he does not have the discipline for Eton, I am a welcome relief and a bit of a tyrant.”
A child laughed somewhere on the other side of the trees. Diana wished she had listened to her mother and had married. By now she would have a few children filling her days with laughter. “Is that what this place is, a school for boys who had trouble elsewhere?”
Turning to the right, Mrs. Fallcraft pulled her dark gray cloak tighter. “I take on young men who are bright and spirited. Let’s use Middleton as an example. Of course, I’m speaking of the late duke. Preston Knowles never had any problems at school. His father had been to three before being sent to me. He arrived with a valet and a note from the Duke of Middleton. I shall never forget that note: ‘My son is incorrigible and cannot be taught. You, madam, are our last hope to get some knowledge into him. My wife can bear no more children, so he is the next duke of Middleton regardless of my wishes.’”
It was a horrible notion to imagine a father writing such a thing about his own son. Diana wished the old duke was still alive, so she could give him a proper dressing down. “What on earth did you do?”
Mrs. Fallcraft grinned and shrugged. “I brought the young lord into Buckrose without a word about his other schools. I see no sense in berating a boy for his past. When they come to my school, they get a fresh start. They are told the rules, which are quite strict, and given a lot of time between studies to run around and burn off excess energy. Their days are scheduled to the minute, and by the end of one, they are tired enough to sleep. I am proud to say I have lost very few of my Buckrose students.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but does a curriculum filled with running about compare to an education at Eton?” Diana should have kept the question to herself, but she wanted to know.
Never missing a step, Mrs. Fallcraft navigated them around the fountain. “When a young man leaves here, they are ready for the world. Most continue to university. It is a long day, keeping my boys busy from breakfast to supper. After supper we usually have time for reading, and often one of the older students will read aloud.”
Honoria said, “You must be very proud of this school and all you have done.”
“I have to admit, I am pleased that I could help and continue to help young boys become good men, many of whom run our government.”
“How much longer will you continue?” Honoria was of an age where she said what she thought, regardless of its appropriateness for a first meeting.
Mrs. Fallcraft was undaunted. “I am getting on in years. Like Middleton, many of my students have gone to their final resting place, and I am still here.” She pulled a long sigh. “I don’t have anyone to follow in my footsteps as yet, but I have hopes that one of my Horsemen might like to take on the challenge after he’s finished hopping about the world for the greater good.”
It was impossible to imagine any of the four men Diana had met being tame enough to run the Buckrose School, but Mrs. Fallcraft was in earnest. “I’m not certain any of the Horsemen are of a temperament to teach.”
Raising her eyebrows, Mrs. Fallcraft gave a wicked grin. “You would be surprised at the many sides of the Horsemen.”
“I mean no disrespect. They are the reason I am here and not tucked away on some French ship.”
They approached the back side of the castle. “Will you ladies join me for some tea in my private parlor?”
The temperature had dropped several degrees since they began their walk. Clouds made their way across the sky and the bite in the air spoke of snow. Diana shivered. “That would be very nice. Thank you.”
Inside, the school portion of the castle was buzzing with students who were curious about them. It appeared Buckrose School did not get a lot of visitors and perhaps never ladies. Several boys tripped over each other when they caught sight of Diana.
Mrs. Fallcraft frowned. “That will do, Mr. Crane, Mr. Wallace. Don’t you two have somewhere to be?”
One of the wide-eyed boys, perhaps sixteen, stopped staring long enough to respond. “History class, ma’am.”
