Page 31 of Marry in Haste
“No, thank you.” She said it without the slightest hesitation, as if she didn’t even need to think it over.
“What? But I offered to double your wage.” It was a handsome offer.
“Yes, but you want me to give up a permanent position here in exchange for a short-term position. Moreover, from what you tell me, I’d need to watch over your sisters twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, whereas now I get a half day off a week and two evenings free to do whatever I want.”
He frowned. He couldn’t afford to give her time off. Who knew what the girls would get up to if she was off somewhere having a free evening? “I’d pay you extra not to take those free times.”
She appeared to consider it, then shook her head. “Your sisters will marry in a year or two and then where would I be? Out of a job and unemployed.” She folded her hands. “So thank you for the very generous offer, but I must decline it.”
“Blast!” He stood and took a few impatient strides around the room. “I can’t change your mind?”
“No.” She rose. “Will that be all?”
“Sit down!” She stiffened and he said, “Sorry—I forget myself. I have the habit of barking out orders sometimes. I mean, stay a little while longer. Please.”
“I shan’t change my mind.”
“I understand. I won’t press you, I promise.”
She hesitated, then resumed her seat.
He sat down opposite her, ran his fingers through his hair and thought about what to say. “Look, you know my sisters better than I do. I truly want what’s best for them, but I freely admit, I’ve been a soldier most of my adult life, and I’m out of my depth with young girls. I would welcome some advice from an expert.”
Her brows rose. There was a short silence. “You’ve surprised me, Lord Ashendon. I don’t know many men—no, make that any men—who would seek advice from a woman.”
He shrugged. “Ten years in the army teaches a man to take advantage of local, expert knowledge, no matter what the source.”
She gave him a long, level look, then gave that brisk little nod he was coming to recognize. “Very well. Your sisters are bright, they’re young and they’re bored.”
“I know that, but their behavior is— Look at the way they sneaked out last night. And it’s not the first time.”
“What did you expect? That they’d be happy to spend a year—and now another year—wearing unrelieved black, with limited society, attending repetitious and dull social events with mostly elderly and infirm companionship—oh, yes, they told me all about how their lives had become since leaving the seminary. What sort of society is that for lively young ladies? From what I understand, a visit to the Pump Room, chatting with octogenarians or a walk in the park is the highlight of their day! Is it any wonder they’re rebelling?” She rolled her eyes, those very fine sage-green eyes. Her pale complexion was now a delicate pink. Indignation rather than... embarrassment? Whatever it was, it suited her.
“You could change that if you accepted my offer of employment.”
“I told you, it’s out of the question. And please don’t try to shift your responsibility onto me.”
She had claws, this teacher. “So what do you advise?”
“Give them somethingrealto occupy them, something challenging and interesting. Something useful, that’s worthwhile doing. Something fun.”
He tried to imagine what that might be. “My aunt knits—”
She made a scornful sound. “Would you be happy to sit indoors and knit and sew all day and most evenings?”
“No, of course not. But men are different.”
She curled her lip. “They certainly are—they get to choose what they do!”
“Not always,” he said. Interesting. The passion with which she was arguing suggested he’d hit a nerve. “Most of the decisions that materially affected my life were made by my father, without any consultation as to my preferences. I didn’t choose to be sent away to school at the age of seven, and I was told at the age of about ten that I would be joining the army when I grew up. As a younger son it was that or the church, and my father had no time for priests.”
She opened her mouth and he added, “And then I was sent abroad to fight at the age of seventeen, and if you thinkanysoldier gets to choose anything, you’ve got rats in your attic.”
It also wasn’t his choice to inherit the title and the responsibilities that went with it, but he doubted she’d have any sympathy for that. Most people expected him to be thrilled by the acquisition of a title and a fortune. Most people had no idea.
“I suppose you’re right,” she said after a moment. “But it seems to me you must have enjoyed your army life. Is that not what you’re so anxious to return to? Or am I mistaken?”
“You’re not mistaken, but it’s not for my own pleasure. I have work to do—important work. Government work.”
