Page 17 of Secrets of Capell Manor
Devlin never had any such comforts growing up. These children were fortunate that the lady of the manor sought to make this house a home. His thoughts were interrupted with alow moan, and he looked around to see Ridley at the table with his head in his hands.
“Why do I need to learn to read? No one of my lot learns to read,” he lamented.
Devlin smiled. He remembered many such lessons growing up. His father had insisted on an education for his only son, but he had not been a willing participant.
“Mama says if you don’t learn to read, you’ll grow up to be the village idiot,” Kaylyn chided.
Little Luella nodded her head in agreement.
“Girls, that’s not what I said. Just because someone can’t read doesn’t make them any less intelligent than any other person. But knowing how to read can make you smarter,” Rosalind explained patiently. “Ridley, you could become a merchant, a clerk, or even a great architect. You don’t have to work in the kitchen all your life.”
At that, Ridley rolled his eyes, but he focused on the slate tablet in front of him, “I’d rather raise horses, milady.”
Grim made his entrance, and both girls squealed in delight. The fierce dog wasted no time, only traveled about three feet and he clumsily plopped down on the sun-warmed floor, leaving his underbelly exposed to the bright rays of light and the tender scratches from the girls. Devlin shook his head.
“Yes, Sir Devlin. What can I assist you with?” If she was perturbed at the interruption, she didn’t show any outward signs.
At her question, Devlin turned and looked at Rosalind. Long black eyelashes framed her large brown eyes, and a curly tendril of hair had escaped her braid. She had a smudge of the powdery rock residue she used to scratch letters onto Ridley’s tablet on her cheek.
“Sir Devlin,” she repeated.
He broke his gaze. “I need…” his voice practically squeaked. He cleared his throat, “I need to complete your questioning. But I see that you are occupied. Perhaps you can grant me an audience tomorrow?”
“Yes, that will be fine. I want to complete Ridley’s reading lesson. The girls finish more quickly as they are more willing pupils, but they need to work on their stitching.”
The girls ran to a basket beside the settee and pulled out pieces of fabric that were stretched upon a small frame. Threads of different colors hung from the back of the fabric.
Kaylyn reached him first. “Look, Sir Devlin. Mama says my stitches are improving.”
Devlin didn’t really know what to say. Women and sewing were not anything he knew or even cared about. But he wasn’t a complete ogre so he took the frame from her hands and looked at her work.
On the fabric, he could see she practiced many different stitches. He saw clearly her shaky, uneven, first attempts and how she improved as more were completed. In one corner he saw a blue flower that wasn’t quite finished.
“This…this is very good,” he said hesitantly but sincerely.
Kaylyn was satisfied with his praise, and she gifted him with a big smile. She took her work and sat on the settee.
“Now me, sir! Look at mine!” Luella nearly jumped with excitement.
Devlin took her smaller sewing frame. Her stitches were terribly uneven, but considering her young age, he deemed them not bad at all.
“Your work is very good too, Luella. You’ll be sewing the finest of dresses and creating bold tapestries for the king before you know it.”
Luella giggled. “I’d rather be a faerie, Sir Devlin, not a seamstress!”
“You can’t be a faerie, Luella,” Ridley said incredulously. “That’s impossible.”
Luella marched over to the table, stood with a hand on her hip, and proceeded to explain to Ridley how he was most certainly wrong.
Lady Rosalind sighed and stood from the table. “Ridley, you may be excused. Luella, you may sit with your sister. I will be with you in a moment. I want to show you a new stitch today.”
Luella did as she was told. Ridley gathered his slate tablet and the rock they used to scratch out letters and placed them on a small shelf near the fireplace.
“Oh, Ridley,” Devlin called, “Mr. Danby has a repair needed on his saddle. He would like you to assist him. Is he free, Lady Rosalind?”
“Yes, of course,” she replied. “Ridley, let Marta know that you are to assist Mr. Danby before you go.”
Ridley smiled and ran from the room.
