beginning, he believed what Penelope now needed was not a savvy servant her age but an older, matronly figure who could tend to her physical and disciplinary needs in his absence.
So the morning after divining his wife’s true wishes, Lord Westcott traveled to see his friend Dr. Baker. Alton knew he was not the only man in England who kept his wife in a nursery, and Dr. Baker’s ease in handling Penelope the day of her examination indicated he certainly knew his way around such women.
As luck would have it, the physician had the perfect reference for the governess that his friend was seeking. The nurse who’d accompanied him to Westcott Manor had been looking for employment in a quieter environment, the physician said. What’s more, she’d had years of experience as a governess prior to finding herself in Dr. Baker’s employ, and was ready to return to service in a private home.
“You remember Lord Westcott, don’t you, Nurse Ryan?” he asked later when the woman walked in.
The tall, steely-haired nurse nodded. “Yes, of course. I also remember his pretty ward. Quite churlish, as I recall. She refused to leave off her undergarments.”
“She was churlish then, yes,” Alton agreed. “But Penelope and I are married now, and as it is in both our best interests to continue in the fashion of guardian and ward, I seek a governess to give her the strict parameters she requires when I can’t see to her.”
“A wise decision,” Nurse Ryan said. “I’ve had the privilege of working for several good families, first as a children’s governess. I was especially good at bringing rebellious daughters to heel. Later I began working with couples—discreetly, of course—who kept such arrangements as yours. My model for the wives in my charge is equal doses of caring and a firm hand. Early on I will keep her bottom quite red, with your permission. It’s important to establish a governess’ authority with such a young lady. Is that agreeable?”
It sounded more than reasonable to Alton, who was eager to implement the kind of regimented lifestyle he now believed his wife preferred. He was pleased to find that Nurse Ryan could start immediately.
His lovely Penelope was in for a change. In addition to the hiring of a governess, he’d had a suite of rooms fashioned into a nursery more appropriate to the role she would play when they were in private.
Having procured the services of a governess, Alton was feeling quite accomplished once he arrived back at Westcott Manor. There, he checked on the progress of the renovations and was pleased with the changes. The large rooms overlooking the back garden had been painted a pale shade of yellow. Lace curtains covered the bright windows. Shelves held dolls and books and other things a young girl might like. An ornately carved bed covered with a lace canopy and pink duvet sat against one wall by a bureau freshly stocked with the kinds of girlish fashions that Penelope and her husband preferred.
A room off the main bedchamber contained an exam table and a tub for bathing.
Hearing a noise, he turned to see Betsy standing behind him. “You called for me, m’lord? I was told you’d be here.” She looked around the room. “Is this to be m’lady’s new chamber? She told me you were caring for her much as you did before you were married.” The maid smiled. “I think she was embarrassed to tell me, but it’s not my place to judge, I told her, and then I said ‘His lordship must love you mightily to care for you as one would a child.’” She looked around the room. “I suppose I’ll be bringing her things up here, then.”
Lord Westcott took a step closer to the maid. “No. That won’t be necessary, Betsy,” he said. “Normally I have the head of my household staff inform servants of reassignment, but given that you were so valuable to me in settling Lady Penelope, I thought I should tell you personally.” He paused. “You won’t be tending to my wife from now
So the morning after divining his wife’s true wishes, Lord Westcott traveled to see his friend Dr. Baker. Alton knew he was not the only man in England who kept his wife in a nursery, and Dr. Baker’s ease in handling Penelope the day of her examination indicated he certainly knew his way around such women.
As luck would have it, the physician had the perfect reference for the governess that his friend was seeking. The nurse who’d accompanied him to Westcott Manor had been looking for employment in a quieter environment, the physician said. What’s more, she’d had years of experience as a governess prior to finding herself in Dr. Baker’s employ, and was ready to return to service in a private home.
“You remember Lord Westcott, don’t you, Nurse Ryan?” he asked later when the woman walked in.
The tall, steely-haired nurse nodded. “Yes, of course. I also remember his pretty ward. Quite churlish, as I recall. She refused to leave off her undergarments.”
“She was churlish then, yes,” Alton agreed. “But Penelope and I are married now, and as it is in both our best interests to continue in the fashion of guardian and ward, I seek a governess to give her the strict parameters she requires when I can’t see to her.”
“A wise decision,” Nurse Ryan said. “I’ve had the privilege of working for several good families, first as a children’s governess. I was especially good at bringing rebellious daughters to heel. Later I began working with couples—discreetly, of course—who kept such arrangements as yours. My model for the wives in my charge is equal doses of caring and a firm hand. Early on I will keep her bottom quite red, with your permission. It’s important to establish a governess’ authority with such a young lady. Is that agreeable?”
It sounded more than reasonable to Alton, who was eager to implement the kind of regimented lifestyle he now believed his wife preferred. He was pleased to find that Nurse Ryan could start immediately.
His lovely Penelope was in for a change. In addition to the hiring of a governess, he’d had a suite of rooms fashioned into a nursery more appropriate to the role she would play when they were in private.
Having procured the services of a governess, Alton was feeling quite accomplished once he arrived back at Westcott Manor. There, he checked on the progress of the renovations and was pleased with the changes. The large rooms overlooking the back garden had been painted a pale shade of yellow. Lace curtains covered the bright windows. Shelves held dolls and books and other things a young girl might like. An ornately carved bed covered with a lace canopy and pink duvet sat against one wall by a bureau freshly stocked with the kinds of girlish fashions that Penelope and her husband preferred.
A room off the main bedchamber contained an exam table and a tub for bathing.
Hearing a noise, he turned to see Betsy standing behind him. “You called for me, m’lord? I was told you’d be here.” She looked around the room. “Is this to be m’lady’s new chamber? She told me you were caring for her much as you did before you were married.” The maid smiled. “I think she was embarrassed to tell me, but it’s not my place to judge, I told her, and then I said ‘His lordship must love you mightily to care for you as one would a child.’” She looked around the room. “I suppose I’ll be bringing her things up here, then.”
Lord Westcott took a step closer to the maid. “No. That won’t be necessary, Betsy,” he said. “Normally I have the head of my household staff inform servants of reassignment, but given that you were so valuable to me in settling Lady Penelope, I thought I should tell you personally.” He paused. “You won’t be tending to my wife from now
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