F-R-A-N." Then, with a sparkling smile, she added, "Sometimes my da calls me Frannie, but I haven't learned how to spell that yet."
With a chuckle, Grace sent her back to the group. "Here is our game today, everyone. The younger children will stay inside with me, and the older children will go outdoors with Mr. Rupert. We are going to have a treasure hunt. An item with your name written on it has been hidden. You need to find the item that bears your name, bring it back here to the great hall, and have a seat."
"What if you find something with someone else's name on it?"
"Good question, Samuel. If you can read the name and know who it belongs to, you may give it to them. If you cannot read the name, then you need to put it back and continue looking for your own parcel."
"Is there something in the parcel? Do we get to keep it?"
"Indeed there is, Joshua. And you will be able to keep it, but I want all of you together when you open them, so please, once you find your parcel, bring it back in here and have a seat."
"Why do we have to be together when we open them?"
"If someone opens theirs first, it might spoil the surprise for everyone else, Katherine."
Once all the questions had been asked and answered, the children quickly divided into their respective groups and eagerly began their treasure hunt. Margaret, Sarah, and Mrs. Pembroke assisted Grace in the great hall while the other two housemaids, along with Rupert and the footman, helped with the children outdoors. Despite knowing what was in her package, Elsie participated with as much gusto as the other children.
It took much of the morning for all of the children to find their parcels and return to the great hall. The adults overseeing the indoor group rescued two busts from destruction during the search. She hadn't yet heard the tally on outdoor casualties but figured that at the rate they were going, Mr. Pembroke would have very little statuary to maintain in the garden. The months since the children had been coming to the castle had seen a great reduction in the number of breakable works of art on display, in some cases because the pieces were moved to safety and in others because they did not get moved to safety quickly enough. Grace had lost count of how many items had met an energetic demise.
The children were all excited and eager as they sat, each with their parcel held close. The chatter in the great hall echoed louder than hunting dogs baying at a cornered fox. Grace couldn't help but smile as she gave the word. As the children began opening their packages, some ripped at the paper with abandon while others carefully opened the parcel so the paper wouldn't be damaged and could be reused.
To the last one, every child was delighted with what he or she received. The girls were naturally more excited about their new dresses. Though not as exuberant, the boys were equally pleased to have something new to wear that was theirs and theirs alone.
"Look at them," Grace said to the ladies gathered around her, the ones who had worked so hard to make this possible. "You all did this. Cherish this moment and always remember what it feels like to do a kindness to another without any expectation of a return."
In that moment Grace felt like she could take on the world, including the ton . Confidence filled her, lightening her step and emboldening her smile. No matter where life took her and Thomas, she would, with the strength and wisdom granted by her creator, be able to touch the lives of those around her in a positive way.
Fran jumped up from where she sat and ran to Grace, hurling herself into the duchess's arms. "Thank you oh so much, Your Grace! I love you!" Several of the other girls followed Fran's example, thanking the women who had done the sewing. Most of the boys held back, but Grace didn't mind. If she knew her pupils well, they'd each be saying a "thank you" upon their leave-taking. They weren't perfect, and they did their share of bickering, but she'd
With a chuckle, Grace sent her back to the group. "Here is our game today, everyone. The younger children will stay inside with me, and the older children will go outdoors with Mr. Rupert. We are going to have a treasure hunt. An item with your name written on it has been hidden. You need to find the item that bears your name, bring it back here to the great hall, and have a seat."
"What if you find something with someone else's name on it?"
"Good question, Samuel. If you can read the name and know who it belongs to, you may give it to them. If you cannot read the name, then you need to put it back and continue looking for your own parcel."
"Is there something in the parcel? Do we get to keep it?"
"Indeed there is, Joshua. And you will be able to keep it, but I want all of you together when you open them, so please, once you find your parcel, bring it back in here and have a seat."
"Why do we have to be together when we open them?"
"If someone opens theirs first, it might spoil the surprise for everyone else, Katherine."
Once all the questions had been asked and answered, the children quickly divided into their respective groups and eagerly began their treasure hunt. Margaret, Sarah, and Mrs. Pembroke assisted Grace in the great hall while the other two housemaids, along with Rupert and the footman, helped with the children outdoors. Despite knowing what was in her package, Elsie participated with as much gusto as the other children.
It took much of the morning for all of the children to find their parcels and return to the great hall. The adults overseeing the indoor group rescued two busts from destruction during the search. She hadn't yet heard the tally on outdoor casualties but figured that at the rate they were going, Mr. Pembroke would have very little statuary to maintain in the garden. The months since the children had been coming to the castle had seen a great reduction in the number of breakable works of art on display, in some cases because the pieces were moved to safety and in others because they did not get moved to safety quickly enough. Grace had lost count of how many items had met an energetic demise.
The children were all excited and eager as they sat, each with their parcel held close. The chatter in the great hall echoed louder than hunting dogs baying at a cornered fox. Grace couldn't help but smile as she gave the word. As the children began opening their packages, some ripped at the paper with abandon while others carefully opened the parcel so the paper wouldn't be damaged and could be reused.
To the last one, every child was delighted with what he or she received. The girls were naturally more excited about their new dresses. Though not as exuberant, the boys were equally pleased to have something new to wear that was theirs and theirs alone.
"Look at them," Grace said to the ladies gathered around her, the ones who had worked so hard to make this possible. "You all did this. Cherish this moment and always remember what it feels like to do a kindness to another without any expectation of a return."
In that moment Grace felt like she could take on the world, including the ton . Confidence filled her, lightening her step and emboldening her smile. No matter where life took her and Thomas, she would, with the strength and wisdom granted by her creator, be able to touch the lives of those around her in a positive way.
Fran jumped up from where she sat and ran to Grace, hurling herself into the duchess's arms. "Thank you oh so much, Your Grace! I love you!" Several of the other girls followed Fran's example, thanking the women who had done the sewing. Most of the boys held back, but Grace didn't mind. If she knew her pupils well, they'd each be saying a "thank you" upon their leave-taking. They weren't perfect, and they did their share of bickering, but she'd
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