bed.“
Adorna flashed him an approving glance—well, of course she would, she had handled him—but addressed Charlotte. ”Which sounds as if we’ve doubled your duties, and in a way we have, but we would allow you an extra half day off a week and raise your salary.“
The high color left Charlotte’s cheeks. She looked down to veil her thoughts, and she visibly struggled with temptation. Money meant much to a woman who made her way alone in this world. Wynter comprehended that very well.
In her husky, persuasive voice, Adorna said, ”Charlotte, dear, this was why I came to the Governess School, to find someone like you for Wynter. As merchants, we are on probation with good society anyway.“
How that irritated him! That constant insistence that people who worked were less valued than those who were idle, and those of ancient lineage were sacred, regardless of their worth. If his Bedouins had thought so, he would be nothing but bleached bones buried in the sand—but he supposed he couldn’t expect the aristocratic English to display a tenth of the intelligence of a man of the desert. A man who earned his place by his wiles, his strength and his will to live.
Adorna drew breath, then continued, ”If he sustains his present course, not even my good connections can save him from utter ostracization—and that will harm the children’s future.“
”Unfair,“ Charlotte murmured.
She meant the use of the children as a persuader, but Adorna pretended not to understand. ”It is unfair, but it’s true. And it’s not as if you’ll be teaching him forever. Only until the Sereminian reception has come and gone.“
Charlotte caressed the rim of the snifter. Such graceful fingers, Wynter mused. Thin and well-kept, with a plain gold band on one index finger. A keepsake from a lover? He spoke his first thought. ”Where did you get the ring, Lady Miss Charlotte?“
Even his mother was taken aback by the seemingly random question. ”Wynter, don’t change the subject.“
”No, it’s quite all right. This was my mother’s wedding ring.“ Charlotte smoothed it with a fingertip. ”I didn’t steal it, if that is your suggestion.“
Shocked, he said, ”No! Thievery is not your way.“
”If you truly believe that,“ Charlotte said, ”then perhaps in the future you might refrain from interjecting a personal question in such an accusatory tone.“
Gravely, he nodded. ”You are right, Lady Miss Charlotte.“
Adorna giggled with delight. ”See? I know this will work. Oh, please, Charlotte, if you don’t have a care for my name, please think of England’s reputation. We mustn’t fail to present our best foot forward to the Sereminian delegation!“
”I doubt if the Sereminian delegation will comprehend the complexities of English society any better than Wynter does.“ But Charlotte had obviously weakened.
Adorna added the final fillip to Charlotte’s banquet of dismay. ”Queen Victoria will be our guest along with the Sereminians.“
Charlotte’s fingers tightened in her lap. ”Her Majesty? Here?“ She gazed on Wynter in open consternation. She looked at his bare feet, the legs protruding from beneath his djellaba, his untidy sprawl. ”With him?“
Solemnly, he bowed his head—and wiggled his toes. ”I am sure I would impress the queen with my forthright manner, for she is surely wise and strong.“
”No,“ Charlotte blurted. ”Her Majesty wouldn’t be impressed. Very well, Adorna, I will try, but only in the evenings, and… and I wish my salary to double during these months.“
”Double?“ Adorna, ever the businesswoman, looked taken aback.
But Wynter gave one quick nod of the head.
”Double, then.“ Adorna gave in with a brilliant smile.
Charlotte drained her glass, then stood. She listed slightly to the right, and Wynter put out his hand to steady her. But she shook him off. ”If that’s all, then I will retire to my chambers.“
’That’s all,” Adorna confirmed.
Moving
Adorna flashed him an approving glance—well, of course she would, she had handled him—but addressed Charlotte. ”Which sounds as if we’ve doubled your duties, and in a way we have, but we would allow you an extra half day off a week and raise your salary.“
The high color left Charlotte’s cheeks. She looked down to veil her thoughts, and she visibly struggled with temptation. Money meant much to a woman who made her way alone in this world. Wynter comprehended that very well.
In her husky, persuasive voice, Adorna said, ”Charlotte, dear, this was why I came to the Governess School, to find someone like you for Wynter. As merchants, we are on probation with good society anyway.“
How that irritated him! That constant insistence that people who worked were less valued than those who were idle, and those of ancient lineage were sacred, regardless of their worth. If his Bedouins had thought so, he would be nothing but bleached bones buried in the sand—but he supposed he couldn’t expect the aristocratic English to display a tenth of the intelligence of a man of the desert. A man who earned his place by his wiles, his strength and his will to live.
Adorna drew breath, then continued, ”If he sustains his present course, not even my good connections can save him from utter ostracization—and that will harm the children’s future.“
”Unfair,“ Charlotte murmured.
She meant the use of the children as a persuader, but Adorna pretended not to understand. ”It is unfair, but it’s true. And it’s not as if you’ll be teaching him forever. Only until the Sereminian reception has come and gone.“
Charlotte caressed the rim of the snifter. Such graceful fingers, Wynter mused. Thin and well-kept, with a plain gold band on one index finger. A keepsake from a lover? He spoke his first thought. ”Where did you get the ring, Lady Miss Charlotte?“
Even his mother was taken aback by the seemingly random question. ”Wynter, don’t change the subject.“
”No, it’s quite all right. This was my mother’s wedding ring.“ Charlotte smoothed it with a fingertip. ”I didn’t steal it, if that is your suggestion.“
Shocked, he said, ”No! Thievery is not your way.“
”If you truly believe that,“ Charlotte said, ”then perhaps in the future you might refrain from interjecting a personal question in such an accusatory tone.“
Gravely, he nodded. ”You are right, Lady Miss Charlotte.“
Adorna giggled with delight. ”See? I know this will work. Oh, please, Charlotte, if you don’t have a care for my name, please think of England’s reputation. We mustn’t fail to present our best foot forward to the Sereminian delegation!“
”I doubt if the Sereminian delegation will comprehend the complexities of English society any better than Wynter does.“ But Charlotte had obviously weakened.
Adorna added the final fillip to Charlotte’s banquet of dismay. ”Queen Victoria will be our guest along with the Sereminians.“
Charlotte’s fingers tightened in her lap. ”Her Majesty? Here?“ She gazed on Wynter in open consternation. She looked at his bare feet, the legs protruding from beneath his djellaba, his untidy sprawl. ”With him?“
Solemnly, he bowed his head—and wiggled his toes. ”I am sure I would impress the queen with my forthright manner, for she is surely wise and strong.“
”No,“ Charlotte blurted. ”Her Majesty wouldn’t be impressed. Very well, Adorna, I will try, but only in the evenings, and… and I wish my salary to double during these months.“
”Double?“ Adorna, ever the businesswoman, looked taken aback.
But Wynter gave one quick nod of the head.
”Double, then.“ Adorna gave in with a brilliant smile.
Charlotte drained her glass, then stood. She listed slightly to the right, and Wynter put out his hand to steady her. But she shook him off. ”If that’s all, then I will retire to my chambers.“
’That’s all,” Adorna confirmed.
Moving
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