The Master of Stonegrave Hall. Helen Dickson

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СКАЧАТЬ all. I am not ignorant of the meaning and would not be insulted of being named as such. I have enjoyed my time at the Academy, but unlike some of the pupils, who come from wealthy families and will marry gentlemen who will be delighted to marry a clever woman, as an independent woman who will have to make her own way in the world, education is important and necessary to my future.’

      ‘Your father would have been proud of you.’

      ‘I would like to think so.’ Victoria wondered what Lord Rockford would say if she were to tell him that her father’s dedication to his profession and to making sure his only child would be able to take care of herself when the time came, was due to his wife’s impassiveness and lack of involvement in both their lives, caused by her clear devotion to his own mother, her previous employer.

      ‘I have always had the idea of following in my father’s footsteps,’ she went on. ‘Not, of course, to go to university because ladies are not admitted, but staying on at the Academy would fit me out to be a teacher. I have my future to consider and there are few occupations appropriate for young women.’

      ‘I suppose a position as a governess may offer intelligent young ladies a roof over their heads.’

      ‘Exactly, and many gracious families prefer to employ a resident governess for the education of their daughters and younger sons than send them away to school.’

      ‘I suppose it is an occupation which will keep you occupied from morn till night without a moment to be spared for frivolous pastimes with which some ladies fill their days.’

      ‘I do not spend my days light-mindedly, sir, though I do leave myself time to do as I please.’

      ‘Indeed? The picture I have of you is that you do not employ yourself with useless activities.’

      Victoria bristled. Was he implying that he found her uninteresting and plain? ‘We have only just met, sir. I cannot imagine that you have any picture of me in your mind. In fact, I fail to see how you have had the time to form any picture at all.’

      ‘I recognise an intelligent female when I see one, Miss Lewis, and I can only extend my sincerest admiration when I do.’

      ‘You do?’ Victoria wasn’t convinced.

      ‘Indeed. My mother involved herself in improving the education of young ladies—and other charitable works. She was quite the saint, in fact.’

      ‘I am no saint, sir. Far from it.’ The mere thought of it brought a smile to her lips.

      The unexpectedness of it sent a jolt through Laurence that stole his breath and robbed him momentarily of his common sense. He, Laurence Rockford, who had stared down thieves and cut-throats on the meanest streets from Europe to America, who snapped his fingers at death, found himself mesmerised and weakened in the presence of this pretty girl. How utterly absurd!

      ‘And you are confident that you are competent in your subjects and able to impart your knowledge to others, are you, Miss Lewis?’

      ‘I hope to achieve a certificate of qualification in further education very soon. Miss Carver has encouraged my ideas—and my mother supports my ambition.’

      Drawing a deep breath, Laurence regarded her with a steady gaze. At last they had got down to the reason why she was here at Stonegrave Hall. ‘You have seen your mother?’

      ‘Yes. She is very ill. I am grateful to you for bringing her here. I would very much like to take her home where I can take care of her myself, but I have been told the cottage has been taken from us. Is there some mistake in this?’

      ‘No mistake. I would say your information is entirely accurate.’

      ‘Forgive me if I appear confused and more than a little concerned, but I really do not understand what is happening. I return home to find I no longer have a home and my mother has been brought to live at the Hall. You must see that it is all most unusual and unsettling for me.’

      The answer came, swift, decisive, and in distinctly harsher tones. ‘It must seem that way and I realise how alarmed and upset you must have been at the time.’ He gave her a narrow look. ‘Do you have an aversion to staying here?’

      She searched his eyes, then looked away. The anger she had felt when Mrs Knowles had told her that the cottage was being made ready for a new tenant was beginning to reassert itself. ‘No—it’s just...’

      Laurence caught the flame that ignited in her eyes before she turned away. His own narrowed. ‘Careful, Miss Lewis. Your temper is about to resurrect itself.’

      ‘Maybe that’s because I have a streak to my nature that fiercely rebels against being ordered what to do.’

      ‘I have a formidable temper myself,’ he told her with icy calm.

      Spinning her head round to look at him once more, she swallowed hard as his cold blue eyes bored into hers. It had not taken her long to throw good judgement aside and flare up at him. She must learn to control her feelings better, but with her emotions roiling all over the place it was proving difficult.

      ‘When anything happens to my mother, do you mind telling me what I am expected to do—where I will live now my home has been taken from me? Surely you must understand my concern.’

      ‘Of course, and I am sure your mother has taken everything into consideration.’

      ‘She has? Will you please explain it to me?’

      ‘I am sure your mother will do that if you ask her. I have not been made privy to her plans—and if I had it would not be my place to discuss them with you without her permission.’

      ‘No—of course not. I’m sorry. I should have known better than to ask.’ Victoria loathed herself for apologising and for being a coward. Another woman might rant and rave at him for taking it upon himself to do what he had done—or go beyond good thinking and slap his arrogant face. But she couldn’t feature herself doing such a thing.

      ‘Much as I admire your spirit, you should take special care to bite your tongue sooner,’ Laurence chided. ‘You will grow tired of pleading for my pardon if you do not.’

      She glared at him with accusation. ‘It is difficult to be silent when I find my home has been taken from me. Not only have you taken that, but my liberty as well. You have left me with nothing.’

      ‘I disagree. Are you not comfortable here?’

      ‘How would I know that? I have only just arrived.’

      ‘The staff will see that you want for nothing.’

      After a second’s pause, during which the defensive tension in her shoulders eased slightly, she said, ‘I know and I don’t mean to sound ungrateful—but I would prefer to nurse my mother myself in our own home.’

      ‘I can understand that, but you weren’t here to be consulted. The decision to let the cottage go was your mother’s, no one else’s. Betty’s condition has become progressively worse since she came here,’ he said, with the familiarity of long acquaintance. ‘She is far too ill to be moved. Even if you still had the cottage, the doctor would advise you against taking her back there.’

      ‘But—when she is better...’ Her СКАЧАТЬ