Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,10
his name from the newspapers. Unfortunately, Nathan only lived a short while. He was found in his crib, dead after three days. The doctor consoled her, telling her that crib death was common and nothing could have been done to prevent it. Still, Elise watched the new Lord Ruthersby with fresh eyes. She wouldn’t have put it past him to sneak in and smother her baby but she had no proof and kept the accusation to herself. The law favored peers of the realm. Even in the case of murder. With no proof and no male protector, Elise held her tongue.
After Nathan’s death, though, she felt adrift. She’d written to her father, who explained that it wasn’t a good idea for her to come home, especially with a young child. She was still hurt that her parents had not attended Norwood’s funeral and now fumed when she wasn’t allowed to return to them. As the dowager countess, she had the option of staying on with her husband’s family and informed the new earl that she’d decided to do so. He had agreed—but it was Ruthersby’s wife who was the real power in the family. Her sister-in-law had made Elise into the family nanny for their two boys.
She turned onto her side and smoothed Claire’s hair. She supposed every mother thought their children to be perfect. Lady Ruthersby certainly did. Joseph and Josiah were holy terrors and had already run off three nannies before Elise became the latest one. She couldn’t understand why her sister-in-law had named the boys as she had, the names resembling one another so closely, but she rarely understood anything the woman did. She only knew that her staying was dependent upon keeping Joseph and Josiah in line.
Unexpectedly, she had pulled off a miracle. The boys, who’d been badly behaved during her entire confinement, were now merely high-spirited. Trouble still seemed to find them but she had established a firm yet loving relationship with her nephews. What worried her now was the fact that Joseph had just turned seven and Josiah would be six next spring. The older boy would be sent off to school next autumn and the younger would follow the year after. Elise wondered if she would still be allowed to remain at the family residence, caring for the boys when they returned on school holidays. It terrified her what might happen to her and Claire if she were asked to leave.
That thought had kept her awake many nights in the last few weeks. If Lord or Lady Ruthersby did ask her to leave, she would be forced to return to her parents, whether Mama liked it or not. Perhaps her father could give her a small income that would allow her to rent a cottage in the country nearby or even a few rooms in London.
Claire began to stir and Elise slipped from the bed, quickly performing her morning ablution and dressing for the day. Then she went to the bed and gently shook her daughter.
“Good morning, my lovely,” she said. “Are you ready for another day?”
Claire opened her eyes and smiled. Elise lived for the girl’s smiles.
“Good morning, Mama. I love you.”
She kissed her daughter’s brow. “And I love you, my precious. Come, let’s dress and braid your hair and then you can go to the schoolroom. You may read while I ready your cousins for the day.”
Once she had Claire settled with a book, Elise went to the room Joseph and Josiah shared. Both boys were grumpy in the morning and it took twice as long to get them out of bed and dressed than it did Claire. Once up, though, they were in better spirits. Joseph ran and opened the door that led to the schoolroom. The small bedchamber she shared with Claire was on the other side of the schoolroom.
As they entered, a maid came in with the breakfast tray.
“Morning, my lady,” she said brightly. “Morning, little lords and my lady.”
The children greeted her politely. Manners was one thing Elise had stressed from the beginning with her new charges. It had taken a while but now both her nephews were responsive and kind toward the servants.
She helped distribute the breakfast and as they ate, they discussed their lessons for the day. Claire, having no nursery governess of her own, sat in on the boys’ lessons and could already read as well as Josiah, despite the fact that she would only be four in a few days. She could also