The Gentleman and the Thief (The Dread Penny Society #2) - Sarah M. Eden Page 0,10
Gardens?’ and he said he did not believe we would. But I knew we would. I knew!”
Hollis slipped her arms free of his neck and placed the pansies in her hand. He took her other hand in his own. “Seems to me, dear brother, you ought to have greater faith in your daughter’s ability to predict the future.”
Eloise had been a favorite of his ever since she was a baby. She had the Darby stubbornness but a healthy dose of her mother’s more contemplative side.
“How are you, Hollis?” Cora asked. “I’ve not seen you this age.”
“Randolph already scolded me for neglecting to come for dinner. I do intend to rectify that, I promise you.” He looked to Eloise once more. “I attended a musicale last evening, and do you know what I thought to myself again and again?”
“What?”
“That, given ten years or so, I would be sitting in a fine room like that listening to my Eloise play music for everyone.” He leaned closer. “Have you been practicing as your governess asked?”
“Miss Dowling has no musical ability.” Eloise made the observation with the unmistakable inflection of someone repeating something they’d heard said a few times.
His gaze shifted to the girl’s parents. Randolph nodded subtly but unmistakably, motioning them onward, toward the nearest end of the market. Little Addison walked with his hand firmly held by his mother. Hollis kept Eloise at his side.
“Miss Dowling is an excellent governess, but she is rather hopeless at musical instruction,” Cora said. “I suppose we will have little choice but to employ a musical tutor.”
The family’s financial situation was not an easy one. Could they afford a tutor? Sweet Eloise received so much enjoyment from what little music she’d learned to play. It would be a shame to take that away from her.
“Perhaps if you had a teacher come in once a week to offer instruction,” Hollis said. “That arrangement could likely be made for a reasonable—”
Randolph shot him a look of warning. Talking about money was considered rather lower-class. Ironic, really, considering money was a significant part of what separated the classes.
Hollis changed the ending of his sentence. “—effort. In fact, I know a teacher of music who would be an excellent choice.”
“Do you?” Cora was clearly intrigued.
“She is a lady, by birth though no longer by fortune. She currently teaches at Thurloe Collegiate School, which is an excellent school for girls from respectable families. Her abilities and standing are so well regarded that she, just last evening, graced Mrs. Kennard’s musicale with an astoundingly impressive performance.”
“Oh, Randolph.” Cora took hold of her husband’s hand. “She sounds perfect.”
Not many in their circles permitted public displays of affection, not even something as simple as holding hands. Hollis had always admired that Randolph and Cora did.
“Would you ask if she is interested or available for private lessons?” Randolph asked him. “I don’t know what flexibility she has, already being employed as a teacher.”
Hollis understood the question his brother also wished him to ask: What would her fee be? “If you would be willing to drop me at Thurloe, I would be happy to inquire this very day.”
Not many minutes later, they did precisely that. With an acknowledgment of Cora’s gratitude, Randolph’s trust, Eloise’s sweet kiss on his cheek, and Addison’s continued wariness, Hollis climbed from the carriage and made his way to the door of the school. This was calling day for the teachers, so he would be permitted ample opportunity to visit with Ana. If he’d thought he could manage it without drawing too much attention, he would have called every week.
Randolph and Cora had given him the perfect excuse. He tipped his proverbial hat to them for that.
To his relief, Ana appeared pleased to see him. A young pup had come to call on her, something that never failed to be the case on the rare occasions he, himself, made an appearance. He motioned with his head toward the man. Her look of exhausted frustration told him all he needed to know. The Dreadfuls might not have trusted him often with anything furtive, but he’d learned a thing or two about dispatching difficult people. With a quick dip of his head and a preemptive word of appreciation to the man for giving up his place, Hollis took the young gentleman’s seat, leaving him standing about.
“What a pleasure to see you, Mr. Darby,” Ana said, her gratitude apparent. “What brings you around?”
“It is calling day, is it not?” He offered his most winning smile.