with at least one good magazine a week, and read classic literature. I could then converse with her about those things so she would be prepared for social occasions.” Although this was a proper interview, I felt like we were children playing house, talking about teaching someone barely younger than we were as though we were real adults.
He nodded enthusiastically and smiled. “Good, that makes sense. I would want you to do the same on a smaller scale with Rollo. He’s getting a better education than she had, but I still feel it’s lacking. With Olive, we have a chance to start her correctly. I’ve yet to find an adequate school for girls. I may resort to cutting her hair and dressing her as a boy so she can attend a decent school.” He glanced at the open doorway and gave a friendly wave toward Mrs. Talbot. “I’m afraid my housekeeper doesn’t approve, but I want to make it clear that although she managed the correspondence for filling the position, you would report directly to me, not to her.”
He stood and extended a hand to assist me to my feet. “Now, would you like to meet the children?” He held his arm out to me, and I took it. He pointed out items of architectural interest as we made our way down the hall.
Inside a comfortable drawing room, a pretty, fair-haired girl played a grand piano while a lanky boy lay sprawled on the floor with schoolbooks in front of him. A little girl sat nearby with a book in her lap. The remnants of a tea were spread on a table in the middle of the room.
The smaller girl noticed us first. She jumped to her feet, crying out, “Uncle!” and ran to throw her arms around Lord Henry.
He tousled her brown curls and said, “Hello, Olive.” He then addressed the others. “Flora, Rollo, this is Miss Newton.”
The boy got to his feet, came over to me, and bowed formally. “Roland Lyndon, Marquis of Westchester, at your service, miss,” he said.
“But we call him Rollo,” Lord Henry said. “We don’t use titles at home.”
Flora merely nodded at me as she kept playing. She was quite good, both technically and in musicality. There was real depth to her interpretation of the music. I could see why her uncle felt she had the potential to be more than just a decorative object.
“Hello,” I said, feeling rather awkward. “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you.”
Olive flung her arms around my waist. If my corset hadn’t already been cinched so tightly, she would have knocked the breath out of me. “Are you going to stay with us?” she asked. My heart went out to this child, who had already lost both parents at such a young age.
I squeezed her in response and said, “That is for your uncle to decide.”
Lord Henry looked at me with surprise. “Oh, I thought you knew I was offering the position. You do want it?”
I didn’t know why I hesitated. I needed a job and a home, and this was my last option without starting my search anew. This was also the most beautiful home I’d ever seen and I’d already begun picturing myself living there. The only question was my nagging suspicion about Lord Henry. I studied his face again, and aside from his eyes, I saw nothing of the bandit. His way of walking, his mannerisms, even his voice were all different. The resemblance must have been my imagination.
“Why, yes, of course I do,” I said at last.
“Then we should discuss details such as salary and schedule. Children, you can get to know Miss Newton better at dinner.” He pried Olive’s arms from around me, then patted her on the head before escorting me back to the morning room.
As we walked, he said, “We dine informally at home unless we’re entertaining, and I do very little of that. You will join us, of course. That will be a good opportunity for the children to practice conversation. You’ll keep to a normal school schedule on weekdays and will have Saturdays and Sundays free, aside from any social events where you would be needed as chaperone.”
It was more generous than I could have imagined—almost too good to be true. When he told me my weekly salary, I wanted to pinch myself. Back in the morning room, he informed Mrs. Talbot that I had accepted the position. “Please show Miss Newton to her room,” he instructed. He gave