Virtue of a Governess (26 page)

“Yes, and Nathaniel instructed for a lake to be built and willows to be planted on the edge of it.”

“Willows, a lake?” Frances looked from one to the other. “I’m wondering if this is really my brother, the man who hates to spend money on such frivolous things.”

Nicola looked from Fran to Nathaniel, the warmth leaving her face. “Did I spend too much? You should have said, Nathaniel. I should have known, especially as we decorated this house before our wedding. I can cancel—”

He reached over and took her hand. “Darling, do not listen to my sister. I am quite able to finance the refurbishment of two houses.” He sat back and gave Frances a scowl. “Mind your own business, Frances, please, and stop frightening Nicola with your stories of how bad a person I am. You’ll undo all the good work I’ve done in the last several weeks.”

“I wasn’t. I was merely stating the fact that you hate spending money.”

“Only on things that have no value or concern to me, which in this case doesn’t apply.” He lifted up his newspaper again.

“I’m sorry, Nic.” Frances gave an apologetic smile which split into a grin. “Do tell me more.”

“We received so many invitations and met a great deal of people. As a thank you to the friendship offered to us during our stay we held a wonderful dinner party last week. I was very nervous. I’ve never organised such an occasion before. We had twenty-four couples and five courses.”

“I’m sure you did a wonderful job of it. If you can run a women’s home you can hold a dinner party.”

Nathaniel lowered the newspaper, his expression one of mischief. “Fran, you would have been proud of our Nicola, she was adored by all the men and made friends of their jealous wives. Not an easy task I grant you.”

“This is a side of my sister-in-law I’ve not seen.” Frances’s eyes widened. “With all this excitement I’m surprised you returned home at all.”

“I did enjoy my time there and look forward to staying at the house each year.” She poured more coffee into her cup, thinking about how comfortable she’d been in the country with Nathaniel. “Actually, Nathaniel and I have decided that we’ll spend three or four months each year at the country property. Camden is a growing town and the people are friendly. Autumn seems to be the perfect time to be there as it’s not too hot or too cold.”

Agnes, the parlourmaid, entered the room carrying a small tray which held the morning’s post. She placed it next to Nathaniel and then turned to Nicola. “Excuse me, Madam, would you care for a fresh pot of coffee?”

Nicola gave a questioning look to Nathaniel and Frances, both shook their heads. “No, thank you, Agnes. We have sufficient.”

“Very good, Madam.”

“How have you found the staff, Frances?” Nicola asked after Agnes had left carrying some of the dirty plates from the sideboard.

“They’ve been rather good and cared for my every need.”

“I am pleased. We were here only a short time, a couple of days before we left for the country and I wasn’t able to get a thorough opinion of them. I’m glad you moved in to supervise them.” The clock in the hallway struck the hour. “Have you called in at the Home recently?”

“Two days ago.” Frances dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “They are all missing you tremendously. Miss McIntyre had the women and staff in a frenzy of cleaning in readiness of your homecoming.”

“Ah, but this is Nicola’s home now,” Nathaniel murmured.

“Oh, shush, Nat, you know what I mean. They all think so highly of your wife. You have to share her, you understand.” She turned back to Nicola. “Miss Shaw obtained a position in Parramatta and Miss Clarke also has a situation up in the north country near Armidale.”

“How excellent. I cannot wait to see them and hear their news.” Eager to check that all was in order at the Home, she hurriedly finished her meal.

“Darling,” Nat looked at her fondly, as one would do an impatient child, “The Home will not fall to ruin just because you have some breakfast.”

“I know. It’s just that I have missed them.”

“Shall I drop you off on my way then?”

“Are you ready to leave now?”

He swallowed the last of his coffee. “Yes, come along then.” He sighed, but his eyes held humour and devotion.

“You might as well drop me off at the soup kitchen as well.” Frances rose from her chair.

“Isn’t the soup kitchen open tomorrow, not today?” Nicola asked, collecting her gloves from the table in the hall.

“Yes, but also today too. The demand has grown so much that we have to open an extra day.”

“Can you afford to, Fran?” Nathaniel asked, pulling on his leather gloves.

“Can we afford not to?” Fran shrugged helplessly.

“I’ll come and help you tomorrow.” Nicola squeezed her hand. They continued chatting out to the carriage and on the way to the Home.

Nicola waved them away from the front steps of the Home and then turned to find the door being opened and most of the women rushing out to greet her.

“How well you look, Mrs West.” Florence McIntyre beamed, the others chorusing the same sentiments.

“I’ve missed everyone.” Nicola ushered them inside, smiling and greeting them individually. “How are you all?”

The women started talking at once until the hall rang with noise.

“Enough!” Florence clapped. “Lord above, you’ll be sending Mrs West deaf within the hour at that rate.” She turned to Nicola. “Would you prefer to have the business side of things done first, Mrs West, and then take tea with us afterwards?”

“Superb idea, Florence.” She thanked the women again for their homecoming and headed for the study.

Once seated behind her desk, she found the account books opened for her inspection. She smiled at Florence, who sat stiffly in the chair on the other side of the desk. “How’s it been?”

“Quite good, Mrs West, we’ve—”

“Florence, please, while we are in each other’s company I would prefer it if you called me Nicola. I’m not used to my new title as yet and I feel, between the two of us, that we are friends enough to be less formal.”

Florence looked startled at the request. “Are you sure?”

“Definitely. So it is agreed?”

“Yes, thank you…Nicola.”

“Good. Now, to business. The letters you sent to me while I was in the country were a great help. I felt I could relax knowing you had everything under control.”

“Thankfully, we had no emergencies while you were away. Mrs Nesbit only got drunk once and Hannah broke just three plates.” Florence let out a long breath, as though grateful that’s all that happened.

“My sister-in-law tells me Miss Clarke and Miss Shaw have gained situations?”

“Oh yes, indeed. Most happy they are too. Miss Shaw leaves tomorrow and Miss Clarke on Friday.”

Nicola concentrated on the figures before her. “When do your two sisters arrive, or have they already? There was some delay was there not?”

“I’m expecting them any day. I told them to send a telegram from Melbourne if they are able to get shore leave there. But I’ve heard nothing so far. I scan the papers each day for news of sightings of their ship.” A worried frown appeared on Florence’s face. “I do hope all is well with them.”

“I’m sure everything is, Florence. Sometimes we just have to be patient. The journey from Scotland to this country is extensive, as you know, and at the mercy of the others for much of it.”

“Upstairs I have prepared the end room on the right for them. Does that meet with your approval? They’ll be happy to share. Fiona is sensible and will not have brought much with her and Fanny is of a slight build. So, they’ll hardly take up any room.”

“I’m sure they are delightful girls. They’ve come a long way, so do make sure they are comfortable. I know you do not want any favours for them, being your sisters, but since you’ve offered to pay for their keep out of your wages, then they deserve the same considerations as all the other women here.” Nicola smiled.

“Thank you, Mrs-Nicola. At seventeen and fifteen, I’m hoping they’ll find work soon enough.”

“I’m sure they will. Now, the schoolroom and orphanage. I’m most eager to see them. Are they finally finished?”

“Yes, the orphanage dormitory is, but not the schoolroom, there have been problems with the foundations. It seems a spring runs beneath the ground and it’s causing subsidence. I’m afraid the foreman’s conversation about it all goes over my head and I understand very little.”

“I’ll ask my husband to speak with the builders. We shall need to put advertisements in the newspaper and spread the word that we can now take paying students. I’ll have to talk to the women about this too. Do you know of any who are eager to teach in the schoolroom?”

“Miss Peacock has expressed a desire to, as well as Miss Barker, who received her teacher’s certificate yesterday. She passed her exams exceedingly well.”

“Excellent. That is a good start. I will help out when I can too.” Nicola turned the page of one of the accounts books and studied the figures. “Have you seen Mr Belfroy?”

“Yes, only yesterday morning. He came to see if you were returned from the country and to celebrate Miss Barker gaining her certificate.”

“He is well?”

“The same as usual, I think.”

Nicola nodded and reached for the occupancy ledger. “We have two new arrivals?” She frowned, not remembering any new faces earlier.

“Mrs Patterson and Miss Nelson.”

A look of uncertainty crossed Florence’s face. “What is it?”

“Nothing really…”

“But something?”

“Mrs Patterson is a kind lady, but…um…quite elderly. Nearly seventy, I’m afraid. She keeps to her room a great deal.”

Nicola blinked in surprise. “Seventy years old?”

“She has excellent references. She came out to this country last year with a new family, after spending most of her life with a noble family in Ireland, who sadly didn’t offer her a pension and so she had to find a new position. Unfortunately, the situation with the new family didn’t work out and now she is here. She told me quite adamantly that her health had been perfect up until the voyage out when she caught a chill. Since then she has constantly been unwell.”

“I feel at her age she will have trouble finding another position and if her health is bad, then perhaps she will do well to stay here awhile to recuperate. I doubt she should be working at her age. We’ll look after her.” Nicola scanned Mrs Patterson’s details in the agency book. “How has the agency been doing? Any interest from prospective employers?”

“Not too many as yet. The enquiries have been for housemaids. As you can see we have plenty of women listed, but I feel we need to advertise the agency more.”

“I agree.” Nicola took out her diary from the top drawer. “I’ll make arrangements to do that in the morning.”

They talked business for another fifteen minutes until eager for a cup of tea, they left the study and went to the parlour where the women had gathered. While enjoying a splendid morning tea, Nicola chatted to the women, met Mrs Patterson and Miss Nelson and then toured the new building work.

By midafternoon, Nicola was again busy at her desk. Mr Belfroy had been to welcome her back and they had discussed business for an hour and done another tour of the buildings.

Rubbing her neck muscles, Nicola leaned back in her chair. While absent, the Home had gone along smoothly with Florence at its head. She didn’t know whether to be pleased about it or hurt that she was replaceable. Before her marriage, the Home and the women in it had been everything to her. It was difficult to let go of some of the control.

Her thoughts returned to the conversation she had with Frances at breakfast. The mention of Nathaniel’s money disturbed her. She had no real thought to his wealth before and now wondered just how rich he was. He never seemed to be concerned about such things, but then he might be hiding it from her. Money was one subject they had not discussed.

After a slight knock, the door opened and Nathaniel popped his head around. “Am I disturbing you?”

His warm loving smile made her tingle. “No, you aren’t disturbing me.” She rose as he came into the room. “I didn’t expect to see you for hours yet.”

He stepped behind the desk and took her into his arms. She sagged against him as they kissed. There was no better feeling than being held by him. “I missed you.”

She cupped his cheek in one hand. “And I you.”

“Really?” Doubt clouded his eyes.

“I did.”

“I thought you’d have been far too busy to think of me.”

“Even when I’m full of activity I miss you.” She kissed him, seeing the signs now of his lack of confidence where her love was concerned. He’d been damaged by his cold upbringing and it didn’t take much for him to doubt her affections.

“Good.” He caressed her fingers of one hand, kissing each one in turn. “I met with my solicitor and a few other business partners, Jonas Cox and Matthew Wright, but I couldn’t concentrate.”

“Shall we go home?”

“Have you finished here for the day?”

“Yes. There’s always tomorrow.”

He frowned. “I thought we could spend tomorrow together.”

“I promised Fran I’d help at the soup kitchen and I’ve advertisements to place in the newspapers.” She kissed him again, hating to see the disappointment on his face. “I promise you that we’ll spend the day after together.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” He let her go so she could pack away her books and gather her things.

In the carriage going home, Nicola held Nathaniel’s hand, her mind whirling with thoughts on how wealthy her husband might or might not be. By the time they reached the house she’d made the decision to talk to him about it. She knew most women didn’t trouble themselves about finances, but she wasn’t most women. Indeed, she wondered if she’d have a battle on her hands in getting information out of Nathaniel. After all, some gentlemen refused to discuss such matters with their wives, believing it to be none of their business. Would Nathaniel be the same?

In the drawing room, Nathaniel spoke to Mrs Rawlings, and ordered some tea. Nicola nodded at the housekeeper as she left the room and sat down on the sofa beneath the window.

“You’re wearing a frown, sweetheart. Is something wrong?”

Now was a good a time as any to mention her worries. “I’ve been thinking about what was said at the breakfast table this morning.”

It was Nat’s turn to frown. “About what?”

“Money.”