Faraday. You need not think to begin your reign by reprimanding your employer!’
Nell had to laugh. ‘Indeed, no, sir. But I wish you will tell me about my charge.’
She then wished she had not spoken, for again he pokered up. Heavens, but the man was difficult! She put a tentative question.
‘Did I understand correctly that the child will need careful handling? I assure you I am not inexperienced, sir. I do not wish to boast, but I have for years past been relied upon to pour calm on troubled waters, and to deal with the more difficult of my younger companions at the Seminary. Indeed, one of my particular friends has been much in my charge, for she cherishes ambitions that have no place in her future.’
Jarrow listened with impatience. If she supposed such actions fitted her to deal with Hetty, she much mistook the matter! God, why had he engaged her? It was never going to work. He should have known it. Fate was merciless, and there could be no quarter. The bitterness erupted.
‘Miss Faraday, I would not wish to belittle any particular assistance you may have rendered among no doubt troublesome chits, but you can hardly have had experience of dealing with what now lies before you. Unless you happen to have spent some time in an asylum for lunatics?’
Chapter Two
N ell stared, unable to credit the evidence of her own ears. If Lord Jarrow had said what she thought! There was a blaze in his eyes and a white shade around the tight-lipped mouth. For an instant, it struck her that it was her employer and not his daughter who was—as he had intimated—insane. The absurdity of this thought brought her out of the shock. Wrath replaced it.
‘Am I to understand, sir, that you believe Miss Jarrow to be deranged?’
He flinched, turning his eyes away. But Nell was too angry to heed his hurt.
‘If that is indeed the case, I can only say that the matter should have been made clear and laid before Mrs Duxford at the outset. To have concealed such a thing must be detrimental both to your daughter and to any female who had taken on this post!’
Jarrow shifted uncomfortably. ‘I know it.’
‘Then why—?’
He turned on her. ‘Because it is not what I know to be the case. It is only what I dread!’
‘Heavens, but why ?’
Jarrow shrugged. Why beat about the bush? She mustdiscover it sooner or later. Yet he could not bring himself to make a recital of those disquieting signs that tortured him. He prevaricated.
‘There is reason enough. We have—’ he drew a painful breath ‘—instances of insanity in the family.’
She was looking at him in a stricken sort of way. God, but he had thrown the cat among the pigeons now! He must do what he might to mend it. Only the words that came out of his mouth did little to further that intention.
‘You need have no apprehension. You will not be expected to deal with the violence of Hetty’s tantrums.’
Nell glared at him. ‘Tantrums? Is that all? And upon this you base the wicked supposition that the poor child has lost her wits?’
‘It is by no means all! But let that pass.’
Watching as he shunted restlessly across the passage and back again, Nell’s temper began to cool. Had it been shock that had caused her to lose her sang-froid? It had been the crowning horror to a singularly difficult day! But she had been wrong to attack him.
‘I should not have spoken to you so. Only what reason have you for supposing Miss Jarrow to have inherited the trait?’
‘She may not have done so. My hope is that she will grow out of it, but it cannot be gainsaid that there is room for doubt.’
‘But why do you fear it, sir? What manifestations have you seen?’
He halted before her, the dark eyes hard. ‘I would prefer to let you see for yourself. You will find out soon enough.’
But this would not do for Nell. ‘Sir, I must insist upon knowing at least what I may expect. You spoke of tantrums, but—’
‘Miss Faraday, I will say no more! I would not wish to
Nell had to laugh. ‘Indeed, no, sir. But I wish you will tell me about my charge.’
She then wished she had not spoken, for again he pokered up. Heavens, but the man was difficult! She put a tentative question.
‘Did I understand correctly that the child will need careful handling? I assure you I am not inexperienced, sir. I do not wish to boast, but I have for years past been relied upon to pour calm on troubled waters, and to deal with the more difficult of my younger companions at the Seminary. Indeed, one of my particular friends has been much in my charge, for she cherishes ambitions that have no place in her future.’
Jarrow listened with impatience. If she supposed such actions fitted her to deal with Hetty, she much mistook the matter! God, why had he engaged her? It was never going to work. He should have known it. Fate was merciless, and there could be no quarter. The bitterness erupted.
‘Miss Faraday, I would not wish to belittle any particular assistance you may have rendered among no doubt troublesome chits, but you can hardly have had experience of dealing with what now lies before you. Unless you happen to have spent some time in an asylum for lunatics?’
Chapter Two
N ell stared, unable to credit the evidence of her own ears. If Lord Jarrow had said what she thought! There was a blaze in his eyes and a white shade around the tight-lipped mouth. For an instant, it struck her that it was her employer and not his daughter who was—as he had intimated—insane. The absurdity of this thought brought her out of the shock. Wrath replaced it.
‘Am I to understand, sir, that you believe Miss Jarrow to be deranged?’
He flinched, turning his eyes away. But Nell was too angry to heed his hurt.
‘If that is indeed the case, I can only say that the matter should have been made clear and laid before Mrs Duxford at the outset. To have concealed such a thing must be detrimental both to your daughter and to any female who had taken on this post!’
Jarrow shifted uncomfortably. ‘I know it.’
‘Then why—?’
He turned on her. ‘Because it is not what I know to be the case. It is only what I dread!’
‘Heavens, but why ?’
Jarrow shrugged. Why beat about the bush? She mustdiscover it sooner or later. Yet he could not bring himself to make a recital of those disquieting signs that tortured him. He prevaricated.
‘There is reason enough. We have—’ he drew a painful breath ‘—instances of insanity in the family.’
She was looking at him in a stricken sort of way. God, but he had thrown the cat among the pigeons now! He must do what he might to mend it. Only the words that came out of his mouth did little to further that intention.
‘You need have no apprehension. You will not be expected to deal with the violence of Hetty’s tantrums.’
Nell glared at him. ‘Tantrums? Is that all? And upon this you base the wicked supposition that the poor child has lost her wits?’
‘It is by no means all! But let that pass.’
Watching as he shunted restlessly across the passage and back again, Nell’s temper began to cool. Had it been shock that had caused her to lose her sang-froid? It had been the crowning horror to a singularly difficult day! But she had been wrong to attack him.
‘I should not have spoken to you so. Only what reason have you for supposing Miss Jarrow to have inherited the trait?’
‘She may not have done so. My hope is that she will grow out of it, but it cannot be gainsaid that there is room for doubt.’
‘But why do you fear it, sir? What manifestations have you seen?’
He halted before her, the dark eyes hard. ‘I would prefer to let you see for yourself. You will find out soon enough.’
But this would not do for Nell. ‘Sir, I must insist upon knowing at least what I may expect. You spoke of tantrums, but—’
‘Miss Faraday, I will say no more! I would not wish to
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