Dom ordered a footman to make the child ready and called for his curricle.
He entered the hall, and Tom looked up with anxious eyes. “Are you going to give me to someone else?”
Dom took the boy’s hand, leading him out to the pavement. “No, I am going to see about lessons for you with some other children. They are cousins of mine. I think you will like them.”
The boy gave a little skip, but didn’t reply.
He stopped at Stanwood House first, hoping to be able to discuss the matter with Grace.
The butler opened the door. “Good day, my lord.”
Inclining his head slightly, Dom gave the man his hat, gloves, and cane. “Royston, is Lady Worthington at home to visitors?”
“Yes, my lord. If you will follow me?” He stopped before a door at the end of the corridor and knocked, then opened it. “My lady, Lord Merton to see you.”
Grace glanced up from the ledgers on her desk and rose. “This is a surprise.” Dom’s defenses started to rise, but she smiled. “A pleasant one. Royston, some tea please, and I believe Cook may have some jam tarts.” She glanced at Tom, then walked to a small sofa. “This must be Tom. He cleaned up very well. Have a seat and tell me what I can do for you.”
Dom sat in a large leather chair, and Tom climbed onto his lap. “If what I suggest is not possible, please feel free to tell me. I would like Tom to take lessons with your brood.”
Grace gazed at the child as she considered his request. “I don’t see why not, but I shall want to consult Miss Tallerton and Mr. Winters. They will wish to assess where Tom is in his studies, unless you happen to know?”
Dom shook his head. It hadn’t even occurred to him to ask what the boy had been studying when his mother died. “No, please feel free to call them down.”
Grace tugged the bell pull and a footman poked his head in. “I would like Miss Tallerton and Mr. Winters to attend me when it is convenient for them to make a pause.”
“Yes, my lady.”
That was not how to run a household. Anyone who worked for him was expected to come immediately upon his request. “I would have thought we could do this posthaste.”
She regarded him calmly. “You have not had your tea yet.” “Yes, but—”
Then she gave him a look that would have done his old nurse credit. “I will not interrupt the children’s studies. They have a strict schedule that must be maintained.”
He grimaced. “I apologize. I should have realized that you must maintain order.”
“Precisely. It would be utter chaos if I did not.” She glanced at a large mahogany grandfather clock. “They will be down soon.”
Shortly after tea arrived, he heard what sounded like a herd of horses stampeding through the house, accompanied by high-pitched squeals.
“Ah.” Grace set her cup down. “Playtime.”
How different this was to the way he’d been raised. After his father’s death, he’d not been allowed to run in the house or yell. He knew he would sound stupid by asking, but couldn’t help himself. “What will the children do now?”
“They will run about outside for the next ten minutes or so, then go into luncheon. After which they will have their individual studies.”
Dom shook his head, not understanding.
“They each play a musical instrument and must be proficient enough not to embarrass themselves if called upon to perform. They also learn the rudiments of drawing, though I admit, the only one of us who can sketch with any skill is Matt. Then there are foreign languages. The older ones are taught Latin, Greek, advanced maths, and science. Then there is French and Italian. Additionally, the girls must practice their needlework.”
Other than needlework, it was very much like what Dom had studied. What surprised him was that the boys and girls apparently had the same lessons. “Will you send them to school?”
“The boys, yes. Neither Matt nor I have a great opinion of girls’ schools. Fortunately, there are enough of them that they will not be lonely.”
As he had been.
A knock came on the door and a tall fair woman accompanied by an even taller gentleman with light brown hair entered the room.
“You wanted to see us, my lady?”
