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A flush tinged her cheeks, betraying embarrassment—and, unless he mistook her expression, no small amount of alarm. “Again, I must offer my apologies, monsieur. Our policy allows for only female residents. However, in addition to your wages, I can offer a reasonable stipend to pay for lodgings. I can even give you a worthy recommendation for a house within convenient walking distance.”
“I see.” All too clearly. Damn. “Then I’ll need to know whether the position is mine as soon as possible—to give me adequate time to arrange accommodations.”
“Of course,” she agreed. “I will notify you by the end of next week.”
He could only nod assent, though it put rather an unfortunate kink in his plans. It would’ve been far easier to conduct an investigation if he were living here.
Her low, husky voice, so unlike the high-pitched twitter affected by many women, interrupted his disappointed ruminations. “Would you like a tour of the school?”
His sharp eyes missed nothing as his guide led him through the building, but all they saw were neatly groomed, happy little girls and an establishment that reflected the headmistress’s brisk and efficient demeanor. Everything was in perfect order from the scullery to the rafters. If anything nefarious were going on here, it was well concealed.
Sir Gonson was either mistaken or the ugliness was buried deep. By the time the tour was over and they’d settled in the dining hall for a cup of tea, Will was sure she was hiding something. Not because of anything overt on her part; it was more of a gut feeling.
Madame Trouvère was prim, proper, and respectable—and just a little too stiff to be true. No woman that bloody attractive—he couldn’t deny it—was unaware of her effect on men. Women like her used their beauty like a weapon to disarm, charm, and distract. Yet she hadn’t so much as fluttered her lashes at him.
Instinct told him she was being extremely cautious. It would take time to get her to drop her guard. Lord Mulgrave had been happy to accommodate Gonson’s request for assistance in this matter. All his references would check out, should the woman actually attempt to verify them. As thorough as she seemed to be, Will suspected she would.
His hostess peered at him over the rim of her cup with frank curiosity. “Tell me, monsieur, do you really think you would be comfortable being the only gentleman in my employ?”
He answered first with a laugh and a shrug. “I don’t see why not. Of my parents’ eight children, I’m the youngest and the only male.” He’d had little choice but to learn how to cope with the mercurial female temperament. “I’ve visited several other educational institutes,” he went on, changing the subject. “Never have I seen one as well-maintained as this. And you say it was established a mere two years ago?”
Madame Trouvère was clearly unimpressed by his flattery. “Indeed. But please don’t credit me solely fo
r what you have seen. It is only through the excellence of my staff that such achievements have been possible. Everyone here is dedicated to our purpose, which is to impart knowledge to each student and cultivate in them the wisdom required to live a successful life.”
“A fine distinction.”
“And an important one,” she replied. “Knowledge is purely academic, while wisdom comes from experience. We strive to give our girls both, in order to better prepare them for the challenges they will face in the outside world.”
“Your pupils are lucky their parents discovered such a fine institution.” Draining the last of his tea, he sighed. “It was a wrench to leave Lord Mulgrave’s service. For seven years his house has been my home. But I know I shall enjoy working here.”
“If you are selected for the position, I hope it to be so.”
Don’t get ahead of yourself, Danbury. “Forgive my presumption. I beg you to attribute it to the strength of my desire to work here.” Again he smiled. “I’m afraid the optimist in me is rather incorrigible.”
“I hope you retain your positive outlook throughout life, monsieur.” Standing, she dusted the crumbs off her skirt. “You must excuse me for rushing our interview, but I have a class to teach in half an hour and must prepare for it.”
He stood and bowed. “Of course, Headmistress.”
As they made their way back to the foyer, they encountered two children being shepherded along by a harried-looking woman. None of the trio offered greetings to either him or the headmistress, and neither did she offer one to them. As they passed, the older girl glanced up at him with round, terrified eyes.
Every sense went on alert. He forced himself not to look back and instead concentrated on committing their faces to memory.
Madame Trouvère’s parting farewell a moment later was genial, but he sensed an underlying urgency in it. She was fidgety, distracted—and the change had occurred the moment those two girls had appeared. Should he manage to secure this position, they were definitely on the list of people with whom he wished to speak.
“I’ll look for your message next week,” he said cheerily as he crossed the threshold.
A tight smile answered his statement, and then the door closed.
It could have gone much worse, I suppose. The moment he entered the confines of his hired carriage, he plucked the spectacles off his nose and stowed them carefully in his pocket. Damned annoying things, but they did make him appear more studious.
Arriving at Sir Gonson’s house just after noon, he waited to be summoned into his employer’s office. Justice of the peace for the city of Westminster, Gonson was a gentleman of unimpeachable morals, one of only a few he knew in this age of depravity and injustice. It was a privilege to serve under the man.
Father would have been proud…
The footman returned. “Constable? He’ll see you now.”
Will rose and went to report on his success—or so he hoped it would be.
