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‘Well said, sir.’ Alexander nodded in agreement.
‘You are very well informed,’ Tommy said admiringly. ‘I hardly know anything about Great-Grandpapa Carey.’
‘Then I must enlighten you, my boy.’ Gervase gave him a friendly pat on the back. ‘I might not be your tutor anymore, Tommy, but I can still instruct you in your family’s history.’
Rosalind smiled. ‘You are welcome to stay here for as long as you like, Mr North. I am sure it will be a pleasure to have diverting conversation at dinner every evening.’
‘Are you saying I am boring, Rosie?’ Alexander said, laughing.
‘I simply meant that our conversation is always about the children, or estate matters. It will be interesting to have a fresh set of topics to discuss.’ Rosalind rose from her seat. ‘I promised the children that I would walk down to the cove and collect seashells. I mustn’t disappoint them.’
‘I have a meeting with Bayliss,’ Alexander said reluctantly. ‘Estate matters, you understand, Mr North.’
‘Of course, Mr Blanchard. Don’t let me hinder you.’ Gervase turned to Hester. ‘Tommy insisted that I would be welcome, but I can see how busy you are. Perhaps I should book into the village inn.’
‘Certainly not,’ Hester said firmly. ‘You helped Tommy through a difficult time at school. The least we can do is to offer you hospitality. I will make sure that a room is made ready for you and have your luggage sent there. Perhaps the solar above Tommy’s room would suit you.’
‘It’s a very nice room,’ Nancy added hastily. ‘You’ll be comfortable there and it has a lovely view.’
‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble, Lady Carey.’
‘It’s no bother at all.’ Hester rose from her seat and tugged at the bell pull. ‘Tommy, I suggest you take Mr North on a tour of the grounds. You can help me, Nancy.’
Nancy was about to argue but she could see from Hester’s expression that it would only cause an argument. She sighed. ‘Yes, Hester.’
‘Off you go then.’ Hester shooed Tommy and his tutor out of the room. ‘Don’t forget that you are going to London tomorrow, Nancy.’
‘I’m not sure I want to go now that Tommy is home for the summer,’ Nancy said sadly. ‘Couldn’t I start at the Academy in the autumn, Hester?’
‘Don’t ask me. I wasn’t in favour of you going there in the first place, but Rosie insisted and you must do as she says.’
Nancy could see that Hester was not going to champion her sudden desire to remain at Rockwood, but that made her even more determined to speak to Rosalind, who had always been her friend.
‘Perhaps I should help Rosie take the children to the beach, Hester. After all, there is little I can do here. You have everything so well organised.’
Hester gave her a long look and then smiled. ‘You are a minx, Nancy Sunday. But Rosie is determined to make a lady of you. Once she’s made up her mind she’s unlikely to change it.’
Nancy caught up with Rosalind and the three children just as they were about to climb down the cliff path to the sandy cove. Dolly, now a bright seven-year-old, had gone on ahead, followed by her six-year-old brother, Rory. This left Rosalind holding three-year-old Phoebe by the hand as they negotiated the steep slope.
‘This is a nice surprise,’ Rosalind said, smiling. ‘I thought you would stay with Tommy and his handsome friend, or I would have asked you to come with us.’
‘I wanted to talk to you in private.’ Nancy stepped carefully, avoiding the large stones and the slippery patches. ‘It’s about the Academy.’
Rosalind lifted Phoebe over a boulder and set her down on the sand. ‘You don’t want to go?’
‘Of course I really want the opportunity to better myself,’ Nancy said quickly. ‘But perhaps I could go there in the autumn, when Tommy goes to university.’
‘And the handsome tutor has nothing to do with this request?’ Rosalind’s hazel eyes twinkled with merriment.
‘No. Well, yes, maybe. But summer in Rockwood is always lovely, and I miss Tommy when he’s away.’
‘I’m sorry, but it’s all arranged. Miss Maughfling runs her classes from the end of the London season in late June until Christmas, after which the young ladies are prepared for the next season.’
‘I could wait until next year.’
‘Nancy, by then the other young ladies will be a couple of years your junior.’
‘I don’t see what difference that makes.’
