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“That’s a good question,” Rathnelly mused. “You are the only adult I have at my disposal, I suppose.”
Felicity frowned anew. “Your estate is literally overflowing with adults, Your Grace.”
Rathnelly laughed again. Felicity realized that despite having dined with the man nearly every night for several weeks, she had never really seen him relax enough to laugh. It was a joyous sound. He ought to do it far more often. Suddenly, her pulse picked up speed as she realized she was practically alone with a handsome man. In her old life, it would certainly not be seemly. She quite liked her new life, she thought with a grin.
With a blink, the duke’s face sobered once more.
“While I have you without Adelina glued to your side, might I ask how you find her?”
Felicity tilted her head and frowned, prompting Rathnelly to rephrase his question.
“Do you think she needs lessons? She’s quite young to be without a governess, but she insisted she was done with such things, and I was at a loss. There was an incident with the one governess we hired after she came home from school. I won’t sully your ears with the details. But my daughter has insisted she has an aversion, and I didn’t feel inclined to insist.”
Surprised the powerful man would admit as much, Felicity softened toward him a little. “I think Lady Adelina is remarkably intelligent for such an energetic youngster. She seems to have done well with the education she has already received. She is articulate and literate. I have discussed with her various subjects of interest that we could pursue together, and she was agreeable. Especially while her brothers are here, which is quite obviously far too exciting for her, we shan’t be taking formal lessons, but I am actually of the opinion that everyone should always be learning.”
“You don’t look like a bluestocking, Miss Jones.”
Felicity laughed a little despite her nerves. “I don’t consider myself to be a bluestocking, Your Grace, but I do believe that knowledge is extremely important, especially for women, who are generally ill prepared for anything other than marriage. But sometimes your husband dies, and then what? Or even if you live a perfectly happy, normal life, I think it will be far more interesting if everyone is a little more knowledgeable. Surely, it will lead to more fascinating conversations.”
The duke’s eyebrows rose over her statement.
“What sorts of fascinating topics have you discussed of late, Miss Jones?”
Felicity knew her grin was probably a little sly, but she couldn’t help it. “Whether or not boys need lessons during the summer and how educated people ought to be do come to mind, at the moment.”
“Touché,” Rathnelly replied with a smile before sobering and asking, “Are you going to turn Adelina into a blue stocking? I overheard you on the first day telling her that she will need to be dignified in her role as a duke’s daughter. So, I’m fairly certain you realize it won’t be as easy for her as it might be for other debutantes. Being seen as scholarly might make it all the more difficult.”
Felicity tried to keep the frustration out of her voice when she answered him, but she wasn’t sure if she succeeded. “Your Grace, as I told you, I am not a bluestocking. I do like to be informed on a variety of subjects and think everyone would benefit from doing so, as well. But I am not about to insist upon it or try to undertake a global education drive in a pursuit of such. As well, I don’t think making their debut is easy for any young woman. I think Society is a strange environment with far too judgmental a spirit, and sending young women into such a den of lions unprepared is cruel.” Felicity took a deep breath, hoping to calm herself, but it was a topic very near to her heart. “I understood I was hired to keep your daughter company. If I remain with her up until and including her debut, I have every intention of ensuring she is prepared to face those lions and turn them into lap cats without seeming to put any effort into it.”
The duke’s eyebrows were nearly disappearing under the fringe of hair lying across his forehead by this point in her outburst.
“I don’t really see how that would be possible, my dear Miss Jones, but I appreciate your expression of intent to prepare her as best as you can.”
Felicity shrugged and blushed, unsure if she should be insulted or relieved over the duke’s response. Well aware that she didn’t have conventional ideas, Felicity wondered if she were doing Lady Adelina a disservice by being her companion. She quickly dismissed the idea. Even if she didn’t hold the same views as everyone else, she was well aware of what those views were and felt confident she would be able to present them to the girl. However, she would also present her with other ideas and allow the child to make up her own mind about life. Surely, that would be to the girl’s benefit. It was exactly what she had just told the duke she believed in. And he hadn’t really contradicted or countermanded her, so it could be argued that he agreed with her, at least somewhat. Or at the very least didn’t actively disagree with her.
Watching the duke, Felicity wondered what exactly he was thinking. His face was once again impassive, as though he were guarding his many secrets. She tried not to allow her curiosity to consume her, but she did wonder what exactly he was hiding. It was evident to her that the duke did have secrets. She thought to dig a little before reminding herself that she ought to remember her place. Neither Lady Felicity nor Miss Jones ought to be prying into the Duke of Rathnelly’s affairs.
A few lines to her sister composed themselves in her head.
Why does the man fascinate me so, Grace? I live in nearly constant terror that he will find me out. I can barely believe he hasn’t actually recognized me. He has now seen me every day for several weeks. Who would have thought the Duke of Rathnelly would dine with his daughter and her companion? And don’t even begin to think it is a fascination with me. That little oddity is entirely one sided. But I am beginning to fear that all of my oddities might be of harm rather than of benefit to my charge. I wish you were here.
