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Chapter Ten
Gil watched Felicity lead his daughter away, and his eyes narrowed. He admired her skilful handling of Adelina. She seemed to have a firm but gentle touch with the girl, which was a tricky combination to pull off. He would know. He had never seemed to be able to manage it with anyone. Except maybe his horses.
But he couldn’t help but wonder how she came by her strange collection of information and knowledge. He had never met a well-born woman who could read a map and figure out when someone might arrive. He knew many men who couldn’t do that. The duke shook his head. It wasn’t that he thought she was incapable because of being a female. It was just that he had never known anyone to be as eclectically knowledgeable as her. But she clearly was knowledgeable, so he ought not to question it. And if it kept Adelina occupied for the day, then he should be glad for it. Felicity obviously had a questing mind and pursued knowledge like some might an addiction. It could be much worse, he thought with a smile.
He couldn’t help wondering about her, though. How had she made it through life with that sense of curiosity so intact? He had nearly had his own quest quenched by circumstances. It was only those circumstances that had forced him to be creative in his approach to saving his family’s estate. Gilbert kept his eyes on the open doorway as he wondered about what might have motivated Felicity. Or perhaps, despite whatever circumstances that had led her to seek employment, her life hadn’t been so challenging that it made her leave off her thirst for knowledge.
With a renewed resolve to continue to keep an eye on his daughter’s companion, Gilbert forced his attention back to his never-ending pile of work.
The girls wouldn’t leave his mind, though, no matter how much he might wish to direct his attention elsewhere. Finally, with a huff of frustration, he put down his pencil and went in search of them.
It took some time in the large building, but he finally encountered them settled on a carpet in one of the back parlours that had a fairly large, low table upon which they had spread a sturdy looking map. Gil wondered where they had found it but then turned his attention to what they were discussing. They hadn’t yet noticed his arrival.
“So, how far is it from there to there?” Felicity was asking while Adelina was holding tightly to a string.
Gilbert grinned as he watched his daughter concentrating fiercely with her tongue stuck out the corner of her mouth and the string pressing dents into her fingers.
“It’s about two inches, I think.” Adelina didn’t sound convinced, but Felicity nodded encouragingly.
“Very good, my lady. Now compare that with the scale at the bottom. How far is two inches?”
With a furrowed brow and several pants of concerted effort, Adelina finally looked up eagerly. “I think it’s nine miles,” she declared, joy evident at her accomplishment.
“I think you’re correct. Very good, Adelina.”
“But now what? I don’t really know what that means.”
Felicity laughed, and Gilbert had to exert great effort not to join her. They still hadn’t noticed him observing them, and he would like to enjoy the moment as long as possible.
“Well, we’re not done, yet. Let’s measure the next section. From there to there. But first, write down your first measurements, and then we’ll add them together.”
As Adelina was following her companion’s directions, Felicity became alerted to Gil’s presence and hot colour flooded every inch of skin he could see, indicating her discomfort with his observation. Pushing himself away from the doorjamb he had been leaning against, Gil strolled into the room.
“That’s a wonderful map you’ve got there,” he commented mildly, hoping he hadn’t just ruined the fun for them.
“Father, Jonesy is teaching me how to read the map. Isn’t this fascinating?”
“That’s a most useful skill for you to have,” was all the reply Gil could muster. He didn’t begrudge his daughter a single item of information, but he wasn’t sure if she would ever be called upon to read a map.
“Jonesy says it’s best to be sufficient.”
Gil blinked, unsure what was meant by this sentence. Felicity laughed slightly.
“I do believe I might have said self-sufficient. Do you understand the difference?”
Adelina shook her head, making Felicity laugh again. “I’ll explain it to you later, then.”
Gil felt a little dejected when he realized he was making the young woman uncomfortable.
“So, have you figured out when you expect them yet, then?”
“Father,” his daughter started in an exasperated tone, “these things take time to calculate.” She quickly brightened. “But you probably knew that already and were merely jesting with us, weren’t you?”
“I surely was. You’re getting smarter and smarter every day, my dear. I can’t get anything past you these days.”
Gil winked at Felicity and watched in amazement as her colour deepened further. He wondered for her health for a moment. But then she just as suddenly paled.
“Did you wish to continue the lesson, Your Grace? It’s likely you are more versed in such things than I am.”
