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Hopefully, Ainsley was not friends with this man. He didn’t appear to be a genial person at all.
Just as Richard reached for the second pile of books, Ainsley returned to the room, his nose deep in a book. He almost bumped into the gentleman, who neatly sidestepped him before they collided. Ainsley looked up, blinking behind his spectacles. Then his expression cleared, and he beamed.
“Your Grace! It’s a pleasure to see you.” He grasped the gentleman’s hand with great enthusiasm. “I must say, I wasn’t expecting to see you today. I thought we were meeting tomorrow.”
“We were due to meet today, Ainsley.”
“Were we? Oh, lord! I’m terrible with dates. But no matter. I’m pleased to see such a welcoming face.” Ainsley turned to Richard. “His Grace hasn’t been waiting long, has he, Mr Sidney?”
“No, not long.”
Richard tried not to sound sharp as he kept his eyes on the books in his hands. Inside, he was stunned. This man was a duke? That was the only title he could think of that was addressed in such a manner. He had all the finery, and he looked the part, but Richard couldn’t quite believe that he was a duke. The manner and charisma about him were all wrong.
One of the highest titles in the country, and he had to be one of the snobbiest. Typical that he would run into one of them on his first day.
“I’m sure you’ve got plenty to do up here, for now, Mr Sidney.” Ainsley put the book on the desk, leaving it haphazardly on the top of the pile. “The Duke of Galliston and I are going to head downstairs and discuss a few things. Then once you’ve tidied up my study, we can get on with the boring parts of our job.”
“Yes, Professor.”
Richard glanced up as Ainsley left with Gallison, still talking so fast it was a wonder anyone understood his train of thought. His mind was brilliant, but his social skills were all over the place. To his credit, Galliston did look like he was genuinely paying attention. That could have been an act, but he was trying.
Richard didn’t want to give him too much credit, though. Not really something he wanted to think about. He had already made up his mind that he didn’t like the duke. For Richard, everything in his mind was made up on the first meeting. If someone messed that up, they didn’t get another chance.
Hopefully, there wouldn’t be another chance where they would be in the same room again.
#
“Oh, Isabel, slow down!” Lady Blythcourt clucked from the side of the room. “You’re going to topple everything, and there will be books everywhere.”
“It really hurts!”
“It’s supposed to. You won’t get anywhere unless you feel some pain.” The older woman clapped her hands. “Slow down and another walk around the room.”
Isabel huffed and tried to keep herself still. She felt like she was walking on a tightrope with the heavy books on her head. One book had been easy enough, two were manageable, but three were too much. Isabel’s head was hurting from carrying so much around. Even the new hats she had been given didn’t weigh this much. She felt light-headed once she was done.
It had been two days since they started her training, and Isabel was beginning to wish she had refused her mother’s deal to find a husband. Becoming a servant seemed far better than doing this. Everything felt like her lessons, but worse. Isabel was confused at how much she had to remember when sitting down to dinner, how to address people, or what topics she needed to keep to so she didn’t get into trouble.
It was too much. How was anyone supposed to remember anything? How did people cope? Isabel had a feeling she wasn’t the only one panicking, but it certainly felt like it.
She had tried to bring up with her mother that it was too much and they should turn down the invitation to the ball so they had more time, but Lady Dunley said that would be seen badly on them, so it was best they went. A trial run, she called it, to see if Isabel could cope after just a few lessons.
The only reason Isabel acquiesced was that her mother said she was a fast learner, and she marvelled at how much Isabel took in. She was a bright girl, and she could use that brain of hers to her advantage.
Isabel didn’t want to let her mother down. But she still wished they could be back in Devon in their old home. She could go for her regular long walks, sitting in fields while she read, or helping out in the vegetable garden. Or even talking to Richard now he was back from his travels. That would have passed the time beautifully. Isabel had been looking forward to that now her friend wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and now she was missing it.
She hoped that her letter had reached him by now. Isabel had managed to find time to write to him, detailing what was going on and telling him what would happen to her. He would be laughing so hard once he discovered that everyone was trying to turn her into a proper lady. He didn’t think that could happen.
Isabel didn’t think so, either. But she was stuck in the middle of it, and she did have moments where she thought it could work. And then she was lying in bed at night, absolutely exhausted, wondering if it was actually worth it. Did she have what it took to be a lady, or had they left it too late?
She had a feeling they were going to find out the hard way.
“That’s much better!” Lady Blythcourt nodded approvingly as Isabel reached the end of the room without the books falling off her head. “You’re slowly getting there. It’s not where you should be, but you’re doing well.”
“Thank you, Lady Blythcourt.” Isabel glanced at Lady Hester, who was hovering nearby with a bemused expression. It was difficult to concentrate when the companion was around; they kept making faces at each other.
There were footsteps, and then Isabel heard her mother’s voice.
“Elizabeth, I was thinking I should take Isabel for a walk. She’s going to need some fresh air and to stretch her legs.”
