His Lordship's Lap Page 10

  “As do I. The needle finds its way into my finger more frequently than the cloth.”

  “Don’t tell Lord Harrison. He always threatens to have me sew as a punishment for when I misbehave,” Marie said with a giggle. “I will have to show you Edward’s collection of slingshots. When we were younger, we both got into a mess of trouble due to our lack of skill. We caused a flock of sheep to plow through the gardens and our parents were furious.”

  “Would you care for me to teach you? I am quite adept, especially if there is anything or anyone is particular that you wish to strike down.”

  “There are several things and quite a few people that warrant striking,” Marie snickered. “I have this uncontrollable desire to let overripe blueberries and rotting tomatoes fly at certain individuals who have caused me distress.”

  “Won’t that get you spanked?”

  “Only if I am caught.”

  Vanessa grinned, “If you have access to pig bladders, we can have even more fun. These individuals will never see it coming.”

  “Nor will they suspect anything. Just tell no one!”

  “Your secret is safe with me,” Vanessa chortled. The planning of devilry brought an emotional freedom was odd but very satisfying. “I don’t think that either Harrison or Edward are going to appreciate our growing relationship. Will we will find ourselves in severe trouble if we are caught?”

  “Nothing like either of us received this morning. The punishment is always proportionate to the crime, so you have no need to fear. Besides,” Marie said, gently tugging the pigtails, “Getting caught when making mischief is always enjoyable. It makes those two laugh.”

  “It does? Will their laughter be beneficial to us?”

  “It is. Laughter always means gifts, and I love receiving presents.”

  “I have not received many of those over my lifetime.”

  “Harrison will spoil you. He is very generous in both his gifts and pleasure.”

  “Does he pleasure his maids?” Vanessa asked worriedly.

  “No. He is one of the few who does not take advantage of his position here. The Head of State, however…” Marie’s voice trailed off. “Avoid him as you are able. He is not a kind man, and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.”

  “Any man who would treat his son so harshly is not an example of either the type of father or leader that I care to know. He is too much like those I left behind in London.”

  “He is a cold one. Most cannot decide whether he had made his wife bitter or the other way around. She is as cruel as he is. It’s a wonder that Harrison became the gentle, loving man that he is. I’ve heard stories about how the boys were raised. His mother was vicious and ruled their behavior with fear. I don’t know about Jonathon, but Harrison found a way to rise above their darkness.”

  “Even the gentlest of souls have darkness in them. They just manifest in different ways.”

  “True, but they don’t have to have the malice. When I left the State’s mansion, I did so in the middle of the night. My escape shamed him, and I now face the fear that he will fulfill his vow to make me pay for running away. I don’t think that anyone can save me from that man if he is intent on punishing me.”

  “Why did you leave?”

  “I cannot speak of it. Not here. If Lord Harrison or Edward ever found out, I’m afraid that there would be irreparable harm. There.” She looked at Vanessa with satisfaction. “You look pretty enough to eat. Now, let’s get you to the study.”

  Vanessa reluctantly tapped on the door after watching Marie scurry away to deliver the messages to the cook and Edward. “Pardon me, but may I enter?” she asked cautiously, quickly scanning the room.

  “This is a men’s meeting,” a strange voice rebuffed. “Be gone, girl.”

  “Father, this is Vanessa, my betrothed. She is welcome in all areas of my life, including meetings.”

  “I will not have a woman be present during official gatherings.”

  “Mother is present for every assembly that occurs at the manor,” Harrison said hotly, “I also will not have a member of my household spoken to in a disrespectful manner, especially a women intended as my wife.”

  “I can leave,” Vanessa volunteered, feeling very uncomfortable with the suspicious expression in the older man’s eyes.

  “You will go nowhere. Sit with me.”

  “But—” She began to argue, catching the raised eyebrow offered her and settled on the broad lap. She winced slightly with the contact.

  “How’s your bottom?” he whispered in her ear.

  “I wish that you would stop asking me those things,” she whispered back.

  “That is my right. Are you ready to leave for school?”

  “But your meeting is not over.”

  “Father? Please excuse me, but it’s time for our morning meal, and then I must take Vanessa to school. Edward will show you out.”

  “Harrison! I have not finished discussing my issues with you.”

  “The discussion ended an hour ago when you tried to dictate the responsibilities of my job to me. Need I remind you that my decisions are final and with the blessing and authority of the queen?”

  “You have no rank over me, boy!”

  “I have everything over you, so kindly rekindle that in your memory. Excuse me, but I have more important things to do, starting with taking care of my girl. Good day, Father.” Harrison interrupted his father’s blustering and snatched Vanessa’s hand to lead her out of the room where Edward was waiting.

  “You left him in a sour state,” Edward said, grimacing at the round of profanity that followed their exit.

  “I always leave him in a sour state. Please show him out and don’t entertain any of his comments or allow him to distract you. I want him on his horse and gone.”

  “Yes, Your Lordship. What are you grinning about, Miss Vanessa?” Edward asked, raising his eyebrow.

  “You look at though you just swallowed a lemon.”

  Edward wrinkled his nose and tilted his head towards the closed door. “When it comes to dealing with that man, it’s more like a pitcher of curdled milk. I’ll take care of him, Harrison. Go eat.

  Chapter 7

  “I didn’t mean to disturb your conversation with your father,” Vanessa said as they entered the dining area.

  “You didn’t disturb me at all. I’m honestly grateful that you arrived and gave me a good reason to remove myself. He knows that I do not appreciate his presence at my home without notice or invite. My staff is terrified of him, and it distracts them from enjoying their work. He will openly insult and rebuke anyone, and I don’t run my house in that manner.”

  “Marie told me that he was difficult.”

  “Difficult is not the word I would use to describe my father’s behavior. He’s a monster. The only reason I tolerate his presence is because he is the Head of State for the House of Tyndale, which is our governing authority.”

  “Can’t he be removed?”

  “Not without evidence of him breaking the laws. He won’t resign either. Let’s change the subject before I get agitated. Are you excited about school?”

  “I haven’t had much of a chance to process all of this, let alone allow myself to get excited. I’m not comfortable around strangers and am completely unfamiliar with your culture.” Vanessa admitted. “This entire thing is too much for me to handle on my own.”

  “You are not on your own. Not anymore.”

  “You say that, but I still can’t quite accept it as true. It has always been just me.”

  “I’ll be with you for every step that you take. You won’t ever be afraid of being alone again; you have my word.”

  “Your word means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”

  “I’m a firm believer that a man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” He squeezed her hand.

  “Your father is going to have issues with me, isn’t he?”

  “My father has issues with everybody. He hates being challenged
and sees my betrothal to you like a slap in the face.”

  “Is he going to start problems with you because of me?” Vanessa asked, gingerly lowering herself into the cushioned chair of the dining table.

  “Probably.” Harrison laughed. “Don’t be distressed. If he didn’t have you to be vehement towards, then he would find something else. It’s in his nature.”

  “And your mother’s as well?”

  “You’ve been gossiping with Marie, haven’t you? That girl is going to be the death of me. My parents, like all nobles, were required to maintain a distinct appearance for the world. They were not always this way, especially behind closed doors. Show grace to them and you will win their hearts.”

  “What if I have no interest in winning their hearts? My parents behaved the same by putting up appearances so that society would not see how they really were. Selfish and prideful.”

  “You don’t see that they are also wounded or that our rebellion caused them pain. Your parents suffered social disgrace and mine— well, you can’t imagine how many times my mother was disciplined because of the faults of her children.”

  “Did you care?”

  “Truthfully, no. I was a selfish boy and saw that I could get what I wanted without any consequence.”

  “It’s hard to imagine you to be that way.”

  “Everyone sees me as self-controlled, well mannered and mature,”’ Harrison stated, sipping his coffee. “That is only because Her Majesty forced me to behave in that manner. She not only makes it difficult to defy her wishes but she has taught me the import of having a healthy respect for intelligent women.”

  “Too bad she can’t control the lack of respect shown by her officials. What’s that?” Vanessa asked as a plate was set before her. “Gruel? Seriously?”

  Harrison laughed. “No, it’s Cream of Wheat. A friend of mine from America introduced this delicacy to me. It’s very popular in South Dakota, and he is preparing to introduce it to the World’s Fair in Chicago. Try it.”

  “Why would I want to eat anything from a place called South Dakota? Just the name sounds barbaric.” Wrinkling her nose, she sniffed the bowl that was filled with fine ground-up white particles. “It looks disgusting.”

  “Add a little butter, cream and sugar to it. Don’t be a big baby and just taste it.”

  “Is this one of those times that acting like a child isn’t acceptable?” she asked snarkily, cautiously spooning the white farina from the bowl.

  Eyes twinkling, he responded in kind. “Is this one of those times that you insist on being stubborn and perhaps provoke another spanking?”

  “You wouldn’t spank me for not eating something that I didn’t care for. By the way, that list includes Brussels sprouts and lima beans.”

  “No, but I would paddle you for having a bad attitude. One bite, that’s all I ask.”

  Grumbling under her breath, Vanessa complied and quickly discovered that her initial assumption had been wrong. “This is quite delectable,” she proclaimed with surprise before quickly devouring the entire bowlful. “I hate porridge, so you can’t blame me for being suspicious.”

  “You’ll be surprised about how many things you will enjoy if you open yourself up to experiencing them.” He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “That includes things of physical pleasure.”

  Raising her eyebrow, Vanessa asked. “Pleasure as in a lover’s kiss?”

  “So, you’ve heard about those. Be a good girl and you’ll see for yourself. Are you ready to leave?”

  “I’d rather stay home and get more comfortable with the people here.”

  “No, madam, you have school to attend. Instruction is a requirement for marriage, remember? Let’s bundle you up and start on our way.”

  “Must I?”

  “Yes, you must. There is nothing to be nervous about. You are just going to learn the things that should have been taught to you as a young lady, plus the knowledge necessary to run the house. There will be many other girls your age who will be learning the same thing.”

  “But they enjoy a domestic existence! I don’t. I want to travel, explore, and make a difference in the world.”

  “You will do all those things by my side, but you have to learn the basics.”

  “What if that horrible Randolph Keyes shows up again? Do I have your permission to take a walking stick to him? I assure you that I can knock him right between the eyes.”

  The twitch in Harrison’s cheek warned her that his patience was growing thin. “I promised that you will be safe. I will always be around, and no one is permitted to have any contact with you without my permission. Sir Landers will also be present to protect you. And no pounding anyone with walking sticks, young lady. Hear me?”

  “Yes, Poppa.”

  “You have my permission to come to my office whenever you need me. Just don’t interrupt any discussions or sessions. You may enter without knocking, but sit quietly and wait your turn.”

  “You would allow me to do that?”

  “Yes. Now let’s go and stop procrastinating.”

  ***

  Boredom set in within minutes of her first class. She glanced around at the twittering females as they attempted to plan a simple dinner party and argued over the menu, what dishes to use, how to set the table and even the heights of the candlesticks. When their discussion shifted to the type of man they desired, Vanessa gazed at the hypnotic pounding of relentless rain against the window. She was completely oblivious to the instructor’s attempts to gain her attention.

  “Miss Pankhurst! Stop your daydreaming this instant. Have you already finished your assignment?” the older woman asked.

  “It’s a waste of my time. We have staff who perform these duties which frees me to spend my time on more important things.” Hearing the shameful words that blurted from her mouth, she attempted immediate correction “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound inconsiderate. What I meant was—”

  “Not all of us are blessed with being in a noble’s home and, except for you, none of us are engaged to the Lieutenant Governor,” one girl said sharply.

  “Your staff is present only because people like us are there to practice their skills. You are a spoiled, ungrateful little snit,” another voice piped.

  “I honestly didn’t mean how it came out. Please forgive me.”

  A third woman bounded in with another opinion. “She’s a wealthy foreigner and has no reason to care about how we live. My father said that Lord Harrison brought her here to gain favor with the Queen and that she is very close to the crown. People like her spend their lives attending balls, singing prettily in parlors while sipping wine and spreading their legs for whoever wants them. They have no ability to care about the lower class.”

  Vanessa stood up quickly and slapped her hand loudly on the desk. “Now you listen here! I’m sorry I made a poor choice of words. Regarding my upbringing, I will have you know that I spent my entire life learning how to live like a boy. I don’t play an instrument, my voice sounds like a rooster, and I can’t even boil water. I haven’t learned the skills of running a home because I never had to, but I did learn things that are just as important. I also have never had contact with the Queen nor do I possess any interest in that country’s government.”

  “We all know that you bought your way into His Lordship’s house by spreading your legs,” one of the girls spat.

  “You know nothing!” Vanessa fought back the tears of anger. “I was exiled for speaking up for civil rights and exercising my brain. Maybe it’s time that you simpering little fools did something more important that flitter around like brainless birds and stop believing malicious gossip.”

  “You are disrupting this class, Miss Pankhurst,” the teacher scolded. “We have no tolerance for that behavior. Come to the front of the room.”

  Vanessa’s eyes widened as the older woman produced a large wooden paddle. “Like bloody hell, I will. No one is permitted to touch me except for Harrison, and I certainly will not c
onsent to be punished for speaking the truth or standing up for myself against lies.”

  “Then you will leave these grounds. We will not have people like you infecting our innocent girls with your New World ways. You are not welcome to return until you are willing to apologize for your attitude and submit to my paddle.”

  “Then I will never return.” Vanessa marched towards the door. She turned and pointed at the woman. “You wait until I am First Lady. Things are going to change around here starting with men ceasing to be barbarians and women no longer settling to be spineless dolts.”

  “You will never be First Lady without completing the necessary classes. It seems as though you have a decision to make. You will either comply with our rules or remain Unwed,” the older woman sputtered back.

  “My decision will never be based on force or threats. You forget that Harrison is the Headmaster and the Lieutenant Governor. He might enforce the rules, but he also makes them!”

  Before the woman could respond, Vanessa raced outside into the thundering storm, directed only by the need to gain as much distance from the academy as she could. The hem of her dress was designed to accommodate the stride of a child and fortunately did not weigh her down as she fumbled through the deep puddles and sticky mud. Within minutes, she was completely covered with a film of brown dirt, her shoes and stockings soaked through and her hair plastered to her face and back. The thought of facing Harrison’s anger didn’t cross her mind for a moment; she just needed to be far away from this strange environment and the hostile people who thrived in it.

  The oncoming sound of a horse’s hooves provoked her to hasten her pace. As the clatter grew closer, she glanced over her shoulder and haplessly stumbled face first into the mud. There she lay in a sobbing heap, no longer caring about anything other than catching her breath and easing the painful twinge in her side from breathing the icy air.

  “It’s rather nasty outside to be taking a stroll, don’t you think, little one?” a man’s voice asked gently. When she didn’t respond, she heard him splash in a puddle as he dismounted and walked towards her. “What are you running from? Are you hurt?”