Page 16 of Charming the Headmistress (Spinsters and their Suitors #3)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
E leanor stood at the window of her office, watching as Lord Camden slowly disappeared down the drive. The faint clatter of hooves faded into the distance, leaving only the quiet hum of the academy in its wake. She remained still, her thoughts lingering on their conversation.
There was something about Lord Camden that she was drawn to.
He had originally arrived at Greenbrook with all the authority and control of his title, but beneath that veneer was a man who cared deeply for his niece.
He was nice and good, and he was trying to make a genuine effort.
She had seen it in the way he spoke to Miss Moreland, in the way his expression softened ever so slightly when the girl answered his questions. It was commendable and sweet.
He had been respectful, of course, but there had been moments—brief flickers—where the weight of his position seemed to drop, and the man behind the title emerged.
A man who was uncertain, perhaps even vulnerable.
And yet, Eleanor had maintained her composure, as she always did.
Her focus was on the academy, on the girls, on ensuring that the structure of their lives remained intact.
Lord Camden, no matter how intriguing, could not become a distraction.
But even as she told herself that, she couldn’t help but think of his parting words, of the gratitude in his voice when he had thanked her for all she had done for his niece. There had been a sincerity in his tone that she hadn’t expected.
He had asked her when he could walk her home from town.
It was such a small gesture—hardly even worth thinking about.
But the idea of walking with the marquess on purpose this time instead of out of happenstance filled her thoughts for several minutes, her thoughts lingering on the way his kind eyes had looked at her, as if he were trying to figure something out.
Of course she noticed how handsome the man was.
It would be impossible not to notice such things.
He was tall, strong, and carried himself with the self-assurance of the upper class.
Shaking her head slightly, Eleanor turned away from the window.
There was work to be done, and she would not allow herself to be sidetracked by thoughts of the marquess or his visits.
She had allowed the tea with Miss Moreland, but that was an exception, a necessary one for the girl’s well-being.
It was not the beginning of anything else.
As she moved back to her desk, her attention was drawn to the sound of footsteps in the hallway. The door opened, and Mrs. Carter entered, her expression one of mild concern.
"Miss Langford," she said, her voice brisk, "there’s a situation with one of the girls. I thought you’d want to be made aware of it."
Eleanor’s brow furrowed as she stood. "Which girl?"
"Miss Thorne," Mrs. Carter replied. "She’s been acting out during the arithmetic lesson. Miss Rawlie is finding it difficult to manage her."
Eleanor sighed softly. Alice Thorne was one of the more challenging students at Greenbrook—a bright girl, but easily distracted and prone to bouts of rebellion when things didn’t go her way.
It wasn’t the first time she had caused trouble in class, but Eleanor knew that Alice’s behavior often stemmed from a deeper need for attention, rather than outright defiance.
"I’ll handle it," Eleanor said, her tone calm but resolute.
Mrs. Carter nodded, stepping aside as Eleanor left the office and made her way down the hallway. The familiar sounds of the academy surrounded her—footsteps, soft voices, the distant hum of lessons being conducted—but her mind was focused on how best to approach the situation with Alice.
When she arrived at the classroom, Eleanor paused outside the door, listening for a moment.
She could hear Miss Rawlie’s voice—strained but steady—trying to regain control of the lesson.
And then, the unmistakable sound of Alice’s voice, louder than the rest, challenging the authority of the teacher.
Eleanor pushed open the door, stepping inside with quiet authority. The room fell silent almost instantly, the girls turning in their seats to look at her. Miss Rawlie, looking visibly relieved, stepped back from the front of the room, her hands clasped nervously.
"Miss Thorne," Eleanor said, her voice calm but firm, “would you please follow me out of the room for a moment?”
Alice, seated near the back of the room, slouched in her chair, her arms crossed over her chest. She shot a defiant look at Eleanor, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
Eleanor raised an eyebrow, and the girl slid out of her chair, and followed Eleanor into the hallway, where Mrs. Carter stood waiting.
Eleanor crouched down so she was at eye level with the girl. “I have been given a report that you have been disrupting the arithmetic lesson.” She paused, but the girl did not answer. “Would you please explain yourself?”
"I wasn’t disrupting," Alice muttered. "I was just bored."
Eleanor raised an eyebrow, her gaze unwavering. "Is that so? And yet, your behavior suggests otherwise."
Alice shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, but remained silent. Eleanor could see the frustration in her posture, the way her arms wrapped around herself as if she were holding herself back from saying more.
“Mrs. Carter received her information about the topic directly from Miss Rawlie that you’ve been difficult to manage during the arithmetic lesson," Eleanor continued, her tone even. "I understand that arithmetic may not be your favorite subject, but that does not excuse your behavior."
"It’s just numbers," Alice muttered, her voice barely audible. "What’s the point of it?"
Eleanor spoke softly. "The point, Miss Thorne, is not just in the numbers themselves, but in the discipline of learning them. There will be many things in life that you do not enjoy, but that does not mean you can dismiss them. Learning to face challenges with grace is a skill in itself."
Alice’s eyes flicked up to meet hers, a mixture of resentment. Eleanor knew that the girl wasn’t truly rebellious. She was struggling, unsure of herself and her place at the academy. And like many girls her age, she pushed back against what she didn’t understand.
"You’re a bright girl, Alice," Eleanor said gently, "but intelligence is not enough. You must also learn patience. Mastering something you find difficult will help you grow in ways you cannot yet see."
Alice’s gaze wavered, and for a moment, Eleanor thought she might push back again. But instead, the girl looked down at her hands, her defiance melting away.
"I’m sorry, Miss Langford,” Alice said softly, though her voice still carried the weight of frustration.
Eleanor nodded, her expression kind but firm. "Apology accepted. I expect you to return to the lesson with a renewed focus. Miss Rawlie is here to help you, but you must also be willing to help yourself. I expect you will give your apologies to Miss Rawlie as well.”
Alice glanced toward the door of the classroom. Then, slowly, Alice nodded. "I’ll try harder,” she muttered, though there was sincerity in her voice now.
"That’s all I ask," Eleanor said, stepping back. "Now, Mrs. Carter will escort you back into your classroom.”
Mrs. Carter held open the door for Alice, and then nodded at Miss Rawlie. “Thank you, Miss Thorne,” Miss Rawlie said, as Alice reentered the class.
Miss Rawlie looked at both Mrs. Carter and Eleanor and gave each of them a small smile.
Eleanor nodded, content that the tension in the classroom dispersed. Eleanor listened at the door for a few moments as Miss Rawlie resumed her lesson.
Yet, as she walked back toward her office, she couldn’t help but think of how each girl at Greenbrook was a reflection of the world they would one day enter.
Discipline, structure, and grace were the values that would carry them through life’s challenges.
And it was her role to instill those values, no matter how difficult the path.
Lord Camden, she realized, was not so different. He, too, sought control, structure, and a way forward for Miss Moreland. But like Alice, there was more beneath the surface—a vulnerability, a need for guidance, even if he wouldn’t admit it.
Though she focused on her tasks for the rest of the day with a renewed vigor to stay focused, yet she continued to think of Lord Camden, and just how much she enjoyed being in company with him.