Page 3 of Charming the Headmistress (Spinsters and their Suitors #3)

CHAPTER TWO

T he rain had left the garden paths slick that morning, and Eleanor Langford narrowly avoided slipping as she crossed the rear courtyard after breakfast. Her boots were practical, her posture always upright, and her patience already thin from the letter she’d opened over tea.

The school’s roof repairs were overdue. The joiner who had promised his men two weeks ago had now sent word that they’d been diverted to a more urgent estate. Again.

Inside, the sound of recitations carried through the corridor—Miss Vale’s class working through French vocabulary, if her ear served her correctly.

Eleanor passed two girls carrying slates and exchanged polite nods with the cook, who reported that the flour shipment had arrived in a half-empty barrel.

All of it was ordinary. Manageable. Predictable.

That was why she disliked surprises.

When her assistant, Miss Ludlow, appeared at her study door with a pinched expression, Eleanor knew something unwelcome was about to unfold.

“There’s a gentleman in the front hall,” Miss Ludlow said, her voice low.

“A gentleman? That is most unexpected. Did he give his name?” Very few gentlemen arrived at the school. Fathers visited occasionally or solicitors and board members. But Miss Ludlow would have announced any of those recognized by name. Who was the stranger?

“He did. Lord Camden.”

Eleanor stilled. She knew a marquess of Camden had moved into the area, but what would he be at Greenbrook Academy for? All inquiries made appointments. “Was he expected?”

Miss Ludlow shook her head. "No, it was not on the schedule. He was most confident that you would wish to see him personally, as it is a matter of urgency."

That was Miss Ludlow's kind way of saying he’d installed himself in the entry with the assumption the world would move around him.

"Urgency?"

Miss Ludlow nodded. "Perhaps he is a new investor."

Eleanor smoothed her cuffs, closed the ledger on her desk, and rose. She would not purposefully delay meeting with him, but she wanted a few moments to collect her thoughts before she met him. An investor was a significant thing. “Very well. Show him into the receiving room. I’ll be there shortly.”

Eleanor entered five minutes later to find Lord Camden standing near the mantel, inspecting a modest portrait of the academy’s founder. She paused in the doorway, uncertain.

Perhaps he was here on behalf of a benefactor or for himself. Could he wish to make a sizable donation to the school as a new investor in the area? That would explain the air of authority, the inspection of the portrait, the confidence of someone used to evaluating things on behalf of others.

That thought straightened her shoulders. If he was here to inquire about investing in the academy, she would make a proper case for its merits.

He turned toward her. A lock of dark hair had fallen over his forehead, giving him a disheveled air that contrasted with the composed intensity of his expression. His gaze met hers directly—gray eyes, clear and unreadable, and somehow both guarded and searching.

"Are you the headmistress of this institution?" His voice was rich and deep.

She stepped forward with her usual composure. "I am. My name is Miss Eleanor Langford. Welcome to Greenbrook Academy, Lord Camden." She held out her hand with the practiced professionalism of someone accustomed to managing meetings and expectations.

He took her hand in a firm grip, returning the handshake as if they'd already come to an agreement.

The touch startled her more than it should have. Not for any improper reason—only because it had been a long time since she’d met a man who looked at her directly, as though she were a partner in something. She pulled her hand back calmly, but her pulse had quickened.

“Miss Langford. Thank you for seeing me, though I arrived without an appointment today.”

She smiled. "Your visit must be of great importance if you came with such urgency," she said.

“It is.” He offered a faint smile. “I have a niece who was recently placed in my care following the death of her parents.”

That caught her off guard. Eleanor’s mouth parted slightly, then closed again. So this wasn’t about an investment or support. He was here to leave a child in her care.

His tone was clipped, impersonal, though a shadow passed behind his eyes. He continued, “She’s twelve. She is reserved. Too reserved. And she is in need of something I cannot provide.”

“Education?”

“Order,” he said. “Routine. Companionship, perhaps. And instruction from someone who understands girls.”

The implication needled her. “And you believe Greenbrook can provide that?”

“I was told it could be an acceptable option.”

“By whom?”

“Lord Kensington.”

That earned a slight tilt of her head. “I see.”

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “I would like to enroll my niece—provided the school proves to be the right fit. I am not to waste your time, Miss Langford. Or mine.”

“I see,” she said again slowly. “Well, we do have some spaces opening up at the beginning of next term, which is a few months away. If you would like, I can have Miss Carter give you a tour of the property, and we can discuss tuition and boarding if the place seems to your liking.”

He shook his head. “That will not do. I cannot wait that long. I need her placed now. Not months from now.”

Eleanor folded her hands in her lap. “We do not admit students on the strength of titles and good intentions, my lord. There is an application process. Assessments. Recommendations.”

“I have none of those.” He said it bluntly. “Only the child. And the need. And I am prepared to pay whatever is required. More than required.”

She blinked. "More than required?"

His eyes held fire and they flashed darkly. “I am not asking for charity, Miss Langford. You will be compensated—handsomely—for accepting her. If it is a matter of resources, I can have the tuition and then some delivered by the end of the day.”

Eleanor’s spine stiffened. “This is not a negotiation, Lord Camden.”

“No,” he said calmly. “It’s a request. One that comes with every assurance your institution will not suffer for its kindness.”

She disliked being pushed. And she disliked even more the expectation that she would bend for a marquess who presumed the world bent with him.

“I cannot make promises without meeting the girl.”

“She’s not here.”

Eleanor arched a brow.

“I came first to determine if the school was fit for her,” he said. “Not to offend, but I will not place her blindly.”

“That is reasonable,” Eleanor admitted.

“I’d like to see the school,” Lord Camden said, already rising. “The classrooms, the halls. I need to understand the environment before I place her here.”

Eleanor blinked, a little taken aback by his decisiveness. “We have a process in place, my lord. Paperwork. Interviews. Assessments.”

“Paperwork is irrelevant if I find the school lacking in character,” he replied, not unkindly. “I’m not interested in forms until I know she’ll be safe and well-guided.”

It wasn’t arrogance—just a directness she wasn’t used to encountering from aristocrats.

Eleanor straightened. “That’s not how this works, Lord Camden. We have a process. Applications. References. Assessments.”

“Surely you can make an exception in her case. The circumstances are unusual.”

“And surely you understand that rules exist for a reason,” she returned, heat rising to her voice. “We do not accept girls based on urgency alone.”

“I’m not asking for charity,” he said evenly again.

“And I’m not here to bypass your standards.

I’m here to find a safe and suitable place for my niece—and I’m willing to compensate the school for its flexibility.

I would be willing to pay double the price for her tuition now, provided that I approve of the academy and its programs.”

Eleanor held his gaze, frustrated with the assumption that her convictions had a price. And yet, she also knew the school needed that funding. The roof repairs. The supplies. The winter cloaks. "You do not even know what the tuition is yet, Lord Camden.”

He smiled. "That is what I am here to learn. Surely, double the tuition would be generous, no matter what the cost. Wouldn't you agree, Miss Langford?"

She exhaled. “It is generous, my lord. But we have not reached an understanding. There is a process for a reason, and you have yet to see if this Academy is a fit for you.”

“Thank you,” he said with a short nod. “And I would still appreciate that tour, Miss Langford—if you're willing.”

She hesitated. The request was reasonable, even polite, but she felt slightly cornered by everything that had already transpired.

Still, she nodded, her tone composed though she still felt the weight of his request as more of an order.

She couldn't deny that a double tuition would make a significant difference at the school.

“Very well. Follow me. I'll show you myself.”

They stepped into the corridor, her heels tapping in quiet rhythm beside his boots. She noted his attentive gaze, not only taking in the paintings and walls but pausing at the sound of the girls reciting in one classroom.

“How many girls do you admit each term?” he asked.

“We currently have forty-seven girls enrolled. We aim to keep each incoming term small—around twelve to fifteen new girls—depending on need and availability.”

"Almost fifty girls here?"

Eleanor smiled with pride. "Yes. They are all remarkable."

“All housed here as well?”

“Yes. We have four wings in total—two that house shared dormitories for younger girls, one wing with semi-private rooms for the middle forms, and a fourth reserved for our eldest students. The most senior girls serve as leaders and mentors, and some have private accommodations based on tenure or scholarship.”

"Can one keep track of so many?" His voice held disbelief