Page 5 of Miss Davis and the Architect (Dazzling Debutantes #4)

Chapter Four

"Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others."

Jane Austen

* * *

I t was late morning when Jane woke up. She had not fallen asleep until dawn yet again. Perhaps she should visit a herbalist in Saunton to discuss the matter as Emma had suggested because she was wearing down from so little sleep.

The evening before had been wonderful. She had been seated with Adam Dunsford for dinner. The gentleman had a quirky sense of humor and had kept her laughing the entire evening. After dinner, they had paired up for parlor games, which Jane had enjoyed all the more for his charming company.

Then she had retired to bed, where she had been unable to fall asleep. Eventually, she had found a captivating book from the library and stayed up reading until the first threads of dawn had stolen into her room.

Stretching her limbs out, Jane yawned widely before sitting up. Then she remembered her plans for this morning, and with a burst of vigor, she scampered from her bed to pull on a wrap before loping over to her door. Opening it wide, she found the tray she had requested.

Her breakfast tray was still warm, and a fat, silver pot of tea was speckled with drops of condensation which promised a piping hot drink to pour.

In addition, the extra supplies she had requested were heaped on a tray of their own. Jane clapped her hands in excitement. She had been looking forward to trying this ever since she had read about it in a women’s periodical.

“What are you doing?”

Jane shrieked and jumped in surprise. Clutching a hand to her pounding heart, she found Tatiana staring at her from the door of her and her grandmother’s bedroom.

“My goodness, you startled the wits from me, Tatiana!”

“You are very twitchy. I noticed it the other night.”

“I … have had trouble sleeping. It has me on edge.”

“Why all the strawberries? And what are those nuts for?”

Jane beamed in delight as she recalled this morning’s task. “Do you wish to join me? I can show you what I am about?”

The girl nodded her head enthusiastically, skipping over to follow Jane into her room with a broad smile on her little face. “Shall I close the door?”

“No, leave it ajar in case your family wishes to find you.”

Jane carried the tray over to the table and chairs at the end of the room. Sitting down, she poured out a cup of tea. Adding cream and sugar, she sat back and breathed in the floral flavor with a radiant smile. “You may eat one of the strawberries, if you like. Just not too many because we will need them.”

Tatiana’s face lit up. She inspected the bowl and then delicately took hold of the largest strawberry she could find, pulling it up by its cap and holding it in front of her face to sniff it. With a deep breath, she took a bite, smiling in pleasure while she chewed.

“Have you thought more about courting my father?”

Jane choked, quickly putting the cup down while she coughed into her hand. “I thought we agreed your papa needed to find his own wife?”

“I went around meeting all the women since then. You are the only one who is right for Papa.”

“Perhaps this house party is not the right place to find his wife? If you did not like any of the women here, there will be more women in London for him to meet.”

“No, I did not mean you are the best woman at the house party.” Tatiana shook her head, clearly exasperated with Jane’s simpleness. “You are the right woman for him. I know it! Did you meet him yet?”

“I did, and your papa is a gracious gentleman. But I must confess there is a difference in our ages, and he might prefer someone with more maturity than me. He seemed quite taken with Mrs. Gordon.”

Blue eyes narrowed at this suggestion. “The blonde woman? She is awful!”

“Your papa seemed to like her. He played cricket with her and sat with her at dinner.”

Tatiana stood up, outrage quivering in every line of her body. “Not Mrs. Gordon. She does not like children!”

Jane frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I could tell when I met her. She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes, and she asked me if I had a doll to go play with like I was a simpleton.”

Jane bit her lip, uncertain how to respond. “I am sure if you give her time, she will grow accustomed to you.”

Tatiana clenched her jaw. “Promise me you will think about it. I know you are perfect for Papa. You must spend more time with him, and then you will see what I mean.”

Jane hesitated. She did not want to encourage the girl’s hope of a match, but she would distract her and then search out the grandmother to discuss the matter. The older woman seemed sensible, and she had a warm manner. Perhaps they could meet for tea to work out how to address Tatiana’s surprising desires.

“Do you want to see what the strawberries are for?”

The child’s face lit up, her appreciation of the aromatic fruit obvious as her eyes darted back to the bowl.

“I recently read directions for preparing strawberry water. It softens and lightens the skin.”

Tatiana grinned. “We are going to smell like strawberries?”

“That is the plan.”

Reaching out her hand, Jane took hold of one of the plumpest fruits and brought it to her lips. Breathing in deeply, she took a bite, tasting the sweetness of its flesh, and finished it quickly. “Pass me that empty bowl.”

Tatiana solemnly handed over the extra bowl, along with the pestle resting in it. Jane selected several well-ripened strawberries, dropping them into the empty bowl and offering the girl one of the remaining fruits to eat.

Then she crushed the strawberries, pulling the caps out to discard them. The vibrant red juice pooled at the bottom of the bowl, staining the muslin cloth she placed over the second vessel. Jane poured the pulp onto the muslin, pressing it through diligently until the bright juice flowed into the waiting dish. A sweet, heady aroma filled the room, and Tatiana leaned over to breathe it in with an appreciative sigh.

Jane discarded the muslin and its pulpy mess onto the tray before popping one of the remaining strawberries into her mouth, biting it off at the cap before setting it aside.

Walking over to the washstand, she used the pitcher of water to rinse her hands, the cool water splashing over her fingers and carrying away the sticky residue. When she returned, Tatiana was still hovering over the bowl, breathing in the scent as if it were a bouquet of flowers.

“Now what happens?”

“Now I mix it with milk and a little water, and then we can dab it on our faces. After our long afternoon in the sun yesterday, it should be quite soothing.”

“And what about the almonds?”

“That is for afterward.”

“I want to do things like this with you every day.”

Jane smiled. The girl was sweet, and she enjoyed her company. Tatiana had a calm presence unless she was excited, as she had been to play cricket the day before. “I enjoy spending time with you, too.”

Tatiana hesitated, her small hands resting on the edge of the table. Then she spoke, her voice soft and wistful. “If you were my mama …”

* * *

Barclay had searched for Tatiana throughout the splendid home of Saunton Park. When he had drawn his first plans for a similar large and extravagant building, it had been the greatest of honors, but now that he searched for one small girl who liked to hide, he could curse the wasteful spending that created such long halls with so many ridiculous rooms sprawling in every direction.

How the peerage lived in such vast spaces was something he could not comprehend. If he, Tsar, Aurora, and Tatiana lived in such a home, they would not see each other for days on end. Their London townhouse was quite sufficient for a family of means.

Stopping in the great hall, he glanced up at the richly colored, oversized oil paintings of Balfour ancestors in ornate gilded frames and tried to think where else he might look for his child. He had been certain she was with her grandmother, but when he had found Aurora sitting with the ladies for tea in a large drawing room of blue and gold, she had not seen Tatiana since breakfast when she thought the child had left with him.

Barclay encouraged her to continue her tea, mindful that his mother was making important connections with well-placed women of high society, which would elevate her status when they returned to London.

Aurora had mentioned Jane in parting, but Barclay had not found her in his search for Tatiana. Was it possible they were together somewhere? Tatiana seemed quite taken with the young woman, so she might have sought her out.

Ethan had mentioned during the chess match the day before that Jane had trouble sleeping.

Could she be in the family wing still?

He turned and began the long walk to the family wing, where he heard his daughter’s voice echoing down the hall. Following the sound, he reached a door that stood ajar.

This had to be the young lady’s room. He noted it was right next to his mother’s as he raised his hand to knock and then lowered it to listen to the conversation floating out into the corridor.

“Mama used to read to me every night.”

“Every night!” exclaimed Jane. “That is an admirable mother. What did she read to you?”

“My favorite were the ones she read from Abian Nights. ”

“Do you mean Arabian Nights’ Entertainments ?”

“Yes! That is it!”

“I was just reading Aladdin last evening. See, it is there next to my bed.”

“Oooh! It has been so long since I heard that one.”

Tatiana sounded both excited and disappointed at the same time, leaving Barclay feeling guilty. Had he not paid sufficient attention to his child since Natalya had left them? He ensured he spent time with her and took her to the park regularly, but somehow he had not realized that she might miss the simple joy of a story at bedtime. Perhaps he had been too consumed by his own grief and failed to notice how his daughter was suffering.

“I can read it to you, if you wish?”

Jane’s offer surprised him. She had no obligation to his daughter, but she freely offered her time. It was a generous gesture. Surely a young woman like her had more absorbing ways to pass her time than in the company of a child. What of the fidgety young gentleman she had been spending time with since the cricket match the day before?

Realizing he was shamelessly eavesdropping, Barclay raised his hand to knock. He heard a chair shifting and then Tatiana’s light footsteps as she raced across the room to peer around the corner of the door, which was only open by a few inches.

“Papa!”

“There you are, young lady. I have been searching everywhere for you.” He noticed the fragrance of strawberries and almonds wafting in the air. It was a pleasant scent, sweet and fresh, mingling with the sunlight streaming in from the window.

“Jane and I were using strawberry water and almond oil for our faces.”

Barclay tilted his head in confusion. What on earth does that entail?

At that moment, Jane swung the door open to appear in her night rail and wrap, looking a little embarrassed by her attire as she crossed her arms. The gesture pulled the soft fabric snug, highlighting the gentle curves of her form. Barclay did his best to keep his eyes on her face—which only drew his attention to the glorious ebony hair plaited to drape over her shoulder, a few tendrils curling loose to frame her cheeks.

Her cheeks were flushed, likely from the warmth of the room and whatever ritual she had been engaged in with his daughter. The delicate scent of strawberries and almonds wafted from the room, mingling with the sunlight streaming in from the window.

She is too young for you, Barclay. What are you doing, noticing her like this?

“I apologize if I interrupted,” he managed, his voice hoarse.

Every rational instinct Barclay possessed screamed at him to maintain his composure, and he firmed his jaw to prevent himself from acting on any foolish impulses.

“I hope you do not mind? Tatiana joined me when I awoke, but I left my door open in the event you came looking for her.”

The young lady was decidedly nervous, lowering a hand to fidget with the edge of the wrap. The motion drew his gaze to the soft fabric where her fingers toyed with it. Barclay found himself ill-equipped for the situation, taking several moments to respond because of his scrambled wits. He would not usually be speaking with a young woman in her nightclothes, but as they were both considered family of the earl, staying in the same wing, there was nothing particularly improper about it with Tatiana acting as a chaperon of sorts.

He found his tongue. “Not at all. I hope she is not bothering you?”

Jane smiled, the curving of her pink bow lips lighting her face with unexpected charm. Good heavens, she was lovely.

“Tatiana is good company. She could never bother me.”

“Papa, Jane said she would read me Ladin, and the Lamp. Can she put me to bed tonight?”

“Tatiana, I would not want to impose on the young lady. During your bedtime, she should attend the games in the parlor.”

“I can come up and read to her. No one will miss me if I leave for a short time after dinner.”

“I would not wish to interrupt your entertainment.”

Jane shook her head. “It is no bother. I miss my younger brothers and sister, so this will be fun for me … unless I am imposing?” Her face fell, and she appeared genuinely disappointed. “Would you prefer to do it? I can lend you my book.”

Barclay was grateful for the reminder of their age disparity. He had just caught a whiff of the strawberries, cream, and almonds clinging to her skin, and the scent was unexpectedly soothing.

Clearing his throat, he struggled to recall her question as his breathing evened out. Tearing his gaze away from those fascinating ice-blue eyes that reminded him of a frozen lake in winter, he composed himself before replying, “Tatiana does not like my reading. She says I do the voices wrong. If you are sure it is not an imposition …” He looked back at her, and she shook her head once more. “… then we would be honored if you would join her at bedtime … for a short time, mind you. I do not wish to take you away from your leisure.”

Both girls clapped their hands at the news. Jane’s smile widened, her eyes brightening with happiness. She is so lovely, he thought, and it struck him that the word sweet suited her. Not just in her appearance but in her nature.

And far too young, you fool.

Had visiting his father’s home somehow triggered his own roguish impulses? He must set aside these musings before they grew any stronger. Steeling his nerve in the manner he would when entering a tough negotiation, Barclay took Tatiana’s little hand in his.

“Come, little one. I wish to play some chess with you in the library.”

Tatiana beamed. “Good. Ethan made me play after cricket yesterday, and he beat me. It was most embarrassing. I should have paid more attention when you were teaching me to play.”

“We will improve your skills.” He gave a brief bow. “We shall see you later, Jane?”

Jane inclined her head in agreement, then gently closed the door as they walked away.

While Tatiana chattered about the beauty treatment that she and Jane had partaken in, Barclay scolded himself mentally. No matter how charming or kind the young woman was, it bore remembering that she was not for him. She could make a much better match than a man born on the wrong side of the blanket who also happened to be at least fourteen years her senior.

This attraction was … so inconvenient.

He really needed to find someone more suitable if he was to hunt for a new wife. When he was finished with his chess game, he would seek out Mrs. Gordon. She was good company and pleasing to the eye, not to mention mature enough to mother a nine-year-old girl.