Page 3 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)
Beau rather liked the compact nature of his new accommodation.
Despite the temperature the house was warm; even the passageways were bearable.
His new staff were well trained and efficient – what more could he ask?
Bishop, the young man appointed to be his temporary valet, had proved himself adequate to the task and so would remain in that position.
The estate was efficiently managed by the factor and he had no intention of interfering in that department. His intention was to spend the entire six months composing, playing and being free of his lifelong responsibilities.
The day after his arrival he was comfortably settled at the piano playing something that had come to him in the night before he committed it to paper.
He paused and glanced up whilst he thought.
His eyes widened. Peering back at him were three heads – two children and a dog that reminded him of Zorro, the enormous hound Sofia and Perry had brought back with them from Spain.
He stood up, expecting them to run away, but they waited as if expecting him to open the window and allow them into the music room. They were not afraid, which surprised him as he was more than two yards high in his stockinged feet.
He smiled at them and gestured that they came around to the front door. He was damned if he was going to shout through the glass. They understood immediately and vanished from sight. They must have been clinging on like limpets to have been able to see above the windowsill.
There was a footman standing to attention in the entrance hall, waiting to run errands.
‘Two children are about to knock on the front door. You will let them in but on no account allow their dog inside. Then have refreshments sent to the music room – something suitable for children as well as myself.’
To give him his due the young man moved swiftly to the door as if it was the most normal thing in the world to be letting in two unknown little ones.
He waited by the music room and was amused to see them stand to have their coats removed by the footman before they walked towards him.
These were no village children – that much was obvious from their appearance and behaviour.
The girl curtsied and the boy bowed. ‘Thank you for inviting us in, Mr Sheldon. We could hear you playing from across the park and just had to come and listen. I am Lady Elizabeth Fenchurch and this is my twin brother, Lord Thomas, the Earl of Fenchurch.’
Beau bowed. ‘I am Edward Sheldon and delighted to make your acquaintance. However, might I enquire if your parents are aware that you are wandering about my property uninvited and unsupervised?’
Again, it was the girl who spoke. The boy was staring at him with something that could be interpreted as awe. ‘I would have thought, sir, that someone who could play as sublimely as you would have realised we have no papa. If we had, my brother would not hold the title.’
‘Of course, a commoner like myself could not be expected to understand these things. Then I shall rephrase my question, young lady: is the Countess of Fenchurch aware that you are here?’
‘I expect she will have guessed as we have not returned for luncheon. My brother does not often take the lead, but today he was insistent that we come and listen to you play. He is a talented pianist but sadly lacking in technique.’
Beau was finding this entire conversation quite extraordinary. The child, and she could be little more than eight or nine years of age, addressed him like an adult. He was unused to being put in his place by anyone and certainly not by a little girl who thought she was his equal.
Finally, the diminutive earl found his voice. ‘I do beg your pardon, Mr Sheldon, for intruding on you in this manner. Before we are sent packing could I beg you to play for me again? I did not recognise the tune – is it something new?’
‘I have no intention of sending you away until I have fed you and then I shall take you myself in the carriage. I shall have a note delivered to your mama explaining where you are and that I will bring you back safely before it gets dark.’
The rattle of crockery on a tray heralded the arrival of the refreshments. ‘Come into my music room and warm yourselves in front of the fire. You should not have been wandering about outside when the temperature is below freezing.’
‘We did not intend to come this far, sir; we were just exercising our dog, Brutus. As no doubt you observed, he is a very large animal and requires a deal of exercise.’
Beau hid his smile. The child was quite delightful and unlike any he had met before.
He knew the daughters of his best friend, Rushton; they were about the same age but neither of them were as poised and grown-up as this girl.
The boy was eyeing the piano longingly and taking no notice whatsoever of the delicious treats that had been placed on a table near the fire.
Should he address the child by his title or by his given name?
He had never been in this position before as being a duke meant he was always the most important person in the room – unless a member of the royal family happened to be present.
He was not sure of the correct etiquette for a commoner to address an earl.
He erred on the side of caution. ‘My lord, would you care to try my instrument?’
The boy was on the stool before he had finished speaking. Then he began to play the recently composed sonata that Beau had been playing moments before.
He made several mistakes but he had the melodies exact. How was this possible when he had only listened to the music once and that through the window? The boy was a musical genius. Beau turned and saw the girl was listening as intently as himself.
Hearing his own composition played with such talent, such enthusiasm, made him decide to change his plans for the next few months.
His mission now was to teach this child prodigy the technique he lacked and help him to develop his undeniable genius.
He had been denied a music teacher in his formative years because of his position in life; he could not let that happen to another who had even more ability than he did.
Like this boy, he had been self-taught and was then obliged to unlearn his bad habits when as an adult, and able to organise his own life without interference, he employed a teacher.
Whilst up at Oxford he had indulged his passion knowing that when he returned music would have to be a secret part of his life – at least whilst his austere father still lived.
He had inherited the title three months after reaching his majority and had then assumed responsibility for his five younger siblings and had no time for himself.
Their mama had died when Giselle was still in the schoolroom and he had devoted himself to making his brothers and sisters happy as well as keeping the estates functioning efficiently.
He walked across to the piano and gently removed the child’s hands. ‘The refreshments have arrived. We shall talk whilst we eat.’
With some reluctance he guided the boy to the fire. Soon they were all munching happily on the delicious pastries. ‘What would you like to drink? There is buttermilk, chocolate or coffee.’ He was unsurprised when they both chose the dark, aromatic brew he preferred himself.
Once they were replete he indicated they should put their used utensils on the tray. They seemed surprised to be asked to do so but did not cavil. He doubted they ever did anything for themselves at home.
‘I should like to give you lessons, my lord. Do you think that is something your mother would agree to?’
His smile and the way the boy nodded his head so vigorously answered his question. ‘I am Thomas, if you please, sir. I do not care to be addressed so formally.’
‘Then, Thomas, shall we begin?’ He turned to the girl. ‘Are you content to listen or would you like to be shown to the library to find yourself something to read?’
‘The library, if you please, Mr Sheldon. Shall I ask for the tray to be removed?’
He nodded. ‘Do that. There is a footman outside the door who will take you. The house is small enough for you to be able to find your way back without any difficulty.’
Thomas was already back at the piano, his eyes alight with excitement, his fingers poised above the keys. Beau thought an hour sufficient for a first lesson but they both would have been happy to carry on for the remainder of the afternoon.
‘Practise what I have shown you. I take it you have an instrument?’
‘It is not as good as this but serves the purpose. At what time shall I present myself for my next lesson, sir?’
‘I must speak to your mama before we make any firm arrangements, young man. If she does not want me to teach you then that is the end of the matter. You will not sneak off to visit me in the hope that I will ignore her wishes. Do I make myself clear?’
The child grinned. ‘Mama will agree; she wishes us both to be happy.’
‘If that is the case then no doubt she will arrange for you to be brought here by carriage. Presumably you are in the schoolroom with your tutor in the mornings, so it will have to be the afternoon.’
Elizabeth joined in the conversation from her position by the fire where she was busily reading a book of sermons.
‘We are in between governesses, Mr Sheldon. Miss Brown left somewhat hurriedly just before Christmas and our mama has yet to find a replacement.’ She looked hard at him.
‘A tutor would be just as good as a governess.’
Beau laughed. ‘If you are trying to suggest that I apply for that position, Elizabeth, then you are in for a disappointment. I am happy to help develop your brother’s talents on the piano, but I draw the line at anything else.’