Page 38 of The School Mistress (Emerson Pass Historicals 1)

stay still so long.” Cymbeline yawned and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands in the way that always made me want to hold her close to my chest.

“You did quite well,” Miss Cooper said.

Cymbeline beamed. “Miss Cooper said we have to be curious and kind and to take care of our team.”

“And did you?” I asked, tweaking her nose.

Cymbeline tugged off her hat. Her curls, happy to be free of their imprisonment, immediately fell over her forehead. “I tried to give someone my sandwich, but Jojo said no.”

I looked up at Miss Cooper for an explanation.

“Louisa Kellam came to school without a lunch,” she said. “The children took it upon themselves to share theirs.”

“But not me,” Cymbeline said. “Jojo said I was too little and that I needed all my sandwich.”

“Your sister was right to give hers instead,” I said, knowing Josephine’s heart. She would not want her little sister to be hungry.

“Josephine might need an extra portion at supper tonight,” Miss Cooper said as she took out the pins that secured her hat.

Fiona came running into the foyer, calling out her sister’s name as if she’d been parted from her for years instead of hours. She threw herself into Cymbeline’s arms. “I missed you.”

Cymbeline returned the affectionate hug. “Were you bored without me?”

“No. Lizzie let me help her in the kitchen,” Fiona said. “We made bread and I got to help churn the butter.”

“Lizzie has tea for you in the kitchen,” Jasper said. “She made her special raspberry biscuits.”

“I love those ones,” Cymbeline said.

“Didn’t you say that about the oatmeal ones?” I asked.

“Those too,” Cymbeline said.

I watched as Fiona and Cymbeline clasped hands and walked toward the door that led down to the kitchen, chattering away about their day. Jasper gestured toward the library. “I’ve set tea for you and Miss Cooper in the library.”

Miss Cooper’s eyes widened, obviously delighted. “I’m allowed tea?”

“We all have tea in this house, Miss Cooper,” Jasper said, then sniffed.

“Right, of course,” Miss Cooper said.

I smiled over at Miss Cooper, hoping to distract her from Jasper’s rudeness. “Would you join me?”

“I can’t think of anything I’d like more at the moment than one of those raspberry cookies.”

“I can assure you—they do not disappoint.”

Our eyes locked and we grinned at each other, like children.

Jasper cleared his throat. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him examine his cuff links.

We walked out of the foyer and through the open doors of the library. A teapot and plates of biscuits and tiny sandwiches waited on the table. Miss Cooper and I took seats opposite each other. Jasper poured tea and then backed away to stand near the doorway. Given my choice of a small staff and Jasper’s unwillingness to let go of the past, he was butler, valet, and footman. Unless I specifically asked him to leave, he would stand in wait.

Knowing Jasper would die rather than leave us alone unsupervised, I didn’t bother to dismiss him. I wished we could be alone, but my loyal staff saved me from my foibles.

“Tell me about your day,” I said. “Were the children what you expected?”

“They were as varied in skills and temperaments as I feared they would be,” she said. “I’ve had to group them by abilities rather than age. They all seemed willing to learn and follow the rules. All in all, it was a most satisfying first day.” She leaned over the table to put a few sandwiches and a biscuit on her plate. As she had the other time I’d seen her eat, she dived into the meal with gusto and appreciation.