Page 43 of The School Mistress (Emerson Pass Historicals 1)

“Because you will scare her away,” I said. “She came here to teach, not find a husband. She might not even want a husband.” I added the last thought hoping with everything I had that it wasn’t true.

Josephine scowled and shook her head as if I’d said we were taking a ride to the moon. “Papa, she wants a husband.”

“Especially one like you,” Flynn said.

Theo nodded, quite solemn. “Papa, she looks at you with her heart in her eyes.”

I glanced around the table at their earnest expressions. They actually believed Miss Cooper was for us. My darling babies were all romantic fools, mirroring my unspoken, irrational daydreams. We wished for love with such fervor that we’d imagined that a wife and mother had fallen suddenly from the sky. Or, in this circumstance, from the train.

I spoke as sternly as possible. “We won’t discuss this again. Miss Cooper has been gracious enough to accept the position. If I hear another word, you’ll all be punished.” With that, I set aside my napkin and rose from the table, acting the part of strict father when, in fact, they’d shaken me. My legs wobbled as I entered the hallway. I heard the familiar creak of the stairs that led to the kitchen. Someone had been standing outside the door, listening. God help me. Please, I prayed. Let it have been Jasper and not Miss Cooper standing in the hallway.

I jumped when Jasper shuffled out of the library carrying an empty tray. Wonderful. Jasper had not been in the hallway. If Miss Cooper had heard that conversation, she was probably contemplating how to get out of this house and back to the world of rational humans.

“What’s the matter?” Jasper asked. “You look a bit undone.”

“Let’s go into town for a drink. I want to get out of the house.” When had it gotten so warm in here? I loosened my tie.

His eyebrows raised. “Town?”

“Yes, town.”

“For a drink?”

I rubbed the skin between my eyebrows, irritated. Why did he have to question me? If I wanted to go into the saloon, then I would go to the bloody saloon. “I know, it’s unusual, but I feel the urge for some fresh air. Do you have a problem with that?”

He flinched as if I’d smacked him. “Not at all.”

“I’m sorry, Jasper.” I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “I had a strange interaction with the children, and I’m rattled.”

“No explanation necessary. I’ll have Harley prepare the horses.”

“First, I need to speak to Miss Cooper. Do you know where she is?”

“Downstairs with Lizzie and Merry.” He watched me with wary eyes, as if I were a stranger to him. “Shall I fetch her for you?”

“No, I’ll go down myself. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“As you wish.”

Chapter 15

Quinn

* * *

I was at the sink in the kitchen drying a plate when I heard heavy footsteps on the stairs. Lord Barnes burst through the door seconds later. His hair stood up in the front as if he’d been running his hands through it, and his tie was loose about his neck.

“Lord Barnes, may I help you with something?” Lizzie leapt up from the table where she’d been polishing a silver serving tray with a cotton cloth.

“Who was in the hallway just now?” he asked.

“That was me,” Merry said. She’d climbed up on the step stool to put a bowl up on the top shelf and stood there now, frozen. “I’d come from the library. I had to put more logs on the fire. Is something the matter?”

“Oh, so you weren’t listening to the conversation in the dining room?” he asked.

Merry’s knuckles whitened as she pressed the bowl against her chest. “No, Lord Barnes. Was I supposed to?”

“No, no. Of course not.” He ran a hand through his hair, proving I’d been correct about the origin of its dishevelment. “And no, nothing’s the matter. I just came down to tell you that I’ve talked to the children, Miss Cooper.” Lord Barnes leaned against the wall, as if he were tired.