Free Nell by Elizabeth Bailey Page A

perhaps a little disappointing to have done nothing to further Henrietta’s education.’
    ‘It is early days, Miss Faraday. You have barely begun.’ He wondered if it was too soon to ask, but anxiety got the better of him. ‘What did you think of her?’
    The forest eyes instantly clouded and his heart sank. Then she had seen it too! He could not bring himself to speak, and waited in a species of torture for what she might say.
    Nell saw the withdrawal, and sympathy stirred her response. ‘The truth, Lord Jarrow, is that I do not know. I found her a trifle unnerving at first—she stared so. But then I was a little heartened when she answered me with sense.’ She saw a quick frown, and hastened to elaborate. ‘I do not mean to imply that she talked nonsense. Farfrom it. Only her responses were out of place to start with. That is not uncommon in young children, and certainly she did find some apt answers. But I will not conceal from you that the task of teaching her is not likely to be an easy one.’
    He was looking a little less tense, Nell thought with relief. In the broad light of day, the lean features were decidedly less worn and his true age was more apparent. His voice sounded easier.
    ‘I had anticipated as much. She will no doubt prove a handful.’
    ‘I suspect the problem will be to get her attention to remain for long enough upon one thing.’ Nell gave him a smile she hoped was reassuring. ‘There are ways to counteract it, my lord.’
    ‘Such as?’
    Was he interested? Or did that dry note betoken scepticism?
    ‘It is best with a butterfly mind to engage in a frequent change of subject. The moment one detects inattention, it is time to turn to something else.’ His aspect did not change, and Nell felt compelled to offer more. ‘If that does not work, one may allow the child’s interest to lead, introducing several possibilities and letting her choose. Or else there is the tried and tested method of endless repetition, which I do not favour. It is much more productive to go over something a second time on another occasion rather than to bore the poor child into a stupor by going over and over the same thing.’ Warming to her theme, she found various precepts she had been taught flooding into her mind. ‘And if all else fails, one may set aside the primer and teach through fairy stories. Which, since your daughter mistook me for a princess, might well work in her case. Otherwise—’
    Jarrow threw up a hand in laughing protest. ‘No more, I beg of you! It is clear that your head has been stuffed to bursting at your Seminary with endless schemes for a pathway to success.’
    Her features lightened in a smile of such warmth that he almost lost track of her answer. His mind caught on something she had said earlier. Henrietta had thought she was a princess—due to the hair, no doubt. It glowed in the sunlight, a very halo about her head. She was not beautiful in the conventional sense. Not like Julietta, whose lush enchantment had made his senses swim on that far-off accursed day of their first meeting. But the hair, together with her unusual eyes, had a quality of making this girl appear almost angelic. An epithet that could not have been less apt! Miss Faraday had far too strong a personality to be mistaken for an angel.
    Jarrow became aware that she had ceased speaking, and was regarding him with question in her face. He brushed away the stray thoughts. But the words that came out of his mouth had no volition.
    ‘You are such an innocent! Why in the world are you here? Why are you not looking after some innocuous young females in a country mansion where your comfort would be assured? Is it the challenge, or what?’
    Utterly taken aback, Nell could only gaze at him. He had read her so accurately! Yet they were scarce more than strangers. It did not occur to her to deny it. Indeed it felt natural to confide her fears to him.
    ‘Am I too ambitious? Last night when I arrived, I thought I had been