He was chewing and swallowed. “I am afraid I was distracted by Cook’s biscuits.”

  He brushed the back of his hand against his mouth. His right hand, with the missing fingers. She tried not to stare and make him aware of a gesture he had most likely performed countless numbers of times over the years. She did not wish him to be self-conscious or feel she judged him and found him lacking merely because he possessed a few less fingers than most.

  “The stables are this way,” she said, leading him there.

  They found Freddie and Charlie had already arrived and were talking to Harrison excitedly, both gesturing wildly as only small, enthusiastic boys could do.

  Harrison greeted them. “How are you today? Whiskers for you, I am assuming, Miss Birmingham. And for you, my lord? Do you have a type of mount in mind?”

  “I am an experienced rider. I will leave the choice of horse in your hands.”

  The groom nodded. “Very well, my lord. I will see that Domino is saddled for you.”

  Harrison disappeared and the boys asked Julia if they could go with him and watch all the horses saddled.

  “We stopped in the kitchens and got apples for Brownie and Blackie,” Charlie said, pulling his from a pocket. He looked to Lord Devin. “Miss Birmingham said it is always wise to bring your horse a treat to show your affection and respect for him.”

  “Miss Birmingham is a very clever woman,” Lord Devin said. “That is sage advice that you should follow every time you ride.”

  “Go ahead,” she told them. “But stay out of the grooms’ way,” she cautioned.

  “But we will help them,” Freddie called over his shoulder as they scampered off, apples in hand.

  Lord Devin turned to her. “I see that you teach more than academic subjects, Miss Birmingham. You are teaching those two boys important life lessons, as well.”

  “I rode from the time I was three,” she revealed. “My father told me my horse would be the best friend I ever had and if I wanted to keep that friendship intact, a small gift of an apple was a simple way to do so.”

  “I think I would like your father,” he said. “Where do you hail from? Do you get to visit him and your mother very often?”

  Julia never talked about her past with anyone, including information about her family, and was loath to do so with this man.

  “My parents are both dead,” she said flatly. “There is no going home for me.” For a moment, she regretted her harsh tone but knew she needed to stand firm. She was no longer a part of the ton. Discussing her past with this man would not change anything and only lead to memories she wished to forget and heartache she wished to keep away.

  Unfortunately, Lord Devin kept pushing.

  “Do you have brothers or sisters then? Ones you could visit when you are given a bit of a holiday. I assume governesses are given holidays?”

  “Those times are rare if at all,” she told him. “Servants work for their living and do not take holidays as the wealthy do. When a family I have worked for goes on holiday, they either leave their children behind in my care or I go with them and am expected to entertain and continue schooling those children while their parents do as they wish on holiday.”

  She had worked for Lord Pelham three years and had never once been given a single day off.

  “But even servants get a half-holiday sometimes,” he insisted. “I know servants in our household had off part of one Wednesday a month and half of every Sunday. They would go into the local village and enjoy a few hours away from their duties.”

  “Their Graces have actually been quite thoughtful and kind to me,” Julia said. “It may change some after Her Grace’s child comes. For now, though, they spend more time with Freddie and Charlie than do other adults of the ton who have children in their households. Her Grace has sat in on lessons and even taken over sometimes. She and His Grace often take the boys for additional rides and walks, as well, beyond what I do with them. I have found myself with more free time than I have ever had since I came to Woodbridge.”

  He smiled. “What do you like to do with this newfound freedom, Miss Birmingham?”

  “I enjoy reading and walking. I have even taken a few rides on my own. Gardening was always a favorite of mine when I was growing up. The head gardener here has allowed me to putter about some, pulling weeds and pruning shrubs. I have even arranged some flowers which have been cut.”

  “Did you do the centerpiece for the dining table last night?”

  “As a matter of fact, I did, my lord.”

  “It was quite lovely,” he said and then abruptly changed topics. “His Grace has made me a most unusual offer, Miss Birmingham. He says his steward will be retiring and he has offered me the position.”

  “Are you going to accept it, my lord?”

  “I haven’t decided yet. I would like to see some of the estate today and also speak with Mr. Kepler before I make a decision.” He paused and she saw something inscrutable in his eyes.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  His gaze met hers. “Yes, something is terribly wrong. I cannot even sign my own name to a page. How am I to keep estate records if I cannot even hold a pencil?”

  “You are telling me you were righthanded before your accident.”

  He scowled. “It was no accident,” he said, a trace of bitterness in his words.

  “I thought you had said it was not a battle injury, my lord. I merely assumed it to be an accident.”

  “No, I was viciously attacked by a soldier I had put up on charges. He was holding back goods from his fellow soldiers and using his position as quartermaster in order to move those goods on the black market.”

  “What is the black market? I am not familiar with that term.”

  “It is an illegal way of obtaining goods, in this case, various supplies and food. There are shortages in France among civilians and the wealthy, as always, have chosen to buy their way out of the situation. Corporal Kerley used that to his advantage, stealing from his fellow soldiers and selling army goods and food at a tremendous profit. He was to stand trial for his actions.”

  “You say he attacked you?”

  Lord Devin nodded. “I saw him being transported. His misplaced anger was directed to me and not himself. Though handcuffed, he grabbed the sword of the officer moving him and other prisoners and thought to deal me a death blow with it. Obviously, he did not succeed. I threw my arm up in protection and lost two fingers—and my good looks—because of it.”

  “Your looks are quite fine, my lord. You don’t seem the type to fish for a compliment. If you are referring to the scar on your chin, however, I will tell you that it simply makes you more intriguing. As for the loss of your two fingers, for that I empathize.”

  Knowing she was making a mistake and could not take back the words she would utter, Julia still plunged ahead.

  “I would be happy to help you as far as your handwriting goes. You start far ahead of any other pupil I have taught. You already know all your letters and how to form them. What cursive handwriting looks like. You merely need someone to guide you through some handwriting exercises. After that, it will mean a great deal of practice on your own. I will tell you now that you will be discouraged at times. You are used to the speed and accuracy of your dominant hand and do not recall what it was like, as a child, to struggle to form a letter, then a word, and finally a sentence. We have a tendency to forget such things. You will be reminded of those struggles now if you truly are interested in learning to write with your left hand.”

  He smiled ruefully. “I don’t have another choice, Miss Birmingham.” He held his right hand up. She could see the stumps where fingers had once been. “I have tried writing with three fingers. It proved to be disastrous. Yes, I did write but it looked worse than chicken scratch. I need my handwriting to be both neat and legible if I am to have an opportunity to do something new with my life. Physical labor would be hard for me with the missing fingers, which means I need a post that uses my mind more than my body.”

  Her eyes swept up and down his tall, muscled frame. She swallowed.

  “If you are willing to put in the work, my lord, then I am willing to work alongside you in this endeavor.”

  Harrison and another groom led out the four horses at that moment, keeping Lord Devin from saying whether he agreed to her help or not. The grooms helped the boys to mount. Julia went to Whiskers, stroking her sleek nose as she greeted the horse.

  “May I assist you into the saddle, Miss Birmingham?” Lord Devin asked.

  She thought it a physical task him capable of and important that he begin doing these to gain confidence. That was the biggest problem Julia saw with this man. A lack of confidence. Obviously, he had been a high-ranking officer, full of responsibility and having bravely led soldiers into battle. Now, as a civilian, he was struggling to find his place in the world.

  “Thank you, my lord,” she said, moving to Whiskers’ side. “If you will merely give me a boost, I shall be fine.”

  He bent slightly, lacing together what fingers he had, and she placed her foot in them. He easily tossed her into the saddle and she took up her reins. She wondered what riding was like for him since she knew how important the use of one’s hands were in taking the reins and guiding a mount. It worried her that he might not have ridden at all since the attack. He had not revealed how recent it had been. She recalled him arriving at Woodbridge in a farmer’s cart and only hoped this ride would go well.

  Fortunately, it did. Lord Devin swung into the saddle with grace and took up Domino’s reins.

  “Where shall we take our visitor?” she asked the boys.

  Freddie was full of ideas, which Charlie seconded.

  “We won’t be able to get to all of those places today but I believe we can take a longer ride than we usually do.” She turned to Lord Devin. “We usually ride for an hour or slightly longer. If you are up to it, my lord, we can make it two hours.”

  Before he could reply, her pupils cheered loudly. Lord Devin began to laugh.

  “Lead the way, boys,” he said with enthusiasm.

  They rode across fields and past tenants’ houses, eventually working their way up the tallest hill on the property.

  At the top of the ridge, they paused. Charlie climbed from his horse and Freddie did the same. Lord Devin also dismounted and came toward her.

  “May I?” he asked, extending his hands up.

  She nodded and he lifted her with ease from her saddle. She could tell a slight difference on one side of her waist where he clasped her, different from the other side, but his strong arms made light of lifting her to the ground.

  They joined the boys and looked out over a large portion of Woodbridge.

  “This is the estate’s east side,” Charlie said proudly. “Miss Birmingham is teaching us our directions and how to look at the sun to gauge what time it might be.”

  “A valuable lesson to learn,” Lord Devin agreed. “You might find yourself separated from your companions, even lost, at some point. Those lessons will help you find your way home.”

  Freddie pointed out things to Lord Devin and he asked both boys several questions, which she was proud to hear them answer correctly. She always kept up a running conversation with her pupils, never quite knowing how much they would remember from all that she said. Freddie and Charlie were like sponges, however, soaking up everything thrown their way.

  “We have been gone long enough,” she said, the governess in her returning once more. “We should ride home.”

  “Could we stop for some refreshments in the kitchens?” Charlie asked. “I am thirsty. And hungry.”

  “I am famished myself,” Lord Devin proclaimed. “I think refreshments are a good idea for all.”

  Julia would allow this man to take some refreshments with her charges. She intended to go upstairs and change from her riding habit. She needed to put more distance between herself and this much-too-attractive man.

  Once more, he helped her mount and they rode at a brisk pace back to the stables.

  When they arrived, Harrison greeted them and signaled to two grooms to collect the horses.

  “How was Domino, my lord?” the head groom asked.

  “I have developed quite a fondness for him,” Lord Devin said.

  “Then anytime you wish to ride him, he is yours,” the groom said.

  The four of them returned to the main house, the boys slightly ahead.

  “I will take you up on your offer, Miss Birmingham,” Lord Devin said. “I only hope you will not grow impatient with me.”

  “I have all the patience in the world,” she said airily. “You will have to learn to be patient with yourself, Lord Devin.”

  Once at the kitchens, she got the boys settled with milk and biscuits and excused herself.

  “I must go change from my riding habit,” she said. “Would you mind staying with Freddie and Charlie, my lord?”

  His lips pursed in amusement, as if he knew exactly what she was doing.

  “Of course, Miss Birmingham. When they are done, I will see them to the schoolroom.”

  “Thank you, my lord. I appreciate your help with the boys today.”

  He smiled at her. “I enjoyed the lesson we taught together. Perhaps we could do more of that in the future.”

  She frowned in disapproval. “It is my job as their governess to present lessons. You will be practicing your letters and numbers in the meantime.”

  “A governess until the end,” he said softly.

  Julia smiled and turned away, reluctant to leave his company and yet knowing it was the best thing.

  She would make certain their only encounters occurred in the schoolroom, with her charges present.

  That would prevent her from trying to kiss Lord Devin Hunt.

  Chapter Ten

  Before he left the kitchens, Devin asked Cook if bathwater could be prepared and sent up for him. The ride had been long and he didn’t want to ruin any of Win’s clothes. He stopped in the servants’ hall and found Larson reading a newspaper.

  “I’ve called for a bath,” he told the valet. “His Grace’s clothes will need to be laundered after my long ride.”

  Folding the newspaper and setting it on the table, Larson said, “I will see the water taken up to you, my lord, and new clothes set out for you.”

  “Thank you,” Devin said and rejoined the boys in the kitchens.

  They were full of talk and even though he had spent a majority of his day in their company, he didn’t seem to mind it in the least.

  After they finished their milk and biscuits, he told them it was time to return to the schoolroom, where they found Miss Birmingham waiting for them.

  “We have time to work on our sums,” she said brightly.

  Freddie beamed, while Charlie groaned good-naturedly.

  “I will leave you in Miss Birmingham’s capable hands.”

  He returned to his guest bedchamber and stripped the clothes from his body. Tomorrow, he would go into the local village and see the local tailor that Larson had told him about. He still felt guilty wearing Win’s clothes and preferred having some of his own. He would be careful, though, and not go overboard in his spending. He needed the funds from the sale of his commission to stretch as far as possible.

  His bathwater arrived and he soaked in the tub for some minutes before allowing Larson to scrub him clean.

  The valet dried off Devin and dressed him before excusing himself.

  He was too restless to read and decided to explore the house, heading to the top floor and moving along its corridor. At the schoolroom, he glanced in and saw the boys hard at work, Miss Birmingham sitting beside Charlie and explaining something to him as the boy nodded. He did not want to interrupt them and continued on his way. None of the trio had spied him and he thought it best to move on.

  He made his way down the stairs to the next level and walked along each floor until he had committed the layout of the entire house to memory.

  It was time to go to tea and he went to the drawing room, where Win and his wife were already present.

  She gave him a sweet smile and poured him a cup, asking how he took it.

  “Now that I have returned to England, I will take milk and one—no, make it two—lumps of sugar in it. Those two items were scarce in the army. The tea we drank was weak, being strained over and over until it was almost colorless. It is nice to be home, where both the coffee and tea are strong and tasty.”

  “How was your day?” questioned Win. “I hear you spent most of it with my nephews and their governess.”

  He grinned. “I may have missed my calling to be a tutor.”

  Devin said it in jest but he thought if he did not accept the post at Woodbridge as Win’s steward that serving as a tutor at Cambridge might be a viable option. He had always enjoyed academics and would like to take young men in hand and guide them along in their studies.

  “I sometimes take a lesson on,” Her Grace said. “What did you teach about today, Lord Devin?”

  “As a matter of fact, it was a shared lesson. A quite lengthy one. I gave the boys a brief overview of Bonaparte’s life and the Napoleonic Wars.”

  “My, all in one day,” Win said. “You would make for a great tutor if you could cram all that into a single session.”

  “We went to your library for a majority of the lesson,” he shared. “It was easier to do so by looking at the globe and some of your atlases. I think both boys thoroughly enjoyed it.”

  “How did Miss Birmingham take to sharing her responsibilities?” Win asked.

  His wife answered for him. “Oh, she would not mind at all. I have never met a nicer woman, Win.”

  “She was very gracious as we shared the lesson,” he pointed out. “She knows quite a bit of history herself and was good at setting the stage. She also knows how to keep material age appropriate. We literally never acknowledged the role which the French Revolution and Reign of Terror played in the rise of Bonaparte.”

  The duchess shuddered. “Thank goodness. It will be soon enough for the boys to learn about such bloodthirsty events, events which I still have trouble understanding how they occurred myself.”