The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen

Author:Julie Klassen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;Christian fiction;Love stories;FIC042030;FIC042040;FIC027070
ISBN: 9781493411900
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2017-09-26T04:00:00+00:00

Mercy dressed with care the next morning, donning an embroidered, belted overdress over her usual plain day dress. She left her bedchamber just as Mr. Hollander stepped out of Aunt Matty’s room. From the floor above came the rumble of eight pairs of shoes as the herd of girls, shepherded by Rachel and the maid, Agnes, descended the stairs in a rush, eager for their breakfast. They streamed past the man, catching him up in their giggling wake and nearly bowling him over. He stepped out from among them in an ungainly little twirl.

Mercy smiled at him, and he smiled back.

“Good morning, Mr. Hollander. I see you have met my pupils.”

“In a manner of speaking.”

“You are up early.”

“Yes. It is my habit.”

“Mine as well. Come, let’s go down to breakfast, and you can meet the girls properly.”

He hesitated only a moment. “Very well.”

Was he daunted by the prospect? She hoped the girls would remember to be on their best behavior.

Instead, breakfast that morning turned out to be a clamorous and chaotic pass-the-butter affair, accompanied by more noise and less decorum than usual. Or perhaps Mercy was simply more aware with their guest at the table. Spoons clattered, elbows on the table reprimanded, tea sloshed, and serving dishes passed and passed again.

Thankfully her father was not an early riser and her mother took her breakfast on a tray in her room. So Mercy, Matilda, Rachel, and Mr. Hollander were the only adults there to witness the tumult.

Fanny asked, with her mouth full, “Are boys easier to teach, Mr. Hollander?”

“Perhaps . . . quieter.”

“Do you like our teacher?”

“Fanny!” Mercy’s neck heated.

His expression remained unperturbed. “I do, yes. Do you?”

“Of course.” Around the table, heads nodded. Little Alice’s especially.

“Then you are just as intelligent as Miss Grove said you were.”

That earned him a smile from the girls and from Mercy as well.

When the girls finished eating, Rachel offered to go up with them to the schoolroom for morning prayers, so the two Miss Groves could linger with their guest.

“Thank you, Rachel.”

When they had gone, peaceful quiet reigned.

Mercy sighed. “That is more like it. I apologize. The girls are in unusually high spirits this morning.”

“I thought it invigorating. Rather like dining with freshmen after a football match.”

Mercy chuckled appreciatively. “More tea, Mr. Hollander?”

He nodded, and she poured.

Her aunt held out her cup as well. “You mentioned wishing to write a book,” Matilda began. “A noble venture, to be sure, but would that not require a great deal of time and effort without remuneration for years, if ever? How do you intend to support yourself?”

Mercy had rarely heard her sweet aunt speak so pointedly. She supposed she felt protective of her only niece.

Again, Mr. Hollander took no umbrage. “A valid question. I recently received a modest inheritance from a late uncle that will allow me to pursue writing for a time, rather than income, if money is not an indelicate subject to raise among ladies.”

“Not at all.” Matilda’s eyes shone with mischief. “We like money, don’t we, Mercy.

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