Dawnlands by Philippa Gregory

Author:Philippa Gregory
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2022-11-08T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Rob, coming home at six o’ clock, found his wife getting up for the first time in the day, the governess in a state of exhaustion, and Hester, half-hidden by the turn of the stairs, lying in wait for him.

“May my cousins come again, Papa?” she asked him, catching him as he was going into his dressing room.

“Good God! I thought you were a footpad! Jumping out at me like that!”

She giggled. “Don’t be silly, Papa,” she said severely. “I wanted to see you, before you talk to Mama.”

“Why?” he asked, scanning the flush in her face and the brightness of her eyes. He put his hand on her forehead. “You’re not feverish?”

“No, no!” she exclaimed. “I’m well! My cousins came today: Gabrielle and Mia. And they made Prynne teach us philosophy, and she hated it. But it was truly interesting, and they know so much already, I’m so behind, Papa! And we read a book from your library—a proper book—not a chapbook for children with a moral at the end. And Aunt Shore came to fetch them, and she was so funny, Papa. She said she can’t be running in and out of London every day, that she has work to do, but if they are to come regularly, she will send them in the wherry on their own. Prynne nearly died of shock, but Aunt Shore just smiled and said, ‘Why not?’ She left her love for you and sent up her good wishes to Mama.”

“Did your mama not see her?”

“No, she didn’t come down at all, and Prynne said just as well—because Aunt Shore is in trade—” She broke off, looking at him anxiously. “But I thought it just as well that Mama didn’t come down because she doesn’t like me going into your library. Prynne chose this book to put us off philosophy, but really, it didn’t, Papa. And Mia understands everything anyway.”

“She does, does she?” Rob smiled at the sudden vivacity of his daughter. “Well, it certainly looks as if you’ve enjoyed their visit.”

“And they’re so funny,” Hester told him earnestly. “Mia can wink! I nearly laughed out loud.”

“They’re not to distract from your lessons,” Rob warned. “They’re not rowdy?”

“Oh! No! No!” she promised him. “Mia winked when Aunt Shore said that we might learn difficult things. They want to study. Can I study with them?”

He put a gentle arm around her slim shoulders. “I can’t say no to you,” he told her. “But you must do your exercises and walk out every day as well. I want you strong, as well as clever. And we can’t upset your mother. Don’t you start winking!”

She flushed with pleasure as a thought came to her. “I could walk them to the New Canal after our lesson every day? That would be more walking than I do now.”

“You’ll have to have Prynne or a footman to go with you. And stop if you get overtired.”

“Oh yes! Papa! Yes!”

He smiled. “When do they want to come again?”

She gave a little gasp.

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