The Dancing Master by Unknown

Author:Unknown [Unknown]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Not to go back, is somewhat to advance, And men must walk, at least, before they dance.

—Alexander Pope

Chapter 15

The next morning, Alec rose early and volunteered to help his uncle’s manservant prepare the large garden plot for planting seed potatoes and other vegetables. Old Abe was clearly surprised by the offer but did not refuse.

Pushing the wooden plow with its dull blade, Alec tilled row by row—stopping only to dig out roots or stones by hand and then continuing on until his muscles burned and sweat ran down his back. He needed the exercise, the exertion, and found the strenuous labor oddly satisfying. He finished by digging shallow trenches according to Abe’s instructions. He offered to plant the sprouted seed potatoes as well, but Abe waved him away, muttering that he wasn’t about to let some young buck work him out of a job.

Alec cleaned himself up and dressed to face the day.

After the midday meal, he steeled himself and walked over to Buckleigh Manor to retrieve Apollo. The weather was damp and grey fog hung low in the air, mirroring his dismal mood. As he walked, scenes from the previous day returned to him, increasing his depression of spirits. Lady Amelia’s cool dismissal. His talk with Desmond at the forge. How Alec had hoped to return to his uncle’s house possessing an alternate plan to present to his family, to soften the blow of his bad news.

But the trip to the forge had not resulted in the clear path he had hoped for. Desmond would discuss it with his father and let him know. Was it only the rate he was unsure of—or was it Alec’s suitability as a tenant? And what of the reverse—did Alec really want to enter into any contract with a man who had killed another in a duel—her ladyship’s brother no less?

His stomach soured at the thought.

Then his mood sank further when he recalled his mother’s wide-eyed dismay and his uncle’s stiff-lipped disapproval when Alec had confessed he’d lost his position at the manor.

“What did you do?” his uncle had asked.

Alec hesitated, then said, “She inquired into my background.” But could he really blame it all on the past? Had he not provoked her into doing so by presuming to spend time with her daughter?

“And why did she feel the need to do that?” Cornelius Ramsay had asked shrewdly, giving Alec a glimpse of the keen solicitor he truly was.

His mother frowned. “Brother, I am sure Alec did nothing to—”

Alec interrupted her with a hand to her shoulder. “It’s all right, Mamma. Uncle is right. I brought it on myself.”

After the unhappy scene, Aurora had followed him upstairs and squeezed his arm. “It isn’t your fault, Alec. Don’t take it to heart.”

He’d pressed his eyes shut. “Aurora, it is time I stopped blaming others for all my troubles. My position at Buckleigh Manor and my conduct there were my responsibility. You and Mamma are my responsibility, and I am done trying to pass the blame.

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