men’s minds with her charm; it was that which had saved the family fortune when he’d been a damn fool boy and run off to seek adventure.
Yet he wondered at these men; did it not occur to them he was not as fluff-brained as he appeared? Did they really believe his sojourn in Arabia had diminished his intelligence? It seemed all Englishmen imagined one had to attend Oxford, dress in black and breathe the air of Britain to understand the workings of business. Business, he could have informed them, varied not a whit anywhere in the world.
He said nothing. Let them discover the truth at their peril.
”My mother is indeed a gem sparkling with color and grace in the wastelands of the English desert.“
The black-frocked gentlemen shifted uncomfortably in their seats, and Wynter barely restrained a grin. The English were so pedestrian in their language; all he had to do was speak with a slight lyric license and the men snorted like geldings about to bolt.
Poetry was a useful tool.
Also amusing in a man who found too little amusing about British society.
”But Lady Ruskin, of course, is willing to trust my judgment completely and encourages me to take up the reins without bridling me with unwanted guidance.“ Wynter stood. The others scrambled to their feet. ”Just as I trust your judgment. To give you gentlemen ease of mind, I’ll take these books into my office, but in thirty minutes I have a rendezvous with an old friend. I really can’t be bothered to examine the accounts closely.“ Deliberately he pushed his hair behind his ears, flashing his earring, and in the shocked silence that fell, he left the room. He had not gone far down the corridor toward his office when he heard the burst of laughter, hastily smothered.
It seemed the English businessmen thought not only his intellect, but also his hearing were deficient. Reaching the luxurious office which had formerly housed both his father and his mother, he shut the door behind him. Taking the ledger to his desk, he sat down and began to page through, totaling each column in his mind—just as his father had taught him.
Dear Hannah and Pamela,
Lady Ruskin has graciously allowed me the privilege of posting a letter to you, my dearest friends and confidantes, and so I am writing to let you know of the events of the past three weeks.
First let me assuage your worry. I have not had contact with any of the inhabitants of Porterbridge Hall, and have in fact even avoided attending church in Wesford Village on the pretext of waiting until the children are ready to be presented. This is, of course, the grossest cowardice on my part. My only excuse is the thought of meeting those familiar, contemptuous faces makes me writhe, and my punishment is that the fear of meeting one of my cousins or my aunt or, God forbid, my uncle hovers over me like a miasma. You are the only ones to whom I can speak of these matters. In truth it is difficult for the to breathe the air of Surrey at all. I knew it should not be, but here I find myself rebelling against the hopelessness and loneliness stretching before me where before I was resigned. I assure you all will be well and you are not to worry.
The situation when I arrived at Austinpark Manor was much as Lady Ruskin had informed us. The children have been given freedom far beyond the age when English children had been introduced to the classroom, and the smallest and most seemingly simple situation must be explained to them. For instance — I had to tell Robbie and Leila that the proper way to sit in a hard-backed chair was not to lay on the floor and put their heels in the seat. Leila explained it was possible to learn in that position.
Dear friends! I do not want you to think she spoke in an impertinent manner. These children are not impertinent. Indeed, they seemed to have an innate kindness toward others that made their courtesy automatic, and their curiosity and good humor make them a joy to teach. Yet in the matters of which
Yet he wondered at these men; did it not occur to them he was not as fluff-brained as he appeared? Did they really believe his sojourn in Arabia had diminished his intelligence? It seemed all Englishmen imagined one had to attend Oxford, dress in black and breathe the air of Britain to understand the workings of business. Business, he could have informed them, varied not a whit anywhere in the world.
He said nothing. Let them discover the truth at their peril.
”My mother is indeed a gem sparkling with color and grace in the wastelands of the English desert.“
The black-frocked gentlemen shifted uncomfortably in their seats, and Wynter barely restrained a grin. The English were so pedestrian in their language; all he had to do was speak with a slight lyric license and the men snorted like geldings about to bolt.
Poetry was a useful tool.
Also amusing in a man who found too little amusing about British society.
”But Lady Ruskin, of course, is willing to trust my judgment completely and encourages me to take up the reins without bridling me with unwanted guidance.“ Wynter stood. The others scrambled to their feet. ”Just as I trust your judgment. To give you gentlemen ease of mind, I’ll take these books into my office, but in thirty minutes I have a rendezvous with an old friend. I really can’t be bothered to examine the accounts closely.“ Deliberately he pushed his hair behind his ears, flashing his earring, and in the shocked silence that fell, he left the room. He had not gone far down the corridor toward his office when he heard the burst of laughter, hastily smothered.
It seemed the English businessmen thought not only his intellect, but also his hearing were deficient. Reaching the luxurious office which had formerly housed both his father and his mother, he shut the door behind him. Taking the ledger to his desk, he sat down and began to page through, totaling each column in his mind—just as his father had taught him.
Dear Hannah and Pamela,
Lady Ruskin has graciously allowed me the privilege of posting a letter to you, my dearest friends and confidantes, and so I am writing to let you know of the events of the past three weeks.
First let me assuage your worry. I have not had contact with any of the inhabitants of Porterbridge Hall, and have in fact even avoided attending church in Wesford Village on the pretext of waiting until the children are ready to be presented. This is, of course, the grossest cowardice on my part. My only excuse is the thought of meeting those familiar, contemptuous faces makes me writhe, and my punishment is that the fear of meeting one of my cousins or my aunt or, God forbid, my uncle hovers over me like a miasma. You are the only ones to whom I can speak of these matters. In truth it is difficult for the to breathe the air of Surrey at all. I knew it should not be, but here I find myself rebelling against the hopelessness and loneliness stretching before me where before I was resigned. I assure you all will be well and you are not to worry.
The situation when I arrived at Austinpark Manor was much as Lady Ruskin had informed us. The children have been given freedom far beyond the age when English children had been introduced to the classroom, and the smallest and most seemingly simple situation must be explained to them. For instance — I had to tell Robbie and Leila that the proper way to sit in a hard-backed chair was not to lay on the floor and put their heels in the seat. Leila explained it was possible to learn in that position.
Dear friends! I do not want you to think she spoke in an impertinent manner. These children are not impertinent. Indeed, they seemed to have an innate kindness toward others that made their courtesy automatic, and their curiosity and good humor make them a joy to teach. Yet in the matters of which
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