To Walk in the Sun (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies - Book 1) by Jane Charles

help,”
Wesley continued unfazed.
    “Have you forgotten how much I need and enjoy my quiet, peaceful existence? It is all I can do to
hold onto what sanity I possess, and you are suggesting the one
thing that will send me straight to Bedlam.”
    Wesley sighed, crossed his arms over his
chest and stared his employer right in the eye, his left eyebrow
arched. “We will make it work.”
    “ You will make it work,” Vincent
corrected.
    “Ah, then we are in agreement.” Wesley turned
to leave.
    “Hell, no, we are not in agreement!” Vincent
shouted and brought his palm to his head. He really should quit
raising his voice. “You will make it work somewhere else, far, far
away from me and this house. Do I make myself clear?”
    Wesley sighed. “Sir, after I left the school,
I went into town to check on the schools finances. If they are
forced to return the tuition, the school will never be
rebuilt.”
    “It is not the only school in England,”
Vincent argued. He leaned his head back against the soft cushions
of the chair and closed his eyes. Wesley asked the impossible.
    “Yes, but it was Mrs. Wiggon’s home, and the
home of three of her teachers who have nowhere else to go.”
    Vincent cracked one eye to look at his valet,
but said nothing.
    “You are a leader in this community. The only
lord, and the magistrate. It is up to you to take care of these
matters.”
    Vincent snorted.
    “Sir, you cannot let this travesty
continue.”
    Vincent sat up and narrowed his eyes on
Wesley. “As I did not bring on the tempest, I certainly don’t see
how I can possibly be the one responsible to set things right.”
    “I am disappointed in you, Lord Atwood,”
Wesley sniffed. “For the first time in my life, I am completely and
utterly disappointed.” He turned to leave the room.
    Vincent stood. He had known Wesley since he
was a boy. The man had never been disappointed in him. Perhaps
angry on occasion, when he was young, but never disappointed. This
did not sit well with him. “How long?”
    Wesley turned to look at him and raised an
eyebrow in question.
    “How long would they be here?” He
wanted to make it very clear that while he was giving the idea some
thought, he had not yet agreed.
    Wesley folded his hands in front of him and
smiled. “That all depends on how long it takes to rebuild the
school.”
    Vincent relaxed against the chair and mulled
over the idea. “Who in town is there to get the deed done?”
    His valet shrugged his shoulders. “There is
much damage. I suspect that most of the men will be seeing to their
own homes before they can help anyone else.”
    That was not the answer he wanted to hear.
“What about this house? Is there anything that requires immediate
attention?” That could possible keep others from living
here?
    “Very little, actually. It should take no
more than a day or two to set the estate to rights. Most of the
work required is cleaning up the debris on the grounds.”
    “If there is no heavy manual labor to be
done, the students can set the estate to rights . That should
keep them out of the house a good portion of the day.”
    “Sir, you cannot expect gently reared ladies
to pick up tree limbs and such.”
    Vincent narrowed his eyes at the valet.
    “Very well, sir, I can see where the fresh
air would be beneficial to them. I shall mention it to Mrs.
Wiggons.”
    “Have my staff determine what needs to be
done to get the school finished as soon as possible.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Hire others if necessary.”
    “That could be costly, sir, and I am not sure
the funds are available.”
    “I’ll pay for an entire new building if I
have to. As long as the job is done quick and right.”
    Wesley grinned and bowed. “I knew you would
do the right thing, Lord Atwood.”
    Vincent stood. “Before you announce my
intentions to Mrs. Wiggons, I suggest you have her and the teachers
meet with me prior to anything being settled. There will be ground
rules all of them must adhere