The Rightful Lord (The Saga Of Wolfbridge Manor Book 3) Sahara Kelly (free ebook reader TXT) 📖

cared for, the baby is being spoiled quite dreadfully, and Trick is being lauded for producing a son and heir.”

Harry chuckled from his seat in one corner where he’d been perusing the newest paper to arrive. “I shall have to take some time and decide whether that is the absolute and utter truth, or very well veiled sarcasm.”

“I don’t need any time,” said Gabriel. “Definitely the truth. Royce would never be sarcastic.”

“Now that’s sarcasm,” laughed Gwyneth.

They were in the large parlour which she always thought of as more of a formal drawing room, but with the roaring fire and her gentlemen, it was quite pleasant. It also allowed Royce to do some work on a small desk to one side of the room, and the chairs by the fire were very comfortable.

Gabriel had sheets of paper on another table, where he’d drawn up a chair and was busy with ruler and pencil.

Gwyneth was about to go and see what he was up to when the last two, Jeremy and Evan, arrived together, rubbing their hands and shivering.

“By God, it’s cold out there.” Evan walked to the fire.

“And the sky is leaden,” observed Jeremy, following him. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it snowed by nightfall.”

“Oh dear,” Gwyneth frowned. “Are we prepared?”

Five faces looked at her.

“Um…for what, dearest Lady?” Gabriel’s eyebrows rose.

“Well, you know…wood for the fires, food…that sort of thing.” Flustered, she waved her hands, a little embarrassed at being the cynosure of all eyes.

“Don’t worry at all, my Lady.” Jeremy turned his back on the fire and warmed his rear end. “We’ve been laying in plenty of wood, we have a pantry chock full of supplies and a couple of boys ready to earn themselves a few pennies should we need anything shovelled.”

“And the horses?” Royce asked.

“Ben is now in the stables permanently,” Harry answered. “I helped him settle, and he has pretty much everything he needs. Plus he has some friends who like to come over and give him a hand with the horses now and again. If it snows, they’ll all be stable bound, but he’s well supplied.”

“I might take them over a few decks of cards,” chuckled Jeremy. “Just in case.”

“Well then, I think I can put aside my concerns.” Gwyneth recovered her countenance. “You’ll have to excuse my worries. My last experiences with snow and cold were…let’s just say very unpleasant.”

“None of us would ever let anything like that happen to you again, my Lady.” Evan spoke quietly. “We’d give our lives to prevent it.”

“I know. And I’m so grateful to each and every one of you.” Words from the heart. “But now we should turn to more pleasant things. Gabriel. How is the design for the school coming along?”

“Come and see.” He beckoned them to the table.

She willingly crossed the room with the others to peer at the sketches he had made.

“These are excellent,” said Royce, turning over papers. “Well done.”

Gabriel blushed. “I really just thought about what I would have liked in a school when I was a boy.”

Knowing his past, Gwyneth spoke quickly, lest someone ask a question related to Gabriel’s unfortunate childhood.

“Is that slate?” She pointed to something he’d drawn on the largest wall.

He nodded. “Yes. For several years now, the use of individual slates has been vanishing. So silly when one piece for the teacher will do quite nicely.”

“An excellent idea,” said Jeremy, looking over Gwyneth’s shoulder. “Although I’m sure we’ll need at least a few slates for the children…”

Their conversation became general, with everyone making further suggestions, praising Gabriel for his efforts and then considering if they themselves could participate.

“Evan could certainly teach cooking,” observed Gwyneth.

“The boys would love that,” Royce quipped.

“I wouldn’t mind teaching a bit of reading,” offered Jeremy. “It would be nice to put my education to some use.”

“Reading has to be one of the most important subjects,” nodded Gwyneth. “Although I hope we can find a permanent teacher.”

They talked their way through the next couple of hours and finally sat again after Harry had thrown fresh logs on the fire.

“It will work,” said Jeremy. “This school—it will work. It has to. We need more tenants who can read.” He turned to Royce. “It would be a help, yes?”

“Absolutely yes,” sighed Royce. “But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

Gwyneth knew he was right, and as she retired to her room later that afternoon, she wondered if Jeremy’s prediction was viable. To introduce the somewhat daring notion of a school for the children of tenants…well, it was a bit radical. And if the parents weren’t in favour, then what hope was there for a school at all?

Somehow, she felt that it was up to her to convince them how important a good education could be.

If only she could work out how to do that.

She was still thinking about it when she sat down for dinner and voiced her worries aloud over the table.

Harry and Royce looked thoughtful, Jeremy frowned, silent as Evan ladled out bowls of fragrant soup and passed them along.

“Christmas is approaching, you know,” remarked Gabriel, tasting the soup and sighing with pleasure.

“Er…yes.” Gwyneth blinked at him.

“Well, I was thinking that perhaps we could do something for the tenants that would show how useful reading could be?”

“Such as?” Harry asked.

“Um…” Gabriel wrinkled his nose. “You’ll probably think it a silly idea.”

“Any idea would be good, Gabriel,” encouraged Royce. “Since we’ve none at the moment. Tell us what you’re thinking.”

“How about performing a play?”

His words seemed to catch everyone by surprise, including Gwyneth. She glanced around at the others, seeing their expressions of astonishment.

Harry recovered first. “You know…when you think about it…”

“I’m not sure how that relates to our needs,” Evan frowned into his soup. “Although it’s a