A Most Improper Proposal Read online

  Chapter One

  July, 1811

  'Ut sementem feceris, ita metes,' Miss Desiree Nash recited for the benefit of the twelve young ladies sitting in front of her. 'Or as the saying is more commonly known, as you sow, so shall you reap. Now girls, you will notice that—yes, Miss Melburry?'

  'My grandmama used to say that to me all the time, Miss Nash, but she never told me what it meant.'

  Desiree smiled at the nine-year-old's confusion. 'It simply means that everyone is responsible for the way their lives turn out, Jane. For example, if you are kind and considerate to the people you meet, it is likely that you will be treated with the same kindness and consideration in return. After all, if a farmer planted only stones in his field, what could he expect to harvest but stones? Now, girls, you will notice that in the pronunciation of the word feceris, we put the emphasis on—'

  'Miss Nash, why must we trouble ourselves to learn a language that was spoken by fusty old men over a thousand years ago? Surely it cannot be relevant in today's society?'

  This question too originated from the back of the room, but unlike Miss Melburry's, Desiree knew that it had not been raised to clarify a point. The Honourable Elizabeth Perry had made no secret of the fact that she disliked the ancient languages and that she resented the time spent in the learning of them. So there was no doubt in Desiree's mind that the question had been asked not just to express the girl's boredom with the subject, but in an attempt to disrupt the class as well.

  'Latin, Miss Perry, is at the root of all civilized language,' Desiree began patiently. 'It provides the very foundations upon which English is based. So it only follows that to have a better understanding of Latin is to have a better understanding of the way we speak.'

  'And I am sure that is all very well, Miss Nash, but how is that to help us in our search for a husband? My father says that all a lady need concern herself with is how to appear charming and attractive to a gentleman. Surely our time would be better spent in those pursuits than in the memorization of words and phrases typically reserved for banisters and the clergy.'

  There was a faint titter of amusement from the tall girl seated next to Elizabeth, but Desiree paid it no mind. Isabel Hewton worshipped Elizabeth Perry and had since the first day of class, but she was not in herself a troublemaker. She simply needed someone of a more domineering nature to follow.

  No, it was the rest of the girls Desiree was concerned with, and for whatever reason, they seemed unwilling to take up Elizabeth's cry—for which Desiree could only be thankful. She had no wish to antagonize her young charges. Most of their fathers were wealthy and influential men and Mrs Guarding, the founder and headmistress of the Guarding Academy for Girls, was dependent upon their largesse for her living. For that reason alone, it was accepted by all that in difficult situations it was best to avoid confrontation and to move on in as amiable and tactful a manner as possible.

  That particular edict did not always sit well with Desiree, however, especially when it came to the likes of Elizabeth Perry. Desiree found it exceedingly difficult to have her authority undermined by a spoiled young woman who would never utter a single word of Latin—or possibly anything else of intelligence—once she passed beyond these walls.

  'I would venture to say that you are correct, Miss Perry,' Desiree replied finally. 'In all likelihood, you will not be required to sprinkle your everyday speech with Latin quotes, or to impress your future husband with your knowledge of their meanings and subtleties. However, because of the antiquity of the language and the insight it gives us into the nuances of our own, we feel that the inclusion of Latin in the Guarding curriculum is not only necessary, but vital. Therefore, I suggest that if you do not appreciate the opportunity you have been given to learn the language, you might at least have the good manners to remain silent so that the other young ladies can.'

  Desiree had not raised her voice. She knew from experience that to lose one's temper was to lose the advantage and that, upon occasion, a well-delivered reprimand could be just as effective as a scold. But when Elizabeth Perry abruptly got to her feet and glared at her, Desiree knew that the outcome had been much the same. Obviously the viscount's daughter was not used to being spoken to in such a manner and certainly not by a person she deemed to be beneath her in every way.

  'I shall not stay here and be treated like this,' the young woman cried. 'I shall speak to my father about you this very day, Miss Nash. Just see if I do not!'

  With that, she gathered up her things and stormed out of the room.

  A shocked silence followed her departure. The eleven remaining girls glanced at each other while Desiree patiently waited for the sound of Miss Perry's footsteps to fade into the distance. When they had, she slowly began to smile.

  'The great philosopher Ovid once said, rident stolidi verba Latina. Do any of you know what that means?' At the tentative smiles which appeared on the faces of some of the older girls, Desiree nodded. 'Precisely. Only fools laugh at the Latin language. Now, Miss Chisham, perhaps you would be good enough to translate the phrase, patience is a virtue.'

  The class soon settled back into its normal routine and the outburst by Miss Perry was forgotten. But Desiree was not so naive as to believe that she had heard the last of it. She had no doubt that Miss Perry would speak to her father about what had happened today. Or that he in turn would speak to Mrs Guarding; a conversation which would result in a meeting between Desiree and the headmistress, at which time she would be gently reminded of the importance of tact and diplomacy when dealing with some of the school's more difficult students. But since Mrs Guarding had also complimented her on her skills as a teacher and upon her unwavering dedication to the Academy, Desiree could not bring herself to feel unduly concerned about it.

  It was an acknowledged fact that the Honourable Elizabeth Perry was a thorn in many of the teachers' sides. Ghislaine de Champlain, the French mistress, had encountered the same resistance when it came to the conjugation of verbs. And poor Henriette Mason, who gave instruction in history and geography, had nearly been reduced to tears by the girl's repeated threats to invoke her father's wrath if she was forced to memorize the names of any more than five of the British colonies.

  Personally, Desiree wondered why Lord Perry and his wife had enrolled their daughter in the Guarding Academy for Girls in the first place. The school had a well-deserved reputation for academia and its teachers for attempting to break down the intellectual barriers which faced women in society. Its students were encouraged to speak out against the generally accepted norms and to stand up for their rights and freedoms. Indeed, the school's founder and headmistress, Mrs Eleanor Guarding, was an acknowledged emancipationist, as well as being a noted poet and historian.

  That was not to say that the social niceties were not also part of the daily curriculum. Miss Jane Emerson guided the young ladies very nicely through the intricacies of the dance, as well as in the proper way to acquit themselves in polite society. And Miss Helen de Coverdale instructed them in watercolours and Italian. But at the Guarding Academy, it was generally accepted that the more important subjects were those which stretched the limits of a young woman's mind; subjects which, hitherto, had been deemed the exclusive domain of men.

  At length, the handbell rang in the hall to signal the end of the session.

  'Thank you, ladies, that will be all,' Desiree said. 'Tomorrow, we shall begin to study the writings of Euripedes. Perhaps Miss Perry will deign to join us to hear what words of wisdom that fusty old man had to share.'

  There was a smattering of giggles as the girls filed out and Desiree knew that she had won the day—at least in the eyes of her pupils. And for now, that was all that mattered. The life of a teacher was
seldom easy, and she knew there would always be an Elizabeth Perry waiting to make things difficult. But as long as she could instill the required knowledge in the minds of the pupils who truly did wish to learn, Desiree was content. Some might think that a formidable task, but it was not an impossible one. Certainly her mother had managed to imbue her own teachings with insight and humour. And Papa, bless his soul, had been a clergyman of unusual wit and vivacity. He had made the learning of Latin and Greek an adventure rather than the dull, dry undertaking it could have been.

  It was because of her parents that Desiree had never found her studies tedious. She had risen to meet the educational challenges they had set forward and had taken great satisfaction in seeing a language come alive. Unlike Lord Perry, they did not adhere to the belief that all a young lady needed to know was the best way to attract a wealthy husband. Before their untimely deaths, they had impressed upon Desiree the value of understanding other cultures and the importance of exploring the philosophies behind them. They had instilled in her an appreciation for the early societies which had formed the models upon which all other civilizations were based, and she had learned to recognize the wisdom of Pythagoras and Euclid.

  'Fusty old men indeed,' Desiree muttered as she walked around the room collecting books and papers. Had Elizabeth Perry but troubled herself to find out, she would have been shocked at some of the things those fusty old men did.

  Of course, there would never be any need for Miss Perry to actually use her education, Desiree reflected wryly. Her immediate challenge upon leaving Guarding's would be to find an eligible gentleman and to marry him as quickly as possible. Unlike Desiree, she would never be called upon to make her own way in the world. And while it was true that Desiree might have been more pleasantly situated had she spent time developing the skills which would have allowed her to go to London and find a husband, it was the education her parents had given her which had proved to be her ultimate salvation.

  When both of them had succumbed to illness and Desiree had found herself alone in the world at eighteen, it was not the nicety of her manners which had enabled her to apply for a position at the Guarding Academy for Girls, but rather her extensive knowledge of Greek, Latin and philosophy. It was education, not charm, which had spared her the humiliation of having to appeal to her own family for charity when no such offers had been forthcoming.

  Even her late grandfather, a man whom Desiree had barely known, but who had had the wherewithal to help her, had refused to reach out his hand. And all because of some silly argument arising from her mother's insistence on falling in love with a penniless clergyman and then on her marrying him against her father's wishes...

  'Have I caught you day-dreaming again, Miss Nash?' came a teasing enquiry from the doorway.

  Recognizing the voice, Desiree's features relaxed into a smile. Helen de Coverdale was a fairly recent addition to the staff at the Guarding Academy for Girls, but time notwithstanding, she and Desiree had already become good friends. She was six years older than Desiree, and with her soft brown eyes and long dark hair she was one of the loveliest young women Desiree had ever met. Certainly, she was the only teacher at the Guarding Academy who turned heads wherever she went.

  And yet, for all that, Desiree had never seen Helen so much as glance at a passing gentleman. Nor did she talk about her past, except to say that she had come from a good home and that she had once been a pupil at the very institution at which she now taught.

  But what had caused her to return to the school at the advanced age of thirty, and to apply to Mrs Guarding for a teaching position, was something that Desiree could only wonder at. She turned now and offered her friend an apologetic glance. 'Helen, forgive me, I had no idea you were there. I was, as you say, quite lost in my thoughts.'

  'Yes, I noticed as much, but given the way you were beginning to frown, I thought you might have been grateful for the interruption,' Helen said with a smile. 'Have you been having problems with the Honourable Elizabeth again?'

  Desiree glanced at her in surprise. 'How did you know?'

  'I saw her heading in the direction of Mrs Guarding's study and she had that look in her eye. I think you know the one to which I refer.'

  Desiree grimaced. 'All too well. I daresay I shall be called to Mrs Guarding's rooms and taken to task once again for the less than diplomatic way I dealt with her reluctance to participate in class today.'

  'Let me guess? Was she once again questioning the usefulness of Latin in everyday life?'

  'That, and insinuating that the only subjects that were worth studying were those which dealt directly with the arts of attracting and securing an eligible parti. You can imagine my response.'

  'I can indeed.' An attractive dimple appeared at the corner of Helen's mouth. 'No wonder Miss Perry was looking so put out.'

  'Aggravating child,' Desiree muttered. 'I have often wondered why Lord and Lady Perry chose to send her here. If all they required of a school was that it teach their daughter how to dance and manage a gentleman's household, they could easily have sent her to any one of a number of exclusive lady's seminaries in London. Goodness knows, they could well have afforded to.'

  'Yes, but perhaps they sent her here because they did not wish Elizabeth to be so close,' Helen suggested. 'I seem to recall Mrs Guarding saying that there were some problems between Lady Perry and her daughter. Perhaps it was she who suggested Steep Abbot in the first place.'

  'I do not find that in the least surprising,' Desiree commented. 'If the Honourable Elizabeth were my daughter, I would have suggested a school in the wilds of Scotland. Still, I suppose it is no concern of mine. And on such a lovely day, I refuse to let thoughts of her weigh me down. I think that I shall go down to the river and amuse myself there for a while.'

  At the mention of the river, Helen's eyes widened in dismay. 'Desiree, never say you are going swimming again. You know how Mrs Guarding feels about that.'

  'Yes, but I have only been down three times this summer, given the dismal weather we've had, and once autumn is upon us, I shall have no inclination to go at all. And on a warm day like this, what could be better than immersing oneself in the cool, clear waters of a secluded woodland pool?'

  'Any number of things to my way of thinking,' Helen murmured. 'And you should think better of it too. You know that Elizabeth Perry will take great pleasure in informing Mrs Guarding of your transgressions if she is lucky enough to catch you at them.'

  'No one knows that better than I, Helen dear, but you need have no fear that I shall be discovered. Mrs Guarding has given me extra time in exchange for some work I did at the beginning of the week. And since the girls are still in class, I intend to make good use of it. Sedit qui timuit ne non seccederat.'

  'Which means?'

  'He who feared he would not succeed, sat still.'

  Helen tilted her head to one side and said in rapid Italian, Ella che e impigliata deve essere costretta ad soffrire le conseguenze.'

  This time, it was Desiree who smiled. 'And that means?'

  'She who is caught must be made to suffer the consequences. Be careful, Desiree. Sometimes, even the most carefully laid plans go awry,' Helen warned softly. 'And when they do, the consequences can come back to haunt us in the most unexpected of ways.'

  The River Steep meandered pleasantly through the pastoral countryside south of the small village of Steep Ride before flowing quietly into the densely forested area known as Steep Wood. It changed course once inside the trees, heading north at a point just past Bredington, the hunting-lodge owned by Viscount Wyndham, and took another turn before exiting the woods south of the village of Steep Abbot. There, it formed in its bend a natural pool that measured some sixty feet across and some ten feet deep.

  Desiree had stumbled upon the secluded bathing spot quite by chance when she had been out walking earlier in the spring. She had taken a different path into Steep Wood that day and had wandered further into the forest than she'd intended. But when she had found the t
ranquil glade and the shimmering waters of its pool, she felt as though she had discovered a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. She had quickly glanced around to make sure that she was completely alone, and then, confident that no one else was likely to intrude, had stripped down to her shift and dived in.

  Oh, how blissfully cool and refreshing the water had felt—and how liberating to swim without having to worry about anyone watching her! It was much better than going to the seaside, where there were all manner of people milling about and one had to put up with those dreadful bathing-boxes for getting in and out of the water.

  Desiree had splashed about and swum for the better part of thirty minutes.

  Unfortunately, Mrs Guarding had been considerably less pleased when Desiree had finally returned to the school with her hair dripping wet and damp spots showing through her clothes. She had told Desiree exactly what she'd thought of her little escapade. And while she had not forbidden Desiree to swim in the river, she had certainly left her in no doubt as to what would happen the next time she was caught doing so!

  Unfortunately, the lure of the forbidden pool continued to beckon, and Desiree did indeed make several more trips to it. But with each visit she grew more circumspect. She only ventured there when she knew she had time enough to get down and back, and when she knew the whereabouts of certain students. She also made sure she kept her hair dry and that she brought extra clothing to wear back to school.

  Reaching the edge of the pool now, Desiree stood for a moment to enjoy the special feeling of peace and tranquillity that permeated the glade. She could hear the birds singing in the branches overhead, and smell the delicate perfume of wild-flowers and grass all around her. It was such a pleasure to escape from the confines of her everyday life. To break free from the confines of a world where there was always someone watching her; waiting to pronounce her guilty for the slightest breach of propriety. And that really was not fair. Whereas men were allowed every freedom imaginable, women were constrained almost from the moment of birth. Even those who endeavoured to enrich their minds by the study of books were labelled bluestockings and looked down upon by their peers.