Mantheria stood up and offered her hands. ‘Still sleeping.’
Wick squeezed her hands before letting go of them and recalling his manners. He bowed to the other ladies, who had also risen to their feet because of his entrance. ‘I hope I haven’t called at an inconvenient time.’
‘Of course not, my lord,’ Mrs Perkins said, giving him a friendly smile.
Miss Perkins pushed up her spectacles and gave him a wide-eyed stare. ‘Perhaps we should go and check on Lady Louisa, Mama? I am sure Lord Cheswick would like to speak to his sister in private.’
Mrs Perkins touched her chest. ‘Of course, my dear. How thoughtful you are. And shall I call for some tea, my lord?’
Wick’s stomach grumbled, but he didn’t want tea. ‘None for myself, thank you. But I am sure Lady Louisa would be glad of a cup.’
‘Yes,’ Miss Perkins said, and guided her mother out of the room by her elbow.
Once the door was closed, Wick sat down on the sofa next to Mantheria. She was wearing the same dress as the day before and it looked a little worse for wear. ‘How is she truly?’
‘Shaken, yet determined to assert her independence,’ his sister said. ‘One can hardly blame her with a family like the Rockinghams... But we both know that it will not do. There is no true independence for women in our society. She cannot remain unmarried long.’
Wick nodded his head gravely. ‘I intend to propose to her. I will offer her the protection of my name.’
‘I think Louisa would prefer the protection of your heart.’
His throat tightened. ‘I cannot offer what I do not have.’
‘A heart?’ she said, shaking her head. ‘Of course you do not have a heart—you’ve already given it to Louisa, if only you weren’t too stubborn to see it.’
Wick scrambled to his feet and walked to the window. His feelings were too raw to be shared.
‘And I have solved your other problem,’ Mantheria continued. ‘I think that Miss Perkins would be an ideal governess for our sisters. Mary—Miss Perkins—said something last night about having to wait a few years for marriage. I am sure that some additional income would be welcome before her wedding, and I am sure you would pay her well.’
Turning back to face his sister, he asked, ‘Does she have any experience teaching?’
Mantheria waved that consideration aside with one hand. ‘You don’t need a scholar, Wick. You need someone to teach our sisters who doesn’t go into hysterics over their pets or feel shocked over their behaviour... Miss Perkins didn’t bat an eye over an abduction or a fire. She’s perfect.’
‘You have strange requirements in a governess,’ Wick said, trying hard not to smile. ‘No wonder none of the candidates from the agency fits the bill.’
Mantheria jumped to her feet. ‘I had better ask Mary how she feels about snakes.’
‘And elephants,’ Wick added.
‘Giraffes.’
‘Bloodsucking ichneumons.’
Mantheria giggled and her shoulders shook. ‘Kangaroos.’
‘Cockatoos.’
‘Ostriches and emus.’
‘And don’t forget the llama or the monkeys,’ he said. ‘If she is willing to put up with all the animals, we had better employ her on the spot.’
His sister threw back her head and laughed again, loudly. ‘Little does the poor woman know that the animals are much better behaved than our sisters.’
The door opened again several minutes later, and Mrs and Miss Perkins came back into the room. Miss Perkins chose a seat next to her mother on the settee.
Wick cleared his throat. ‘Miss Perkins, my sister and I have been impressed by your competence and character. We are wondering if you would be willing to accept as position as governess to my three little sisters, aged thirteen, fifteen and nearly seventeen.’
Mrs Perkins blinked and looked at her daughter. ‘Governess?’