The Education Of Joanne Part 7

Almost clapping his hands, and beaming, Dr. Ames scooted to the edge of his chair. "That is what I had hoped to hear, Lord Jason, for I have a-a scheme, Dr. Fowler calls it," he babbled in his excitement.

"In all fairness I must tell you he frowned upon my venturing to request your aid." Halting as abruptly as he had begun, Ames sat as if expecting an answer.

"The question, Doctor? What is it you wish from me-a donation for the hospital? I would be happy to-"

"Oh, no, Lord Jason. Pardon me, in my excitement I have become grossly forgetful. The aid I seek does not concern finances-not at least of a monetary sort. It is the old Irwin Manor that is at the eastern edge of your lands that interests me."

"Irwin Manor? Of what use can it be to you? No one has lived in it since my great-aunt pa.s.sed away several years past," Kenton puzzled.

"But I understand the buildings are in useable form?"

"Yes, I have maintained their good condition."

Dr. Ames gulped and ventured courageously onward. "I wish you to give me the use of your buildings and a small plot of ground about them for gardens and play areas."

"And who is to make use of this donation?"

"Oh, it will not be a permanent gift, my lord," the young doctor hastened to correct. "Just until I am able to locate something-well, something that is perhaps closer to London."

Understanding dawned at last. "You wish to bring ill foundlings here?" Lord Jason asked with mild surprise. "Do you not fear objections from the people of the area?"

Dedication and enthusiasm illuminated the doctor's bright face. "There would be no child brought with a disease harmful to others.

"Truly, my lord," he continued earnestly, "if you could see the overcrowded conditions of the hospital, the state of many of the children's health, you would not hesitate for a moment. For many the only chance for life will be the clean, fresh air of the combe and the improved conditions we could offer here." He rose.

"You need not answer today, my lord. Please do consider it."

"What are your plans for financing such a venture? Even with a roof over them you would have to clothe, "All that I have considered carefully. Lord Montague, one of the trustees of the Children's Hospital, has agreed to fund the venture for one year provided adequate shelter can be found. Women with suitable backgrounds known to me would care for the children and, of course, I had hoped to use local women for the necessary cleaning, was.h.i.+ng, and sewing."

"You have thought this out quite well," Kenton noted.

"Does not the success of any venture depend upon that?"

Nodding, Lord Jason rose.

Ames took his look for one of refusal. "I beseech you to think upon this before reaching a decision. The children's plight is truly in the extreme, Lord Jason. I could not impinge upon the delicate sensibilities of Lady Joanne with descriptions of their condition but will not hesitate to give such to you."

"That will not be necessary, Dr. Ames," Kenton a.s.sured him. "I shall have my agent draw up an agreement for the term of one year-say for a nominal rent of one pound. Would that be satisfactory?"

For a startled instant Ames was motionless. Then half-shouting he bounded the few steps to Kenton's side and began pumping his hand. "Satisfactory? My lord, I am forever in your debt. Any wish of yours that is in my means to fulfil will be granted-you need do naught but ask.

"I must go at once," he said, finally releasing Kenton's hand. "I must send letters-begin making arrangements. Please excuse my hasty departure."

"Quite all right, Doctor. You may collect the keys of the manor on the morrow."

"Thank you, my lord. You will not regret your generosity." He stopped at the study door.

"Please express my regrets to Lady Knoll for not taking my leave."

Kenton nodded. He watched the retreating man. Perhaps, he mused, this foundling home will prove a valuable tool in Joanne's education.

Casting about the garden in search of the young lady, Lord Jason came upon one of the gardeners.

"Have you seen the Lady Joanne, Samuel?"

"Aye, milord. She was at the east end of the garden." The middle-aged man doffed his hat respectfully.

"It did not seem she was set on ending her walk there." He nodded at Lord Jason's thank you, watched his master's swift strides briefly, and returned to his work. The odd doings of his lords.h.i.+p were not his concern.

Familiar with every blade of gra.s.s, shrub, and tree, it did not take Kenton long to realize that the gardener was correct. Joanne was not in the gardens.

Samuel would have seen her if she had returned to the manor house, he reasoned and paused to consider where she could have gone. He looked about following the outer borders of the gardens.

At this side of the manor the woods had been allowed to remain in their natural state beyond the clipped neatness of the grounds. Rocks, tangled undergrowth, and spidery vines vied with each other beneath the drooping branches of the tall, generations-old trees. A bright patch of yellow cloth caught his eye. A frown wrinkled his brow. So she had ventured off neither suitably shod nor with a guide.

Long strides ended when Kenton entered the woods. Not far in there were further signs of Joanne's direction. Broken branches, moss trampled upon the rocks, vines pulled away from the shrubs, and sagging limbs all told the tale. He smiled ruefully as he dealt with the snagging, grasping branches, weeds, and vines that clutched at his breeches and tore at his coat. Joanne was getting her due for this frolic but showed a degree of tenacity along with foolhardiness in continuing her jaunt farther than he had expected.

The bright yellow and white of her gown came into view to Lord Jason's left. The lady he sought was seated rather unglamorously upon a rough, moss-covered stone, gingerly trying to inspect the sole of her foot, an awkwardly upraised.

Joanne released her foot and turned a startled face toward the sounds of someone's rapid approach.

The snap of twigs sounded like a rampaging beast to footsore and weary Joanne.

"My lady, if only I had known you desired to see more of the manor's grounds, I would have been delighted to accompany you," Lord Jason greeted her.

Uncertain disgust played upon Joanne's features. She sought a suitable reply but the pain in her foot won the battle.

"Would you care to continue?" asked Lord Jason when no answer was forthcoming.

With great difficulty Joanne stifled the urge to make a face at this constant, repulsively pleasant tormentor. "I would not inconvenience you, my lord. Dr. Ames should not be left waiting on my account."

"Yes? How pleased I am to hear of your solicitude for another, but alas it is unnecessary. The good physician has already taken his leave."

Relief and disappointment alternated upon Joanne's features. She rose and carefully put her weight on her good foot. Why had she expected him to seek her out before the doctor's departure? Her headstrong decision to prove to Kenton she could walk a good deal more than the paltry garden paths had made this unlikely, but that fact mattered not at the moment. For the first time she wondered why she was angry.

"Dr. Ames did ask me to express his regret at his hurried leave-taking. There was a project he was most eager to set in motion and-"

"I do not give a d.a.m.n! Why should I care what the man is about?" she interrupted heatedly.

"The doctor was certain you would understand his urgency. He has rented Irwin Manor, which is in the combe, to use as a foundling house for ill children from London," Kenton continued calmly. "He said he was looking forward to calling upon you again."

A slow blush rose to Joanne's pale cheeks. She dropped her eyes before his steady gaze. Forgetful of why she had halted in the first place, she stepped forward. A ragged gasp escaped as Joanne put weight on her foot; her face contorted in pain.

"My foot. I must have a thorn lodged it in," she said, grateful for the strong arm to lean upon.

"Sit down," Lord Jason commanded briskly and helped her step back. With competent rapidity he knelt, tossed aside her skirts, and took the injured foot in hand.

Joanne watched his slim brown fingers untied the lacing and pulled off the stained, worn satin slipper. His cool hands moved smoothly over the foot; then she felt a stab of pain and winced.

With a grunt of satisfaction Kenton removed the offending thorn. "Had I known that you were intent upon wandering off, I would have brought the doctor with me," he noted, tossing the three-quarter-inch-long thorn aside. He applied pressure to the injured spot to halt the bleeding.

Hoping to forestall a scolding, Joanne ventured, "He is a strange man."

"Why do you say that?" Kenton asked, looking up.

Joanne shrugged, a contemptuous cast swept across her features. "I have met one or two surgeons among my father's friends. Not a one ever had less than a bottle before he came to breakfast, and yet this Dr. Ames would not take a single gla.s.s of wine."

"Your father took you along on his visits to friends, then?" Kenton probed gently, his eyes on Joanne's foot, his mind attuned only to her answer.

She snorted scornful laughter. "I was never allowed to leave Furness House in all my years before my visit here. No, my father brought his friends there to hunt, I believe, although it appeared to me the wine cellar was more their quarry than any fox or partridge on the estate."

Thought of those days brought to mind an encounter outside the library of Furness House with one of these guests. Joanne's stomach began to churn. She stiffened at the memory of the man's drunken, clutching hands.

When she tensed muscles Kenton glanced up at her. A scream would not have surprised him, so intense was the shadow of terror and loathing upon her.

"I believe no damage has been done," he said loudly. "I will bind your foot with this clean kerchief I happened to fetch since I had need of a fresh one," he joked lightly.

"Need of?" Joanne repeated, her terror clearing as the rea.s.suring voice helped her push the memory away.

"Yes-do you not recall? I had to remove some wine from my person-odd how it did not remain in its gla.s.s," Kenton teased with a warm smile.

"There." He pulled the slipper back into place. "Take my arm and we will make our way back to the manor house.

"Tomorrow I shall show you a more suitable walking path and we shall have some proper walking shoes made for you. No more of this." Joanne's thoughts had gone back to the too-near past. Her hatred and bitterness were deeply rooted and now they welled up within. Kenton became the focus of her pent-up disillusionment. He was the only target close at hand. The only one she could focus those feelings on.

I hate him, I hate him, she thought over and over. There is no difference-not at Furness House-not here. What will become of me?

Chapter Nine.

The Billingsgate language coming from the kitchen guided Lord Jason to his destination. Mrs. Caern, her face outraged, stood barring Lady Joanne's entry into the food-filled pantry with an upraised rolling pin.