"How can I refuse to teach two of my best pupils?" Lydia smiled at the child. After breakfast Mattie took Jolly out for exercise and to take care of his needs, and Lydia enjoyed a second cup of coffee. Robert was gone that morning, off early with Fuller riding outlying areas of the estate to let his tenants meet the new lord and see for themselves that he wasn't Ralph or Cousin Lionel. She was stirring in a spoon of sugar when the door to the breakfast room opened. "Ah. Just the men I want to see." Nash froze, his hand on the doorknob. "We can come back later, ma'am. Don't mean to disturb your meal or nothing." "Come in, Mr. Nash. Mr. Turnbull also. Close the door." Reluctantly, the two entered, Turnbull yanking his cap from his mostly bald head. They stood like schoolboys expecting a scolding and she let them suffer. She knew the effectiveness of silence and waited until Nash blurted out, "We had to report everything to the captain, Miss Burke!" Turnbull nodded rather frantically.
