Kittie had just said her farewell to Jane when she turned to go back towards the house. As she walked along the path, she was startled to come upon none other than Mr Whitman, making his departure from the house.
“Mr Whitman,” she greeted him again, curtseying quickly and trying to stop herself from doing anything truly embarrassing.
“Lady Montague,” he said with a bow. It was charming how he kept bowing before her and Kittie knew he was probably just trying to ensure he did everything properly and didn’t offend anyone at the home of his new employer. If he was going to be working there, he would have to be diligent. But since she had curtseyed to him again, Kittie realised that, perhaps, she was the one causing the confusion.
Maybe she had been the one to get lost in her attraction to this man and she was just embarrassing herself. And, if not, maybe she could learn more about him before she did anything else that might.
When they were both standing properly once more, Kittie realised he appeared equally anxious, and she hoped that he wasn’t worried about being seen with her. After all, they were simply greeting one another, and no one would consider it improper for them to be polite.
“I hope my brother was not too demanding of you,” she said, sweetly.
Mr Whitman laughed and shook his head.
“No, not at all. Indeed, he was very polite and simply had reasonable questions. I understand that many are confused by my youth and it does not bother me that someone might question my capabilities as such,” he said.
“Oh, dear. Did he question you?” she asked.
“Only inasmuch as he wanted to be sure I could teach your brother well,” he said.
“I expect you must have very high qualifications if you are so well spoken of among the nobility,” she said.
“As it happens, my qualifications are not on paper, but I was given an opportunity years ago to prove myself. Since then, I have worked for many families such as yours in order to bring a studious environment to the young men who will one day lead our country,” he said.
Kittie was impressed. This was a man who showed reverence to the upper class, although it was truly he who had a mind for leadership. Kittie was intrigued by him but tried not to show it. She wondered if he was really as clever as everyone thought or if he was just very good at convincing people that he was intelligent. It certainly seemed that he was being honest, but how could a man without a formal education, as he was saying he had none, be hired by so many noblemen?
“You must be a genius if you are able to get these positions without a degree from a formal institution,” she said. It really was impressive, and she was sure there was a story behind it all, some way he had managed to do this. It was too impressive to have happened by chance and she wanted to know more. If, indeed, he had managed to learn all of this without attending university, was it possible that she could as well?
“My father taught at Oxford,” he explained.
Kittie was taken aback by this and suddenly grew impressed after all. This made a good deal more sense as to how he could obtain his work and gain the respect of men like Richard, who were very difficult to impress.
“That is very interesting. I’m sure you know quite a lot in that case,” she said.
“I enjoy my studies, even if they are not required of me. I still learn from many of his friends,” he said.
“And what will my brother be learning?”
“A great many things,” he said. “Mathematics, of course. Greek and Latin—the latter is my preferred language, but your brother may feel otherwise. Also, history, geography, science, and a good idea of literature in English as well as other languages. I believe it is also important to cover topics such as business, particularly for those who enjoy geography. Trade is such a pivotal aspect of the English economy.”
Kittie’s eyes widened in surprise and envy. She wished that she could have this sort of education and knew that Henry would not fully appreciate the advantages of his opportunities. Wishing that she could learn like he was, Kittie was hopeful that she might at least get her hands on some of the books and reading material that Henry would enjoy.
“Forgive me,” Mr Whitman said. “I have gone on too much about it all. I am quite certain I have bored you.”
“Not in the least. I am amazed, actually. I wish that I could learn like this, but Richard says that type of education is for young men only. Females may learn the things we are taught by a governess, such as comportment, reading, drawing, and piano. Certainly, we have a few other opportunities, but nothing so exciting as what men learn,” she said.
Mr Whitman looked at her curiously for a moment, a rueful smile on his face.
“Interesting. I have not had the chance to speak with many young ladies, but I have never met one who had such an interest in the subjects which are most often attributed to gentlemen,” he said.
“Indeed, I have always longed for a proper education. As it is, stitching and piano are rather useless when it comes to the making of a society. Even with the importance of music and art, a woman will never be famous in that area unless she is scandalous. I must learn the work of the masters, but never be recognized as one,” she said.
It was certainly a point of bitterness for her, and she couldn’t deny it in that moment, wishing she could at least sit in on Henry’s lessons.
“There is great value in the work of the masters,” came a voice to their left. Kittie turned and saw Richard approaching. “And stitching and piano are only useless to those women who are unable to find a husband.”
Kittie froze and looked down in embarrassment. It was obvious that Richard was displeased with her assessment of the subjects she in which was supposed to indulge, but she had long since known that he did not approve of her view of the world. It was difficult to accept his dislike of women who enjoyed intellectual pursuits, but she understood that he merely wanted her to be presentable to society. She had to be the portrait of a wife, not a scholar.
“Yes, of course,” she said, trying to appease him. The last thing she wanted was to have another of Richard’s lectures. He was always going on and on about her inability to do the sort of things that most women valued. It was terrible, always feeling as though she would never be enough when, in truth, she had done everything she possibly could to try and prove herself to her brother.
“As such, you ought to learn from our dear cousin and go to your room to practice these things. You know Jane is working very hard to find a husband and I fear that she is going to do so before you have such an opportunity,” he warned.
It was humiliating, having him say these things in front of Mr Whitman. Richard clearly—and thankfully—didn’t realise that Kittie was interested in Mr Whitman, but it was still embarrassing to be scolded like this with him standing there.
“It was nice meeting you, Mr Whitman,” she said, curtseying to him and then to Richard before she left them and went back inside and up the stairs to her room. Although she didn’t have any real interest in stitching, she knew there was something else she could do with her time.
Once she entered the grand space, with high, white walls and a burgundy, Persian rug under the elaborately carved bed, Kittie looked around, wishing others could have the same luxuries she did and that her family did not ignore the value of it all. She wished people like Mr Whitman were not simply hired and ignored because of their station.
Pushing it all aside, she took her mother’s old journal from the drawer in her vanity and decided to rest on her bed and read for a while. It always put her in a good mood to see those words on the page, to see the youthful, girlish nature of her mother. She wished that Richard could understand, but that seemed impossible.
Perhaps, one day, he would understand that Kittie was more than a tool to be used for a suitable marriage.