Abigail escorted Seth and Jamie into the schoolroom as soon as she’d seen the last of the children leave. She’d wanted to make certain they weren’t interrupting anything.
“Miss Bruder, this is Mr. Seth Reynolds, and his nephew, Jamie. Mr. Reynolds would like to enroll Jamie in your class.”
The teacher gave Seth a smile then focused on Jamie. “Hi there, Jamie. I’m very pleased to meet you. How old are you?”
“Eight.”
“Wonderful.” The teacher nodded approvingly, as if being eight was a great accomplishment. “And have you attended school before?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Seth spoke up quickly. “He’s been at the Bridgerton Academy for Boys for the past year or so.”
She couldn’t detect any defensiveness in his tone, but Abigail had the feeling he’d wanted to make a point.
The schoolteacher gave him a quick smile then addressed Jamie again. “Then I’m sure you’re ready to join right in with the rest of the class.”
She turned back to Abigail and Seth. “Why don’t you give me and Jamie a moment to get acquainted? Abigail, perhaps you can show Mr. Reynolds around.”
“Of course.” Not that there was much to see.
She led him toward the back of the room. “You and Jamie will find school here is different from what he experienced in boarding school. For one thing, there are just two classrooms. Miss Bruder here teaches the younger children up to age ten. The older children go into Mitch Parker’s class in the next room.”
She smiled. “But Turnabout is growing and the classes have begun to get a bit crowded. At the last town-council meeting there was talk of adding another classroom and hiring another teacher.”
“That’s good to hear. A growing town is good for the hotel business as well.”
Always the businessman.
Then he glanced to the opposite corner of the room. “I see there’s a piano here—does that mean they teach music to the students in this class?”
He sounded surprised. “Yes, but not during regular class hours. Verity Cooper, the church’s choir director, provides lessons after school three days a week for any student, young or old, who has an interest.”
“I wonder if I should enroll Jamie in that program as well.”
Pleased that he was showing an interest in Jamie’s future, she gave him an approving smile. “Certainly, if he has an interest in learning. If not, there’s also a children’s choir he can join. It would be an excellent way for him to make friends with some of the other children.”
“I agree. In fact, I should probably speak to Miss Bruder about it today while I’m here.”
“Why don’t we wait to see if Jamie is interested first?”
He nodded. Then he eyed her speculatively. “Do you play?”
“Music was a mandatory part of the curriculum at Miss Haversham’s School for Young Ladies. So, yes, I took piano lessons. I was never more than mediocre, though. And I haven’t touched a keyboard since I moved here.”
She noticed he was studying the instrument with a faraway look. Had he even heard her answer to his question?
“My mother played the piano.” His voice was thoughtful, as if he was talking to himself rather than her. “I always liked listening to her play. She tried to teach me and Sally how to play as well, but I wasn’t interested. I wish now I’d paid closer attention.”
There was an unexpected poignant quality to his expression that both touched and intrigued her. What had he been like as a child?
“We all do—or don’t do—things as children we regret as adults,” she said softly. “It’s nothing to feel guilty about.”
He met her gaze, and she thought she detected a touch of self-consciousness there. Then he straightened and cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I think Miss Bruder is signaling for us to return.” And he retraced their steps to the front of the room without waiting for her response.
* * *
Seth wanted to go back in time and unsay that confidence. Dwelling on the past served no purpose other than to revive bitter feelings. And vulnerability was something he didn’t wear well.
He tried to push aside those uncomfortable thoughts as they neared the teacher.
Miss Bruder placed a hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “Jamie seems to be a fine young man. I think he’ll do well here.”
The teacher spoke of looking forward to having Jamie in class on Monday morning and of a homework assignment that would acquaint him with what the class was currently working on.
But Seth had trouble focusing fully on her words.
What was wrong with him? It wasn’t like him to blurt out personal information. In fact, he was usually strict about keeping such information private. When he was in Abigail’s presence, that all seemed to go out the window. And it wasn’t as if she pushed him for the information, or at least not overtly.
He pulled his thoughts back to the present when he realized Miss Bruder was collecting her things.
“And don’t worry about not knowing anyone, Jamie. I’ll partner you with Noah Wilder for the first few days. He’s about your age and I think the two of you will get along.”
He noticed Jamie looked relaxed. That was a good sign.
Then the schoolteacher turned to him. “And don’t worry, Mr. Reynolds, we’ll take good care of Jamie.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I’m sure you will.”
Once back at the hotel, Seth escaped to the office and allowed Abigail to watch Jamie the rest of the afternoon. It was cowardly of him, but he wasn’t quite ready to take on the role of day-to-day caretaker just yet.