The Traveling Teacher Read online

  “You didn’t think this was unsafe? Did your father not tell you not to do it?”

  “My father told me to go forth and be happy, but he’s a hippy, so it made a lot of sense for him to say that.”

  “A hippy?”

  “Long story. I’m not sure I could explain the hippy movement properly if I tried.”

  “I see.” Harry still wondered about her. “And? Are you happy that you traveled back in time?”

  “I am. Tremendously happy. I’m married to a wonderful man, and I have two sweet boys. What more could I ask for in life?” Taylor shrugged, hoping he’d understand that she really was happy there. “Dr. Lachele will come back and check on me, and she’ll give me the opportunity to go back forward or stay here with you.”

  “When?” he asked.

  “I have no idea. I don’t even know how she’ll know where to go, but she will.”

  He frowned. “Don’t leave me.”

  “I don’t plan on leaving you. I’m here for the duration.”

  “The duration of what?”

  “Oh, well that’s an expression from my time. It means that I’m here forever.”

  He nodded. “All right. Show me this magic device of yours, and then we’ll sleep. Well, we’ll do other things before we sleep, but I don’t feel like I need to list what they are. You’re my wife, and you know.”

  She laughed, nodding. “I do know.” Leading the way to their room, Taylor went straight for the mattress and pulled her Kindle out of its hiding place. She pushed a button on the side and turned it on. “You can play games on this, but I mostly just read.” She flipped to some of the books she had on the device, touching the screen to go from page to page. “This holds almost as many books as your library does.”

  “This is amazing!”

  She smiled. “I have to use a special charger that converts sunlight into batteries to keep it powered up. I love my Kindle. I’ve read on it almost exclusively for years. I want to read a series of books to the boys, but I have to figure out how to explain what this is first.”

  Harry nodded. “I think that should wait. They don’t need to know you’re from the future just yet.”

  “I don’t think so either.” She put the Kindle right back under the mattress where it had been hidden before. “Now, was there something you wanted to do before we sleep tonight?”

  He laughed, wrapping his arms around her. “I think this is something that is so timeless, they still do it in your generation.”

  She giggled. “They sure do.”

  The five of them piled into the coach on Monday afternoon. “How long will the drive take?” Taylor asked Harry.

  He shrugged. “Usually five or six hours.”

  “All right.” She looked over at the boys, who were sitting on the opposite seat with Maude. “Are you boys going to sleep? Or do you want to sing your new song for your father? Or you could read for him?”

  “I’ll read,” James said. He took the book she held out to him, and he read through the first paragraph perfectly. “Reading is easy.”

  Henry took the book from his brother and read the second paragraph.

  Harry smiled. “You’re both reading exceptionally well. You must have a good teacher.”

  Maude smiled at Taylor. “They have the best teacher around.”

  “I just happen to love teaching. I’ll teach them for as long as I’m allowed to.”

  “Well, they’ll need to go to Eton when they’re eleven, of course. Until then, I’m thrilled to have you teaching them,” Harry said, his arm coming around her shoulders. When Mary had become pregnant, he’d been overcome with thankfulness that a child was on the way and they could ignore one another. He wanted to wait with Taylor, though. Yes, he wanted more children, but he didn’t want his wife taken away from him by the demands of children.

  He looked over at her, trying to see if there was something that set her apart from women of his century. She looked just like the others, though. When her hair was down, it did look as if it had been cut differently than anything he’d seen. When it was up, it looked just like everyone else. Surely there would be no trouble in London, because no one would realize that she was from a different time and place.

  Once they arrived at his family’s townhouse, the boys ran through the house, looking to see what they could get into. There was no real yard to speak of, so they would be forced to spend more time indoors than they would have liked.

  Taylor watched their dejected faces when they saw how small the yard was. “We’ll go to Hyde Park as much as we can. You’ll be able to spend time there.”

  The boys looked relieved. “I don’t want you to go without a groom,” Harry told her. “You’ll be safer, and I have to keep my three favorite people as safe as I can.”

  “I think that will be just fine, don’t you, boys?”

  Both boys nodded.

  “Do we share a room here?” James asked. “None of the rooms have two little beds.”

  Harry shrugged. “I think that’s up to you. You can each take a room, or you can share a bed in one room. Which would you prefer?”

  James looked at Henry.

  “We want to have our own rooms,” he announced.

  “Then that is how it shall be!” Harry smiled as the boys raced away. He knew they’d probably end up in the same room before morning, but he also knew they preferred to think they were independent.

  Harry looked over at Taylor once the boys had disappeared upstairs. “I sent a messenger ahead, and all the staff is here and ready. Our room is just at the top of the stairs.”

  She nodded. “I’ll go up and see it.”

  “If you have any special foods you would like cooked, Maude is only here for the boys. You’ll have to go to the kitchens to discuss it.”

  Taylor frowned for a moment. She wouldn’t have believed it before, but she was craving tacos. Like she felt as if she’d die without them. “Could I go shopping in the food markets?” She knew that there were places in London where there were food carts that people would go to shop and buy what they needed.

  “You can go if you want to take Maude and a groom.”

  Taylor nodded. “I would like that a lot.”

  “The groom will show you the way, and Maude will keep you company.”

  Taylor found Maude and told her about their task, and the two of them found a groom who led them to the markets. Taylor carefully checked tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce. She found ears of corn. She had never made a corn tortilla in her life, but she was about to learn how.

  When they returned to the townhouse, she went to the kitchen and explained exactly what she wanted done and how. The entire staff became involved, some of them cooking the mince—which she would call ground beef—some chopping peppers, and still others shucking corn. She had found a recipe on the Kindle she’d slipped into her trunk at the last minute. She just couldn’t bear to leave the thing.

  Together, everyone worked at making it, and she herself soaked and boiled the beans. “We won’t be able to eat this until tomorrow, but it will be ready then.”

  They all looked at her as if she’d lost her mind, but she didn’t care. “I’m from New York,” she explained. “Sometimes we eat differently there.”

  She sat down with her family and ate their supper, and then she tucked the boys in the way she had since she’d married their father. Each of them had smiled and called her Mother, a name that she would never tire of hearing.

  When she went to the bedroom, she expected Harry to already be there, but he wasn’t. She went in search of him and found him in his study. “Are you terribly busy?”

  He rubbed his hands over his face. “I’m never too busy for you.”

  “I put the boys to bed, and I was thinking I’d go to bed now, too. I can wait up with you if you’d like.”

  He waved his hands at the papers in front of him. “I need to read through all of this before my meeting in the morning. I may not sleep at all.”

  S
he kissed him softly and said, “Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

  He frowned after her as she left him, wishing things were different and he had more time for her.

  She went upstairs and opened a new Regency romance she hadn’t read yet. It was by one of her very favorite authors, and she couldn’t wait to read it. She was barely into the second chapter when she tucked the Kindle under her pillow and drifted off to sleep, already missing the man who should be lying beside her. Hopefully his time in town wouldn’t always be this busy.

  When Harry finally had time to go into bed, he found Taylor laying on her side, sound asleep. Why had he hoped she’d lie awake all night pining for his return? He didn’t know, but he still wished she had. He missed her already.

  Gathering her close, he fell asleep, clutching her like a child’s comfort toy. Never in his life had he dreamed he’d become a man who was dragged around by his little tiny wife, but he was. He wanted her to be happy and stay with him forever.

  By the time Taylor woke the following morning, Harry was already gone and at his meeting. She dressed and went down for breakfast only to be told that the seamstress was already there. She grabbed a piece of toast and hurried to meet the woman, excited that she would be getting some dresses that would help her to fit in.

  She and the seamstress pored over sketches for hours before her measurements were taken, and she was told the first dress would be there the following evening and one more every day that they were in London. The rest would be delivered to their country estate.

  Taylor had no idea what she’d spent, but she knew the seamstress had been given an idea of how much she was supposed to order, so she’d just gone until the seamstress was satisfied. By the time the other woman left, it was lunchtime, and Taylor was starving.

  She ate the simple sandwiches put before them for their lunch and went back into the kitchen to make sure that supper was being cooked properly. The boys seemed particularly sad.

  Taylor looked out the window. “It looks like a nice day for a walk in the park, don’t you think?”

  James and Henry both perked up immediately. “May we go? Please?”

  “Well, of course. We just have to get a groom to walk with us.” She looked over at the cook, who was serving as their nurse for the trip. “Would you like to go with us, Maude?”

  Maude shook her head. “No, you three go and enjoy yourselves. There’s no need for me to slow you down. Just make sure you find a groom first.”

  “How do I do that?” Taylor asked, baffled.

  “Let me find a groom for you. Then you three walk, and I’ll wait here.” Maude hurried off while Taylor looked down at the boys.

  “We can walk and run and have fun in the park. Do you boys have a ball here?”

  “I found one in a room upstairs. I want to take it,” James said.

  “That sounds good to me. Run and fetch it, and we’ll go for our walk.”

  By the time the boys were back with the ball they’d found, the groom was there to walk with them. “I’ve never been to Hyde Park,” Taylor said, “But I understand it’s within walking distance. Would you show us the way?”

  The groom nodded. “I’d be happy to.” He walked in front of them, and Taylor followed with the boys. She couldn’t wait to see Hyde Park. She’d read about it so many times, it was like a fairytale.

  Seven

  Taylor was excited when her dress was delivered that afternoon but not so excited to try it on. She was one of those people who didn’t even try on shoes in the store. If they didn’t fit, she’d take them back.

  The seamstress was very obviously pleased with the fit, and she smiled at her. “You look beautiful, my lady.”

  Being called my lady was odd for Taylor, but she was a countess now, and she’d have to get used to it. It didn’t matter how odd it sounded. “Thank you for your hard work.”

  “It was my pleasure. The other dresses will be done every two days.”

  When Harry got home a few hours later, he looked exhausted. Taylor was once again in the dress she’d taken to wearing for every day, and he frowned at her. “Is your new dress not here yet?”

  “Yes, it is, but I’m saving it in case we want to go out.”

  “Ahh. Well, a friend of mine is throwing a supper party this evening, and we ran into each other today, so we are officially going. You need to hurry and change.”

  Taylor ran up the stairs without another word, ready to get into the gorgeous aquamarine dress that had been delivered that day. As soon as she stepped into it, she felt like a lady. She carefully did her hair in a beautiful updo that she had practiced before ever leaving New York, just in case there were Regency parties to attend. She was still working on her hair when Harry walked into the room.

  “I’m sorry if I seemed like I was snapping today. I had a perfectly dreadful day, and I can’t wait for this evening to be over.”

  Taylor looked at him over her shoulder as she stuck the last pin into her hair. “We don’t have to do this if you’re not up for it. I can see how tired you look.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve committed to going, so I will go.” He stripped out of his day suit and reached for the evening wear that was hanging in his closet.

  “Do you want to talk about what went so badly today?”

  “Do you really want to hear the boring day-to-day business of an earl?”

  “I do!” She was fascinated by everything in the time period. From the books it seemed as if the men did nothing but call on the women they favored and go to gentlemen’s clubs.

  “Well, we’re here for me to make a deal to buy a portion of land that is adjacent to my land. I would like to have some land to leave James.” He shook his head. “I was led to believe that I would be paying roughly half of what the shyster is now asking for.”

  “Did he give you a reason?” Taylor was very interested in what he was telling her.

  “It was his mother’s land, and he doesn’t want to see it go to just anyone.” Harry shook his head. “The man has known me since we were small boys, and the land is a place where we played together as children. I even explained that it would be land for my younger son to inherit. He wouldn’t budge.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Sucks?” He frowned at her. “What does sucks mean?”

  “It means it’s terrible. Sorry. Sometimes idioms from my time period creep into my language.”

  “So what do you think I should do?” he asked, truly interested in her opinion.

  “I would think about what the land is worth. Is it worth the price he’s asking? Obviously, you thought it was a bargain when you brought the whole family here to buy it at that price. Could you negotiate to something in the middle?”

  “He said he’s not going to take a pound less than he’s offered me. I’m not happy with the man.”

  “Well, then why don’t you tell him it’s too much and you don’t want the deal? If he had another buyer at that price, it would already be sold.”

  He frowned for a minute, looking at her. “I will try that.”

  “I think it’s wise.”

  “I think my wife is wise.” He leaned down, and his lips brushed against the side of her neck. “I wish I hadn’t agreed to this supper party, but I did.” He’d much rather stay in their townhome and spend time with his wife.

  “We should go, then.”

  He tied his cravat expertly before offering her his arm. “Let’s go. I’ve ordered the coach brought around for us.”

  Instead of taking his arm, Taylor wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. “There. Now I’m ready to go.”

  He chuckled. “As am I. How could we have done anything without kissing first? It’s a barbaric idea!”

  “Let’s say goodbye to the boys. I won’t be able to tuck them in tonight.”

  Harry couldn’t believe how well she’d taken to being the mother of precocious twin boys. “They don’t need to be tucked in.”

  “B
ite your tongue!” Taylor was already hurrying toward the boys, and they were looking at her with awe in her beautiful dress. “I won’t be able to tuck you in tonight, because your father is taking me to a supper party. I will make sure you each get a goodnight kiss when we return, whether you are asleep or not.”

  Each boy took a turn hugging her.

  “We’ll go for another walk in the park tomorrow?” James asked.

  “We will! I enjoyed our walk today.”

  Henry grinned. “It’s nice having a mother.”

  “Goodnight!” Taylor couldn’t get the grin off her face as they walked out to the coach with the family’s crest on the side.

  “I think you get more joy from seeing the boys happy than you do from seeing me happy.”

  She laughed. “Making you happy is easy. There’s nothing I can do with the boys that will make them quite as joyful as you get. I have to be more creative with them.”

  He chuckled softly. “You are very right about that.”

  When they arrived at the supper party, Taylor was very nervous. “I’m not sure how to act.”

  He shook his head. “Yes, you are. You’ve been the very model of propriety since we’ve met.” He smiled. “I wouldn’t use the word sucks, though. It’s not quite appropriate. And perhaps you should keep your shoes on your feet, even if you run into a stream.”

  Taylor grinned. “I rarely use it anyway. Just one of those things I picked up from my students.”

  “Don’t learn anything from my boys. They aren’t the best models for your actions.”

  “I know they’re not. I’m not going to act like them at all.”

  They were led into a drawing room with Taylor clutching Harry’s arm. He introduced her to the hostess, who gave her an odd half-smile.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, Lady Black.”