The sky was cloudless, and the sun’s rays found their way through the crisp air, warming my face. I exhaled slowly, thinking over my time with Halstead. The tiniest bit of hope lifted my chest. For a moment it seemed possible he might let down his walls and allow me to—
Loose gravel crunched and I straightened up. Robert took long, brisk strides as he approached. He held something up for me to see. A letter.
I stood and closed the distance between us. “Is it the headmaster?”
Robert’s mouth pulled into a grim line. “I am afraid it isn’t good.”
“Won’t you let me see it?” I took the note from his hand and unfolded it. I paced as I read it myself.
Dear Mr. Nicholson,
I am sorry to inform you that your cousin, Mr. Harrison Graham, is having a difficult time adjusting to our expectations here at Harrow. While his grades are mediocre, it is his behavior that has given me true cause for concern. Yesterday he was brought into my office by Mr. Stuart, one of our prefects, having started a fight with another of our students.
Let me make it clear that in the event of another outburst, Mr. Graham will no longer be welcome as a student at Harrow. We simply cannot tolerate such behavior at this school. Many of our students come from the highest peerages, and their parents expect all of the students to exercise proper deportment and abide by certain standards. Please write him immediately and express the gravity of his situation, for should anything else happen, I will have no choice but to expel him at once.
Yours, Etc.
Thomas A. Carson
Headmaster
Heat raced through my veins. “Why, it’s preposterous! Harry told me in his most recent letter he is teased mercilessly. What must those boys have said to provoke him? You know Harry is as gentle as a lamb!” I stomped toward Robert. “This man wouldn’t know proper deportment if it walked up and struck him between the eyes. How can he say such things?”
Robert grabbed my wrist and extricated the note I’d unknowingly crumpled. “Juliet, calm yourself. Your impulsive behavior will get you nowhere. Remember, I went to Harrow myself. With boys of this age, bouts of fisticuffs are not as uncommon as you might think. I am certain the headmaster only sounds harsh because he doesn’t wish to be seen as condoning such behavior.”
“You can think what you will, but I have no doubt no one else received such an insulting letter.”
“Are you unwilling to think, for even a moment, whether Harry may have been at fault? It is one of the things I admire about you—that fierce loyalty.” He gave me a warm smile.
“Humph.” I turned away from him and folded my arms across my chest, frustrated that Robert shared none of my indignation.
He came up behind me and placed gentle hands on my shoulders. “Mother will have to be told.”
I whirled. “No, you mustn’t tell her. She will do something drastic.”
Robert shook his head. “And have her find out once he’s been dismissed? I think not.”
The same frustration of two nights past welled up inside of me, and I was tempted to pummel Robert. My still-tender hand held me back. “Why are you so certain he’ll be expelled? One letter, one incident, and you dismiss all you know about Harry’s character?”
My mind careened helplessly, anxious to think of any defense I might use in his behalf. I set my good hand on Robert’s chest. “Please. Let me write to Harry. If your mother threatens him, it is bound to make it worse.”
Robert glanced down where my hand rested on his vest. The lift of his mouth made me regret it at once, for he’d interpreted it so differently than I’d intended. I immediately removed my hand.
Indecision played across his face, until finally he nodded and took my hand in his. I gulped, remembering the warmth of Halstead’s hand just minutes before. “Very well. But you must send off a letter today.” He pointed his finger at me. “And you mustn’t sympathize with him—you can be certain I will read what you write, just to make sure. And I would like to add a note of my own.” His finger tapped my nose.
Flirting. Robert was flirting.
I nodded, unable to meet his gaze. Guilt clung to my insides as he stared at me. I shouldn’t have so thoughtlessly encouraged him. “Of course. Thank you, Robert. Thank you. I shall go write him this minute.” I turned away.
Robert chuckled, shaking his head. “I should have shown you this after we’d finished our walk, for now you’ll abandon me.”
“Tomorrow,” I promised as I headed toward the house at a brisk pace. As soon as Robert was out of sight I began to run. But it was not only my anxious need to write Harry that drove me away; it was my acute sense of guilt.
Chapter Twenty-One
I spent most of the afternoon in my room working on a lengthy letter to Harry. With careful positioning, I could now hold a quill in my right hand. I’d had to dispose of several drafts, worried they would be too sympathetic for Robert’s taste. In the end I settled for a firm tone that conveyed some of my underlying worry and a plea for him to write me himself as soon as he was able.
Rereading the letter one final time, I was certain it would meet with Robert’s approval. But there was a sinking feeling
