said you were a nurse, and that was good enough for us.”
She blinked. “James Wallin, there are moments when you are positively brilliant.”
James raised a brow. “Mere moments, ma’am?”
She laughed. “Take the victory I’m giving you, sir. I’ll ask her some questions, but I’ll see whether her actions confirm her abilities. It may be that she has a great deal to teach her students.” She eyed James. “And you.”
“Me?” Only the dishes in his arms kept him from raising his hands. “I don’t need schooling.”
“About some things,” Catherine insisted. She turned to motion Rina over, but James felt as if the plates had tripled in his grip. Although he appreciated the light in a woman’s eyes, the gleam in Catherine’s just then had been positively terrifying. Her smile to Rina was even more so.
He was very much afraid his sister-in-law intended to follow through on the threat she’d made at her wedding to match them all up with brides. And she meant Rina for him.
That plan had to be chopped down faster than an ailing cedar. His father’s death had taught him that life was uncertain, unpredictable. The more you clutched close, the more could be taken from you. He had no intention of marrying, leaving behind a wife in sorrow or living with the pain of watching her die. He shoved the dishes at John and tugged down on his waistcoat, preparing for a fight.
Catherine was all encouragement as she invited Rina and Ma to the table, then sat and placed her hands on the worn wood surface. The light from the lamp highlighted the planes of her face. James was glad Simon had excused himself after dinner to tend to chores at his cabin or this interview could have turned into an inquisition. James positioned himself now where he could see Rina. Her color was high, but at his presence or the upcoming questioning, he couldn’t be sure.
“Now, then, Miss Fosgrave,” Catherine said, “you were going to tell us why you wished to become a teacher.”
James leaned closer, eager for the answer. He could almost see Rina’s confidence slide over her like a royal robe. She sat taller, raised her chin and met their gazes in turn. Her gaze only wavered when it touched his.
“I consider it an honor to help children prepare for a better future,” she said.
James nodded, smile hitching up. That’s what they wanted for the school, as well. He glanced at Catherine, who offered Rina a smile.
“And how did you prepare for this honor?” she asked. “Where did you attend school?”
“I received the finest education from personal tutors,” Rina told her. “I am well versed in mathematics, geography, history, literature and science, and I am fluent in French and Italian.”
How could anyone not be impressed with her? He looked to his mother this time.
“A good education,” Ma agreed with a smile, “though I’m not sure what call my children will ever have to speak French.”
“Please don’t teach Beth,” James couldn’t help teasing Rina. “We barely understand her as it is.”
His mother swatted his hand. A smile lifted at one corner of Rina’s pretty pink lips.
Catherine remained relentlessly on topic. “What about references?”
Rina inclined her head. “I have a character reference in my trunk. I can show it to you once I unpack.”
“But no references from previous positions?” Catherine asked with a frown.
Now his mother looked concerned as well. “Have you ever taught school?”
Rina took a deep breath, the satin at her shoulders bunching with the movement. “No, Mrs. Wallin. But I believe I have the skills and determination necessary to make a good teacher. You will find no one more dedicated to her profession.”
James could believe that. Her fervor shone from her eyes. But she couldn’t know how important this school was to his family and to him. This was his chance to make up for what had happened to his father. He still thought Rina had the backbone for the job, but for the first time, he began to doubt he’d made the right choice.
Rina had all but accused him of picking her for her looks, and Catherine seemed to fear as much. Could it be that Rina wasn’t the right teacher for them after all?
Had he made as grave an error in judgment as the day he’d looked away from the tree and missed the branch that had killed his father?
They were going to send her packing. Rina refused to shiver at the thought. She’d already given Catherine and Mrs. Wallin doubts about her abilities. She could see it in their frowns, the way they leaned back from her, Catherine’s cotton gown crinkling. She didn’t want them to think she also had no confidence in her skills.
Even if she did doubt herself on occasion.
“Dedication is all well and good,” Catherine said. “But ours is a somewhat unusual school, Miss Fosgrave. I wonder that someone without experience will know how to deal with the problems.”
“Problems?” Rina couldn’t help glancing at James. He seemed to be examining the lowest button on his waistcoat. Did he doubt her now, as well? Somehow, that made her feel all the more shaky.
Mrs. Wallin rose. “Perhaps it would be best if we showed her the school, Catherine. We can explain better there.”
Catherine stood, too. “Very well. James, if you’d be so good as to light the way.”
He shuddered as if it were a difficult task, and Rina waited for some joke to pop out of his mouth. But he merely lifted the brass-based lamp from the table and went to open the door for the ladies.
“Wait for us!” Beth cried, grabbing Levi’s hand and tugging him with her from where they’d been playing chess near the fire. Simon and John had already retired for the evening, but Drew also pushed off from the wall to join them.
They made quite a procession in the moonlight, James at the head with the lantern, Catherine on one side of Rina and Mrs. Wallin on the other with Beth and Levi tailing behind and Drew bringing up the rear. The light pushed back the darkness and cocooned them in warmth. Yet still Rina felt chilled.
“It’s a wonderful school,” Beth was bubbling. “I know you’ll approve of it, Miss Fosgrave. Everyone worked so hard to make it perfect.”
Her excitement should have been contagious, but it only served to make Rina all the more aware of the tension in James. He strode along, one hand fisted at his side as if trying to hold something in. She realized she’d only known him a few hours, but his attitude seemed off-kilter. Was it only her lack of experience that troubled him, or something more?
Her concerns gnawed at the edges of her confidence. Was she about to discover the dark side of these seemingly bright and happy people?
James stopped in front of the door, where someone had painted “Lake Union School” in white letters.
