Elisabeth smoothed the front of her pleated dress while checking to make sure it was securely pinned before knocking on the ironbound oak door. Jacob's summons so late in the evening had made her more nervous than she cared to admit, even to herself.
"Enter," Jacob's deep tenor voice called out after nearly a minute.
The oak door stained nearly black with age opened at a touch and Elisabeth walked across the Persian rug to stand before Jacob's desk. The library was always a place of musty quite with the walls hidden behind shelves of books that stretched all the way to the twelve foot ceilings. Elisabeth took her place, the only sounds the crackling of the small fire and the scratching of Jacob's quill as he worked on the parchment he was penning. Elisabeth's lips pursed as Jacob continued to keep her waiting, his pettiness all too familiar and trite as she resolved to outwait the silly man.
Elisabeth took the moment to examine Jacob who was still strong and handsome even in his early fifties with broad shoulders and the physique of someone who worked as hard as any of his laborers. She was still uncertain of the new styles from London, but Jacob's dark black hair shot through with gray as well as his trimmed beard and thick sideburns gave him a distinguished look even with his upper lip shaved. She glanced at the grandfather clock which showed it a quarter till nine and back to Jacob with his coat cast over the back of his chair and his linen shirt unbuttoned to expose the curly mass of hair on his upper chest.
The fire gave a loud pop and Jacob sighed before setting his quill aside and sprinkling sand over the parchment before finally looking up to Elisabeth.
"Ms Bartlett, I'm afraid I've heard some unfortunate news regarding you and my daughter," Jacob finally said.
Elisabeth tried to school her expression as she regarded Jacob's brown eyes levelly. She knew this to be yet another of his petty games he played with the other household servants. By baiting them with an inane and empty allegation he'd have them tell the tale on themselves in their nervousness.
It was Jacob's turn to squint at Elisabeth in irritation as she refused to rise to his bait and he pushed back from his desk to regard her.
"Well, do you have anything to say?" Jacob asked impatiently.
"Say as to what?" Elisabeth shot back, "I've not heard what this news is to be."
Jacob's jaw tightened before he gave a curt nod.
"Very well," he finally said, "It was brought to my attention of the lewd and carnal nature of your conversation with my daughter today at the stables."
Elisabeth's lips twitched as what she had suspected was confirmed and she'd wager a shilling as to it having been Leroy to have come running straight to Jacob after having his ears pinned back.
"Alexandria and I had a few words today at the stables, yes," Elisabeth replied evenly, "I'd not ascribe them to be lewd."
Jacob waited for Elisabeth to continue and when she didn't he cocked his head as his face flushed in anger.
"But you'll not deny carnal?" Jacob growled.
"As your daughters Governess I believe what I decide to discuss with Alexandria is between her and I," Elisabeth shot back, her own face becoming flushed.
"I'll not have you discussing carnal knowledge with my daughter!" Jacob said angrily, "You'll not impugn upon her innocence!"
Elisabeth's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at Jacob for several moments.
"Your daughter is a woman now," Elisabeth replied more evenly, "Perhaps you'd prefer to have Leroy and the stable hands to have continued their discussion with Alexandria and not I.
"I'm sure they would have had no qualms impugning upon her innocence."
"You dare suggest Leroy would do such a thing!" Jacob spat, "It was he wh..."
Jacob cut off abruptly but Elisabeth had all the confirmation of who had been carrying tales to Jacob that she needed.
"I would never suggest that Alexandria is naught but pure," Elisabeth said, "But innocent?
"You have one of the largest herd of horse in West Midland and are right to be proud, but you've been taking Alexandria to see your prize studs breed the mares, she's been helping them foal since she was knee high.
"Innocent Alexandria is not."
"Be that as it may," Jacob retorted, "You are not to discuss such sinful and carnal topics with Alexandria!"
"And if not I, then who?" Elisabeth asked, "Perhaps you'd be more suited to discuss her monthly visitor or how to deflect the attentions of a few coarse and unwanted men in the stables with a choice word or two?"
"Such is not to be spoken of!" Jacob said angrily, "Father O'Malley made it plain in his sermo..."
"Father O'Malley!" Elisabeth spat, "Tis the same Father O'Malley who was seen by half his congregation running naked down Bell Street when the bailiff came a knocking on a certain bawdy house!"
Jacob chocked back a laugh before glaring at Elisabeth sternly.
"I don't know where you've heard such slander..." Jacob began.
"Old Miss Charnley for one," Elisabeth cut in again, "You'll never hear a more apt tale of Father O'Malley with his wee one swaying from side to side as he dashed by as if all the hounds of hell were..."
"Enough!" Jacob cut in and closed his eyes to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"This!" Jacob finally said and placed both of his hands palm down on his desk, "This is exactly what I do not want you to be discussing with Alexandria!"
"But..." Elisabeth began.
"No!" Jacob shot back, "I forbid it!"
Elisabeth stared at Jacob for several moments before giving her head a small shake.
"I ask again, if not I then who?" Elisabeth finally asked.
