Fencing for Ladies (The Archer Family Regency Romances #5) Read Online Free

on the doorknob, studying all of them with an indulgent smile barely curving his mouth as he made sure they were all dressed for the uncertain weather. He was so careful in his duties to the family that Olivia sometimes wondered if he would simply refuse to open the door if she didn’t don the appropriate bonnet or wear her gloves.
    Edward questioned her about the school as he took his hat from Latimore, making Olivia increasingly nervous that she had forgotten something that would embarrass her tomorrow when she faced her first students.
    No, no, I am prepared , she thought. She just needed to make sure the charwoman, Mrs. Adams, had swept out the rooms adequately and that there were sufficient split logs and kindling to keep the front sitting room warm. While the ladies would certainly be warm enough while practicing in the ballroom, they would most assuredly want a place to rest, and it wouldn’t do to let them grow chilled.
    Simple enough . So why did ticking off each item in her mind make her so nervous, as if there were one more line on the list that remained invisible? She rubbed her hands together, her fingers feeling cold and damp even though she had yet to leave the warmth of the house.
    “You can't go by yourself, Lady Olivia,” Edward protested when he finished adjusting his hat at a rakish enough angle to satisfy him.
    “I certainly can,” Olivia replied, pulling on her gray kid leather gloves and wriggling her chilled fingers. Her hands didn’t feel much warmer, even encased in the gloves.
    “Nonsense. It just isn't done,” Edward said firmly, as if the matter were settled now that he’d pronounced judgment.
    “Shall I send for the maid, sir?” Latimore asked in sonorous tones.
    “Yes.”
    The butler glided forward and yanked one of the bell pulls.
    When a flustered maid appeared, wiping her reddened hands on her apron, Edward said, “Notify my brother, Mr. Peregrine Archer, that his presence is required.” He paused to consider this for a moment before adding, “And he should be prepared for a brisk walk.”
    “Yes, sir,” Mary, an extraordinarily tall and gangly maid, replied before dashing off in the direction of the library. Her limbs were so long and thin that in her black and white uniform, she looked like a loose-legged stork flapping her way down the hallway.
    “Peregrine?” Olivia asked her brother in a dry voice. “Are you quite sure his attendance is better than going alone?”
    “He is nearly an adult. It is about time he acted like it.” Edward dismissed her questions with a flap of his gloved hand.
    While she had nothing against her younger brother, he was only one and twenty, and most of the time, if one were unaware of his age, one might think he was almost thirteen. So while he was a male as required for a proper escort, she felt uncertain about his usefulness if they should meet footpads or other violent individuals. Peregrine was far too “Hail, fellow, well met!” to be any danger to a criminal. In fact, he reminded her of a big-eyed, curly-haired spaniel just thrilled to meet anyone new, regardless of social status or threatening appearance.
    Despite that, she had to smile. Of all her brothers, he was her favorite. His relentlessly cheerful demeanor always managed to scare away her worries, even when she had a strong case of the dismals. It was just too bad that his speech was marred by a severe stutter they seemed unable to cure.
    Peregrine was definitely better company, though, than her far too serious and staid brother Edward, or the sharp-eyed Margaret. At least Peregrine was enthusiastic about her endeavor and had tried several times to convince her to accept him as a teacher to lend a little color and interest to the academy.
    He didn’t quite understand that she was trying to avoid color, or anything that would make the parents of her prospective students decide against allowing their daughters to apply. Olivia had to avoid anything too improper or scandalous,