Fiona Evans sat at the desk perusing what appeared to be a ledger. Her brow was furrowed, and she rubbed her temple while eliciting a sigh.
Dread settled in the pit of Louise’s stomach. She’d heard rumors that Fiona and Sawyer’s hotel was not doing well. Since the school was in the same building, her livelihood could be at risk, especially if Priscilla said anything negative to her parents. Though nothing untoward had happened on the dune, Priscilla could twist the truth into something ugly. The Benningtons could do great damage to the school’s reputation. Their approval of the new school had led to Adeline and Esther’s enrollment. At their word, every paying student could leave. That made this conversation both important and difficult.
Louise rapped on the door frame. “You seem worried.”
Fiona looked up and closed the ledger. “More like perplexed. I don’t have a mind for figures. Please come in.” The beautiful redhead motioned to the chair positioned at the side of her desk. “My apologies for the hot room. I had hoped autumn would bring cooler temperatures. I don’t know when I’ve seen so many hot, dry days this time of year.”
“It is unusual.” Louise’s shoes rapped on the waxed wood floor as she crossed the room.
She then settled on the chair. Though she and Fiona had become friends before the school came into existence, it didn’t make this conversation any easier. She searched for a way to begin.
Fiona gave her the opening she needed. “What’s bothering you? Trouble with one of the students?”
“I hope not, but I’m afraid something happened today that might give them a reason to complain.”
“Oh?” Fiona arched one of her perfect eyebrows.
The former star of the New York stage was the most beautiful woman Louise had ever seen. That she chose to marry a lumber mill sawyer and settle in Singapore was surprising. That she called Louise her friend was just as unlikely, but they’d formed a bond during the hardships of last spring, when a steamship foundered on an offshore sandbar and they joined together to care for the stranded passengers.
Louise began slowly, feeling her way through what had happened. “I brought the girls on the dune to survey a particular plant for our science class, but the assistant lighthouse keeper told us we had to leave the property.”
“The assistant keeper joined your class?”
“Unexpectedly.” And unwelcome, Louise thought as she recalled his inflexibility. “He objected to our presence.”
“Go on.”
“I...saw no reason to interrupt our studies. Mr. Blackthorn never objected to my crossing the property in the past, and I told him that.”
Mirth sparkled in Fiona’s eyes. “I see. Was this man handsome?”
Louise felt her cheeks heat. “That is not the point. I...well, I inadvertently touched the man.”
“Touched?”
“Well, more like grabbed onto him. He was going to pull out the plant, and I had to stop him. He was going to kill it.”
“Kill it.” Fiona’s lips twitched. Was she going to laugh?
Louise explained, “I couldn’t let him needlessly destroy a living thing, so I stopped him.”
“He must have been surprised.”
That was not the half of it. “I believe some of the girls found my reaction a bit too forward and not becoming a teacher.”
“It was innocent.”
“Exactly.” Louise was relieved that Fiona saw it that way. “However, I wanted to let you know what happened in case anyone complained.”
“I see.” Fiona rose. “Is that all?”
It wasn’t. “There might be another complaint. From the man.”
“Oh?”
Louise could see a spark of excitement light up Fiona’s eyes. Now that Fiona and the rest of the women who’d come to Singapore were married, they’d taken it upon themselves to match Louise with every eligible bachelor. Though she had no idea if Mr. Hammond was married or not, he could never be her match.
“He’s more than a little rude. He threatened to remove my students and me from the dune.”
Fiona’s lips twitched. She was going to laugh!
“And then there was the fire.”
That sobered Fiona. “The fire?”
“Dinah’s magnifying glass accidentally caught a leaf on fire, but I stomped it out at once.”
“I’m sure that impressed him. What did you say his name was again?”
“Mr. Hammond. Mr. Jesse Hammond.”
“Oh! Mr. Hammond.” Fiona beamed. “I met him this afternoon at the store. He arrived less than a week ago and is unmarried.”
Naturally Fiona would ask about that. Louise pretended indifference. “So are most of the sawyers and lumberjacks.”
Fiona laughed. “True, but Mr. Hammond seems unusually intellectual. He talked at great length about the weather.”
“The weather.”
“Yes. He explained in great detail why it’s been so hot and dry this year. I found it fascinating and believe our students will also, so I asked him to give a lecture.”
“Here?” The word barely squeaked through Louise’s constricted throat.
“Of course it would be here.” Fiona peered at her. “Is that a problem?”
Louise couldn’t begin to articulate all the reasons why this was a bad idea, starting with the fact that the girls wouldn’t hear one word he said. Oh, they’d be quiet as mice. They’d be busy daydreaming over the handsome lighthouse assistant. But that was a petty objection. Young ladies would always sigh over a man before listening to him.
Louise had a more personal reason. “I too know a great deal about the weather, thanks to Captain Elder’s instruction. I can prepare the lecture.”
“Splendid! Since it’s also an interest of yours, I suggest you collaborate with Mr. Hammond.”
The room grew intolerably hot. Louise couldn’t draw a breath, could barely think. All that came to mind was the impossibility of Fiona’s plan. Jesse Hammond was large and demanding. He would not listen to a word she had to say. He would counter and crush her every suggestion.
“Collaborate?” she managed to gasp.
“It’s the perfect solution. He plans to stop by the school tomorrow morning, but I’ll be leading music instruction at that time. Since you’ll be free, you can discuss the lecture with him.”
Louise struggled to draw in a breath. The idea was entirely intolerable. She and Jesse Hammond? Working together to present a lecture? “He agreed to work with me?”
“Don’t underestimate your abilities. You have much to offer, and he will be grateful for your guidance.”
“What guidance?”
“For one, you can ensure he doesn’t speak over the ladies’ heads. Help him steer his knowledge into something that will engage the students.”
After the way Jesse Hammond treated her earlier today, Louise would have enjoyed seeing him fail in front of her students. Her conscience pricked. That wasn’t very kind.
“You will do it?” Fiona prodded.