Nancy Manney is the bright, bookish daughter of one of Beaufort's most prominent families who longs to experience the world outside their small seaside town. She finds a kindred spirit in the adventurous young family tutor. The only thing standing in their way is her father's pride and determination that she marry into one of the state's leading families.
When Charles French of Berkely, Massachussetts accepted a position in North Carolina, he thought he would save enough money to fund his law studies. He would spend two years tutoring Dr. James Manney's children and then return north for a clerkship. He had not expected to fall in love with the daughter of his employer. Over the course of his two years in the Manney house Charles realizes that the future he wants to build has to include her.
Nancy Manney is the bright, bookish daughter of one of Beaufort's most prominent families who longs to experience the world outside their small seaside town. She finds a kindred spirit in the adventurous young family tutor. They keep their love a secret from her family and plan marry when Charles becomes a lawyer. The only thing standing in their way is her father's pride and determination that she marry into one of the state's leading families. As Charles leaves for his clerkship their love comes up against the wall of Dr. Manney's plans for Nancy setting off a battle of wills that spans decades.
Excerpt
Charles spied Nancy through the window glass. He probably should have had the windows open in the August heat, but the sounds from the street would distract the children. Nancy had just gotten a new book and as she did with every new book she was taking time to savor it. She found a spot beneath the willow and away from the bustle of the house. Shaded by the leaves he could barely see more than a silhouette. First she ran her fingers over the fabric cover and spine as if memorizing every thread. Then she held the pages to her nose without opening it and inhaled. Her eyes drifted closed as she breathed in the scent of new book. Charles knew it well, that smell of new paper, ink and glue.
Finally she flipped back the cover. She smoothed each page with a caress of her fingertips as she read every word. Nothing was beneath her notice. Title, dedication, publishers mark, they all got her full attention before she began reading the story. She would probably be shocked to find him observing her in such a private moment. Still, he loved to watch her this way; sitting under a tree enjoying a new book with all of her senses, completely unguarded. He felt a bit like a voyeur but he could not look away.
One long chestnut curl fell from her coiffure and landed on the book. Instead of putting the book down to re-pin it, Nancy lifted it and began to twirl it between her fingers occasionally stopping to rub its softness with her thumb. Charles had made a study of Nancy’s hair and imagined how silky it would feel, dreamed of how it would look cascading down her shoulders. He had not dared to touch her hair as yet. He had barely done more than hold her hand. She sometimes hinted that she would not be averse to a stolen kiss, but Charles had not trusted himself enough to stop at a kiss.
“Mr. French?” Little Julia tugged his sleeve trying to draw his attention back to her slate. Charles shot a quick glance at Young James hoping he hadn’t caught Charles staring moon-eyed out the window at his big sister. He examined the letters on the six-year-old’s slate. “You’ve mixed your b’s and d’s again here. Please sit down and practice those two letters.”
He rose from his seat at the desk in the back parlor they used for a school room, and began a slow circuit careful not to look out the window again. James was working diligently on the mathematics he had assigned and Julia was taking great care to practice her d’s and b’s. They were good children and Charles realized that he would miss them.
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