Dinner with Lady Agnes proved very enjoyable. Besides Lucas and Kendra, the company included Miss Emily Cantwell, who seemed to be universally known as Miss Emily, and retired Army General Rawlings. The two were Lady Agnes’s partners in running the school. The general was in charge of sports and other manly pursuits and provided a male confidant for the boys when that was needed. Miss Emily handled most of the office and financial work, as well as giving warm hugs.

Lucas suspected that what made the three of them a good team was that they all genuinely liked their students, and they liked guiding those boys who needed extra help in learning how to find their place in society. They were also very enjoyable dinner companions.

The meal was winding up when Lady Agnes said to Kendra, “I think by morning you’ll find that your son is settling in well.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Having Patches again has won his heart.” Kendra made a face. “We took his limited possessions over to his room when the boys were dining, but because of the circumstances, he has almost nothing. Is there a nearby tailor that does uniforms and other boys’ clothing?”

“Yes, there’s a very competent fellow in the nearest village who spends most of his time making clothing for my students, including the school uniform. He’s good with sturdy garments that are not easily destroyed by rough and tumble boys. There’s also a very good shoemaker who does a fine job with shoes and boots of all sorts.”

“Just what Christopher needs! Can you see that he’s properly equipped and add the costs to his school fees?”

Miss Emily smiled. “We shall. It’s a common arrangement here. They grow so quickly!”

Giving in to his curiosity, Lucas asked, “Is that really a zebra on your school uniform badge? It looked like one, but I wasn’t close enough to be sure.”

Lady Agnes laughed. “It is indeed a zebra. Partly because I’ve traveled widely and seen zebras and lions and elephants in the wild and the boys love hearing about such things. But also because so many of my students feel as if they’re zebras in a herd of horses. The odd ones out who will never belong.”

“Our job is to teach them to canter seamlessly along with the horses while not losing their stripes,” Miss Emily explained.

Lucas lifted his wineglass in a salute. “It’s a perfect metaphor.”

Kendra raised her glass also. “Would that all schools were so wise!” She looked wistful at the knowledge that her son would be cantering out of her sight, but she didn’t say that. Instead, she smothered a yawn. “Please excuse my rudeness, but it’s been a long day. I’m ready to retire.”