A Duke's Lesson in Love

Chapter 26 - Kindred Spirits

Eleanor soon learned that her new home, a modest cottage tucked away in the serene Scottish countryside, was to be shared with another teacher, Nichole. Rather Nichole is sharing her home with Eleanor. As Eleanor began to unpack her belongings in her quaint room, the sound of a lively Scottish tune reached her ears from the adjourning room.

Curiosity piqued, she ventured out into the sitting room. There, she found Nichole, a robust woman with a shock of fiery red hair, humming cheerfully to herself as she went about her tasks.

"Ah, ye must be Miss Campbell," Nichole greeted with a warm smile, her words rolling off her tongue in a thick Scottish brogue. "I heard tell we'd be havin' a new teacher joinin' us. You can call me Ms Stewart in class but here Nichole"

Eleanor returned the smile, albeit a bit hesitantly. "I am Eleanor Campbell, please call me Eleanor. It is a pleasure to meet you, Nichole."

Nichole paused in her bustling activities and wiped her hands on her apron before extending one to Eleanor. "Likewise, lass. Now, let me give ye a hand with that unpackin'. No sense in doin' all the liftin' on yer own."

Immensely grateful for the offer of assistance, Eleanor nodded and handed Nichole a stack of book. While they worked together to arrange her meagre luggage, Eleanor could not help but feel a sense of friendship forming. Nichole's presence conveyed warmth and familiarity, a stark contrast to the partial formalities of the Duke's manor.

Once the last of Eleanor's books was placed on the shelf, Nichole turned her attention to a steaming pot on the stove. She poured two cups and handed one to Eleanor, who accepted it with a grateful smile.

"Now then, Miss Campbell," Nichole began, her accent lending a musical quality to her words, "ye'll be teachin' the older bairns, we have a fine bunch here, all eager to learn."

Eleanor sipped her tea, letting the warmth soothe her nerves. "I am looking forward to it, children are a great gift to this world."

Nichole's keen eyes studied Eleanor, and she couldn't help but inquire, "Ye speak with an English tone. But I've heard ye were born here. Why the English lilt, if ye don't mind me askin'?"

Eleanor hesitated for a moment, her mind drifting back to her time in the Duke's manor, where she had adopted a more refined manner of speech. But here, among the simple beauty of the Scottish countryside and the warmth of Nichole's presence, she felt an urge to be more authentic.

"It's a long story, Nichole," Eleanor admitted, her own accent slipping back into the lilting tones of her homeland. "My mother was English, so I grew up with a softer voice. I spent a lot of time in England as a child while my parents worked. And I just spent some time working as a governess in England, which was where I adopted a more different way of speaking. But now that I'm back in my homeland, perhaps it's time to embrace the lilt of my birthplace once more."

Nichole nodded approvingly. "Aye, lass, it's good to hear the true voice of a Scot. No need to put on airs here. We're simple folk, but we have a deep love for our land and our people."

***

Eleanor and Nichole set out on a walk to the church, a stone's throw away from their abode. Nichole had offered to show Eleanor the classroom she would be using to teach the older children, and Eleanor was eager to get a sense of her new surroundings.

As they approached the charming, weathered church, its grey stones worn by the passage of time. Eleanor could not help but admire the simplicity of the place. The church seemed like the heart of the village, a place where the community gathered to worship and learn.

Nichole led the way to a small door tucked to the side of the church, which creaked open to reveal a humble but spacious room. It was attached to the church, and sunlight filtered through the tall, narrow windows, casting a warm glow on the wooden floor.

"This is where ye'll be teachin' our bairns," Nichole declared, a hint of pride in her voice. "It may not be as grand, but it has its own charm."

Eleanor stepped into the room, taking in it modest furnishings. Rows of wooden desks with inkwells lined the centre, each one awaiting the eager minds that would soon fill them. A large blackboard dominated one wall, its surface slightly dusty from disuse. A shelf in the corner held a meagre collection of tattered books, most likely remnants of previous lessons.

"It's perfect," Eleanor replied, with a smile as she took in the site.

Nichole nodded in agreement. "Aye, that's the spirit, lass. Now I must admit, it's been a while since this room has seen much use. It could do with a good cleanin', and we'll need to gather some more books."

Eleanor surveyed the room and agreed with Nichole's assessment. "I don't mind rolling up my sleeves and getting to work. In fact, it will give me a chance to make this space our own."

The two women spent the next hour dusting, sweeping, and arranging the room to their liking. With each stroke of the broom and wipe of a cloth, Eleanor felt a sense of purpose and renewal. This wasn't a grand manor, but it was a place where she could make a difference in the lives of these children.

Nichole, with her infectious enthusiasm and a Scottish ballad on her lips, sang as they worked, turning what could have been a tedious task into a shared experience filled with camaraderie.

By the time they finished, the classroom looked inviting and ready to receive its young occupants. Eleanor stood in the centre of the room, a satisfied smile on her face.

"It may not be much now," she said to Nichole, "but I have a feeling that this room will soon be filled with laughter, curiosity, and the joy of learning."

Nichole clapped Eleanor on the shoulder, her eyes sparkling with pride. "Aye, Miss Campbell, ye've got the right spirit. I have no doubt that ye'll make a fine teacher, and these bairns will be lucky to have ye."

As Eleanor gazed around the freshly cleaned and tidied classroom, she couldn't help but agree. This small, unassuming space held the promise of a new beginning, where Eleanor could leave the shadows of her past behind and, in the simplicity of teaching, find the redemption she so desperately sought.

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Sorry for a late upload, I caught a bad stomach bug and haven't been feeling well

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