Page 44 of Hearts of Locke Hill

“He quit!” It was true. Cyril had quit the violin when he could no longer keep up with Violet’s skill. It had filled her with a sense of victory and baffling disappointment.

Mama and Cyril exchanged an unreadable glance.

Cyril tipped his head, studying her. “You could trust me to take on any aspect of the school. Have no doubt of my capability. I have no doubt of yours.”

Violet folded her arms. “So you would trust me to oversee, say, the mechanics curriculum? Or zoology?”

He nodded. “Or physics or chemistry orevenbadminton—”

“You see?” Violet said, standing and pointing a finger at Cyril and looking between both her parents. “If he trusts me with the curriculum, why are we even having this—”

Cyril stood, his chair scraping the floor. Though he did not shout, his tone was firm. “I would trust you,if…if, Miss Whittemore, your parents judged your administrative leadership of the school to be superior to mine. That is the bargain, is it not? Your parents judge and decide who has earned the run of the school, and theotherbows out gracefully. Your terms.”

Violet clamped her mouth shut. Her father had shoved his hands in his pockets and watched his shoes. Mama scrutinized her as if Violet had spoken in tongues. Violet had pushed too far with her outburst. She swallowed. “You are correct. Forgive me. I should not have interrupted you. Of course.”

Griggs appeared at the open door of the study. “Luncheon is ready, ma’am.”

“Yes, Griggs.” Mama took in a deep breath and let it go. “Well, I’m guessing we are all hungry.” She brightened her expression, though Violet recognized it as not entirely genuine. “Let us adjourn and get something to eat before we take Mr. Burke on his tour of Locke Hill. Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us a moment.”

The men nodded and left the room.

Violet faced Mama, though she could not meet her gaze.

“Violet, what—”

“I’m sorry, Mama, I—”

“Violet.”

She clamped her mouth shut once more.

“Half of successful leadership is listening.”

Violet nodded, a flush of heat rising in her face. “Yes, Mama.”

“The second half is putting those you are leading before yourself.”

Violet lowered her head. Even in her shame, she wanted to fight, to list all the ways she’d poured herself into planning the school so that other girls wouldn’t have to hide their desire to learn. But her tongue was tied fast. Which was probably a good thing after her childish outburst.

Her mother stepped closer. “You want this so badly, don’t you, darling?”

The words pulled tears from her eyes, confirming her answer. “More than anything I’ve ever wanted,” she whispered. “It is already such a part of me. I cannot relinquish it.”

She felt her mother’s kiss on her forehead. Gardenia soap touched her senses. “Talk to Mr. Burke. You will know what to do.”

“But, Mama, he came out of nowhere. As if Father were a magician and pulled a rabbit out of his horrible hat. The rabbit has no idea he’s part of the trick, but he’s still averyunexpected rabbit. I wouldn’t know what to say.”

She sighed and smiled. “My sweet Violet, you always know what to say.”

Violet gestured to the desk behind them. “I believe I just proved that wrong.” The reminder of her behavior filled her with humiliation. She’d acted like a child, stomping her foot over a marble.

“Dearest, you were so caught up in staking your claim for the school, did you even hear what Mr. Burke said?”

Violet frowned. “Which part?”

“The part where he claimed, before yourfather, that he finds you absolutely capable.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but no sound came out.Have no doubt of my capability. I have no doubt of yours.“I’ll be a lost boy,” she whispered. “He can’t have meant it.”