This past winter had been tough for him, given his age, but he’d made it through in decent health, though visibly more worn and frail. Once the serfs and children arrived, however, he became livelier, even more cheerful, and seemed to take good care of the children.

"He's teaching the children to read?"

Iris nodded. "Yes, it's per the Duke’s request. We were supposed to send some servants to teach them, but Father Matthew offered to help instead."

It puzzled Maria why the Duke would insist on educating a group of serf children, but the servants followed orders meticulously.

Maria frowned, not because she doubted Father Matthew’s teaching abilities—after all,...