Gambling for the Governess: A Victorian Romance (The Seven Curses of London Book 9)

by Lana Williams

  She’d written to her mother twice and received one reply thus far. She’d nearly finished reading one of the books she’d brought with her on the merits of education. She’d taken the liberty of keeping several from her aunt’s office, guessing they’d be packed away and given to charity. It was the least her aunt could do when she failed to follow through on the training she’d continually promised but never provided.

  She knew her aunt had been trying to teach her a lesson. However, Amelia’s mother was the one who’d gambled away their limited funds and left them in desperate circumstances. Amelia understood her mother’s wish to latch onto any shiny, new opportunity to gain money when the little her father left them had run low. Amelia felt the temptation and desperate hope herself when her mother had come home excited by a new chance of winning.

  Yet with each disappointment, Amelia’s hope at the next opportunity diminished. Too often she’d seen that desperate dream in her mother’s eyes only to watch it smother much like a candle flame snuffed out between damp fingers.

  Now she had a much more realistic view of life and gambling. Games of chance were not to be indulged in unless one had money to toss away. What she didn’t understand was why her mother continued to do so at the first opportunity. Amelia had taken to paying the landlord herself to remove the temptation from her mother, telling her it was one less thing she had to worry about.

  Each time Amelia gave her money for food or the like, she worried where it would go. If her mother had more money would she still feel the need to gamble? Was it the hope of a better life that kept her returning to it? Or the rush of excitement?

  She didn’t know how to change her mother’s behavior. Even without her aunt’s constant reminders on the evils of gambling, Amelia didn’t think she would ever wager so much as a shilling.

  This new position was her hope to provide her mother and herself with a better life, but she now knew she couldn’t live a lie to keep it. If the earl hadn’t yet told the viscount the truth, Amelia needed to do it herself. She couldn’t wait any longer.

  She went to her room to consider her limited choice of gowns and settled on a pale lavender woolen one she’d worn for church before moving to the academy. It was sadly out of fashion but surely no one expected her to wear one that wasn’t.

  The gowns she wore while teaching were from her aunt’s collection. She’d modified them as best she could though her skill as a seamstress left something to be desired.

  Molly’s knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

  “That’s a lovely color.” The maid admired the lavender gown as though it were something special.

  Amelia appreciated her kindness more than she could say.

  “Will I do?” Amelia asked after Molly helped her into it, relieved it still fit her well enough.

  “You look lovely, miss. If you don’t mind, I’m a good hand with a needle and thread and could adjust your other gowns to fit you better.”

  “I wouldn’t want to bother you. I’m sure you have enough to do.”

  “I enjoy it. Helps me keep my skills up. Shall I tidy your hair?”

  Though she felt awkward about the offer, Amelia sat before the dressing table while Molly unbound her long dark hair. She combed it before piling it into a loose chignon at the back of her head, leaving a few wisps to curl along her ears.

  “There. Much better, don’t you think?” Molly asked as she stepped back.

  “Thank you.” Amelia turned her head from side to side in the mirror. “Your talents are wasted on me.”

  Molly laughed. “I’m happy to help. You have lovely hair, and it’s a pleasure to fix it.”

  Amelia made her way to the drawing room, but it stood empty. She proceeded to the dining room to find the earl with his hands clasped behind his back, pacing the length of the room.

  “Good evening, my lord.” She curtsied, hiding a smile at the sight of his slippers. For some reason, those gold tassels eased her nerves.

  “Yes. Quite. Good of you to join me.” He nodded then gestured toward the table.

  “Thank you for the invitation.” Amelia noted the two place settings, both relieved and disappointed the viscount wouldn’t be joining them. She brushed aside the thought as she took her seat, realizing how long it had been since she’d dined so formally.

  The earl sat as Dauber entered the room with a tray. The butler poured them each a glass of wine then placed a scoop of a decadent trifle on a plate before her. She looked at him in surprise.

  “The earl prefers dessert to be served first so he always has room for it.” He said the words quietly; his respect and affection as he glanced at the earl warming her heart.

  She smiled. “Excellent idea.” The custard and sponge cake concoction included chocolate shavings and raspberry jam, the combination melting on her tongue.

  When the butler stepped out of the room, she cleared her throat. “I wondered if you’d had a chance to advise the viscount of the limits of my previous experience?”

  “Hmm?” The earl looked up from his plate with his fork in the air to study her for a long moment. “Oh. No. Not yet. But have no worries. The deed will soon be done, and you’ll see you had nothing to be concerned about.”

  Unfortunately, she wasn’t reassured. Not when he’d said a similar statement before and had yet to follow through. “Perhaps the information would be better coming from me.”

  “No, no.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin, his tone adamant. “I will do so as soon as the time is right.”

  “Do you think that will be soon?” She glanced at the doorway to make certain Dauber hadn’t yet returned. “I don’t want to remain in the position under false pretenses.”

  “There are no false pretenses. You told me the truth, and I hired you.” The earl frowned as if confused as to her meaning.

  While she appreciated his words, the viscount was the one who had requested a governess, and she had no doubt he had the power to dismiss her. How far did she press the matter?

  Dauber returned to clear the dessert plates and served the next course. He leaned close as he offered her roast beef and peas. “His lordship doesn’t care for soup, so we won’t be having that course.”

  She nodded and did her best to hide a smile behind her glass of wine. The earl might be unconventional, but she found him entertaining.

  The roast beef and peas were delicious, as was all the food she’d eaten since her arrival.

  “The cook is quite talented,” she said as she took another bite.

  “Do you prefer to eat in your room?” the earl asked with a frown as he lined the peas on his plate into neat rows, adjusting the length of each line until they were equal.

  She hesitated, uncertain how to best explain. “I’m enjoying this meal with you, and I enjoyed the evening meal with the staff last night.” She glanced at Dauber, wondering what he thought, but his blank expression made it impossible to know. “But I like eating in my room as well.”

  The earl nodded as he cut a bite of the beef with precision then poked one pea and the meat onto his fork. “I often eat by myself. My son isn’t always home in the evenings.”

  “He must be quite busy with the Season starting and all of its commitments.” She hadn’t seen him since their conversation in the garden the other day. That didn’t mean he hadn’t been in her thoughts.

  “He’s involved in a new project but has yet to tell me the details. His secrecy suggests that it carries a level of danger.”

  “Oh?” Amelia noted the butler’s frown. Did he know something about the project? She was curious to hear more though it certainly wasn’t her place to ask.

  “Otherwise he wouldn’t bother to keep the particulars from me.” The earl glanced up from his plate to meet her gaze. “He believes worrying isn’t good for me.”

  “It’s kind of him to be concerned.”

  “What he doesn’t realize is that when he doesn’t tell me, it makes me worry more. Added to that is the fact that I overhear
d him speaking to a certain butler about it. I’m certain I could be of help.” He leveled a glare at Dauber that should’ve made the man cringe. Instead, Dauber continued about his duties with little reaction.

  The little she’d seen of the interaction between father and son made her wonder about their relationship. While she knew the earl’s unconventional behavior frustrated the viscount, she was sure he loved his father. What had happened in the past to cause that frustration? Thus far, nothing she’d witnessed about the earl had been any true cause for concern. He did odd things, such as handing her the book in the library, changing conversation topics abruptly, and wearing his slippers instead of shoes. And eating dessert first, an idea she rather liked. None of that seemed so terrible.

  “Perhaps if he raises the topic, you could put in a good word for me,” the earl suggested, much to her surprise.

  “I’m not certain he would welcome my opinion.” Or if he’d even mention it to her. She held no sway over the viscount.

  “He thinks well of you already.”

  Her heart thudded at the thought. To think she crossed his mind at all was both unsettling and intriguing.

  A companionable silence fell over them as they ate. Amelia enjoyed the earl’s company. Oddly enough, she felt more at ease with him than she had with the servants the previous evening as if he had already judged her and given his approval.

  “Did you know the earth has seven points where electromagnetic energy is prevalent? Stonehenge is one of them. What do you make of that?” He looked at her expectantly.

  Amelia paused with her fork partway to her mouth, perplexed by the question. “I have never had the pleasure of visiting the site, but I read an article that suggested the stones have healing properties.”

  “The place is an energy vortex. Though I don’t think it’s the stones but rather the location. The pyramids in Egypt are said to be a place of energy as well.” A faraway look came over his expression. “How did the ancients come to realize that and choose to build there?”

  “Humans must be drawn to such places, don’t you think? They feel different at those locations. I suppose back then they had less to distract them, causing them to be more aware of such sensations.”

  He glanced at her as if surprised at her answer. “Yes, I believe you’re right. The key would be to make an infinite circuit of energy.”

  “Oh?” Amelia had no idea of what he spoke.

  “But how? You see, electromagnetism is the interaction between electric currents and magnetic fields.” He shared more information but in scientific terms that went beyond her understanding.

  He paused mid-sentence to withdraw a pencil from his waistcoat pocket then pulled back his suit coat to reveal his white shirt cuff. He licked the end of the pencil and carefully wrote something along the edge of the cuff then tucked the pencil away before continuing. “If you consider that humans are an energetic force, electromagnetism affects us as well.”

  Though she only grasped part of what he told her, she found the details interesting. She continued to listen, nodding when the earl paused.

  Dauber gave her an approving look as he cleared their plates and refilled their glasses.

  “You are an excellent listener, Miss Tippin,” the earl said.

  “You are interesting to listen to, my lord.”

  Suddenly, the earl stiffened and slowly rose. “That’s it,” he proclaimed and left the room without another word, leaving her sitting at the table, nonplussed.

  She stared at the empty doorway but didn’t think he’d be returning.

  “I’m sorry, miss, but he does that sometimes,” Dauber said with a shake of his head.

  “Apparently a solution to whatever was troubling him came to mind.”

  “Indeed. He’s quite brilliant.”

  “I can tell because I had no idea of what he was speaking.” She chuckled, sharing a smile with the butler as she rose. “Please tell the cook the meal was delicious.”

  He nodded, the kindly look on his face making her feel as if she’d gained an ally. She hoped she could win over Mrs. Wimbly, but the woman still watched her with guarded suspicion.

  Amelia walked up the stairs to her room, wondering if the viscount had returned in time to bid the children good night, something she did occasionally as well. Their affection for him was obvious.

  His idea that they’d be better off in the country without family nearby sounded terrible to her. Perhaps when he raised the topic again, she could share her opinion, though she didn’t know if he would welcome it despite what the earl had suggested.

  She paused with her hand on the door to her room, the idea of reading holding little appeal. Perhaps a breath of fresh air would clear her thoughts. She retrieved a shawl as the evening air would be chilly then went downstairs and into the side garden.

  The evening was cool just as she’d suspected. The night sky was overcast with no stars visible, causing her to sigh with disappointment. She wandered along the dark path that wove through the garden, enjoying the quiet solitude.

  When a shadow moved toward her, she gasped in surprise.

  “Good evening, Miss Tippin,” Viscount Beaumont said. “Out for an evening stroll?”

  “Yes, my lord.” She dipped into a curtsy then turned to go inside, not wanting to disturb his privacy. Nor was she ready to tell him the truth until she had better prepared. Or rather, had found her courage.

  “Please address me less formally, and there’s no need to rush off, though I would’ve thought you’d have sought your bed by now. The children can be exhausting.”

  She chuckled. “Exhausting but wonderful. I will leave you in peace. Good night, Lord Beaumont.”

  “Wait.” The viscount stepped closer, light from the windows casting his face in shadows but revealing enough to set loose nerves fluttering in her middle. He was truly a handsome man, his face chiseled perfection. “How are Charlotte and Ronald faring with lessons? Are they behaving themselves?”

  “They’re doing well,” she said, appreciating his interest in the children even more than his attractiveness. “Today, we worked on arithmetic and geography. Ronald is fascinated by maps.”

  “There is a globe in the library you’re welcome to use if you have need of it.”

  “That would be helpful,” she said. “Looking at a flat map isn’t the same as looking at a globe. That might help him to better understand his position in the world.”

  The viscount scoffed. “At least one of us would.”

  She studied what she could see of his face, noting his brow was creased as if something weighed on his mind. She couldn’t help but think of the new project his father had mentioned. She hesitated, uncertain what a proper response would be. Setting aside her reservations, she spoke not as a governess to her employer, but from her heart. “Life can be quite confusing at times, can’t it?”

  “Yes, and the people we think we know aren’t always who we thought.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. Was he speaking of her?

  When his gaze held on a point over her shoulder for a long moment before flicking back to her, her fear eased. Something about his expression told her he wasn’t referring to her. Yet guilt continued to weigh on her heavily.

  She bit her lip, all too aware of how much she risked if she told him the truth right now. Though she detested her cowardice, she couldn’t do it. Not yet. She wanted to prove her worth first.

  “Do you have someone in your life like that?” he asked, his quiet voice and the dim light suggesting an intimacy that encouraged secrets.

  “My mother and I don’t think alike. Her behavior often puzzles me.” That was as much of a confession as she was willing to make for now.

  “I know from experience how troubling a parent can be. But my father isn’t my current concern.”

  “Oh?” She waited to see if he’d explain.

  He sighed and looked up at the night sky. Was he as disappointed as she was by the lack of stars? “My brother-in-law
was not the man I thought.”

  “The children’s father?”

  The viscount nodded. “I believed him to be a cautious person, but I’m beginning to realize that wasn’t the case.”

  “This information is just now coming to light?” What would cause him to be this upset when his brother-in-law had passed away over a year ago?

  “I believe I mentioned the children’s paternal grandfather had kept his distance until recently. He’s given me some of Edward’s papers that are of grave concern.”

  “Oh dear.” She couldn’t imagine what the papers contained to upset him so. “Will it affect the children?”

  “It might if word spreads. In fact, the results could be disastrous. Their father’s actions might’ve ruined the family name for generations.”

  “Is that likely?” The surge of protectiveness that flooded her at a potential threat to the children surprised her. What surprised her even more was the realization that the feeling included the viscount as well. She wanted to help, to calm his worries.

  “The chances of it happening grow by the day. Whether I can do anything to prevent it remains to be seen.”

  “I’m sure the possibility upsets the marquess as well.”

  “Yes, but his continued efforts to maintain secrecy aren’t helping.”

  She nodded, thinking she and the marquess had that in common. Apparently, they both had a secret they weren’t willing to share.

  Beaumont tilted his head as he studied her then reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. The intimate gesture sent quivers through her. She had to resist the urge to lean closer to his warm touch.

  “You are an excellent listener,” he said, his voice quiet.

  She couldn’t help but smile.

  “Why does that amuse you?”

  “I had an interesting conversation with your father earlier, and he said the same.” After a moment’s pause, she continued, “Have you discussed the issue with him?” The concern the earl had expressed earlier compelled her to speak now.

  “No.”

  The finality of the single word answer didn’t encourage further discussion, but she persisted. “He mentioned the project you’re working on and feels he could help if you’d allow him.”