by Olivia Drake
A strangled breath rendered Tessa speechless. That box contained her life’s savings. All the earnings she’d scrimped from years of labor, all the money she’d hoarded toward her dream of opening a millinery shop.
“’Ere, now, milady, ye mustn’t take that. It ain’t yers.”
“Is, too. I found it, so it’s mine!”
Sophy gave a mighty yank. She gained her prize, but the force caused her to tumble backward onto her bottom. The tin box slipped from her fingers and sprang open to spill its contents.
Coins rained all over the rug. They rolled into corners and vanished under the furniture. One penny twirled past Tessa and out into the passageway.
A keening cry burst from her throat. She sank down onto the floor, unable to think of anything but recovering her precious coins. Her trembling fingers raked the nearest ones into a pile. Spying a glint of silver in the shadows under the desk, she scooted to fetch the sixpence, and then snagged another from beneath a chair.
As she turned to add them to the pile, the nursery maid was on her knees attempting to peer under the bed. The older woman was clearly too stout to reach very far.
“Stop that at once, Lolly,” Tessa ordered. “It is Lady Sophy who should be helping, not you.”
Shock had given way to anger, and she aimed a glare at the little girl. Sophy watched from a short distance away, her pinafore wrinkled, her dark hair mussed. Her lower lip was thrust out in a sullen pout, but the wary glint in her eyes made it clear she was well aware of her wrongdoing.
“Well?” Tessa demanded. “What have you to say for yourself?”
The girl pondered a moment, then rubbed her backside in a bid for sympathy. “I hurt my bum.”
“Bad things often happen when children are disobedient. You were strictly forbidden to enter this room, Sophy, and you disobeyed.”
“You has to call me lady.”
“I shall call you lady when you behave like one. Now, enough of your sass. That was my treasure you tried to steal. So crawl under the bed and gather what you spilled.”
Perhaps it was the prospect of a treasure hunt that appealed to her, but the girl abandoned resistance and shinnied her small form into the gloom beneath the bed. She emerged a minute later with a string of dust decorating her hair and three coins clutched in her palm. While Lolly put them back into the tin box, Sophy helped Tessa gather the balance of the stash.
“Can we make hats now?” the girl asked when all the money was safely collected.
Tessa had promised the activity for later in the afternoon, but decided a harsher punishment was in order, given the gravity of the crime. It shook her to think of losing even a single penny of her cherished savings.
“I’m afraid not. You were wrong to rummage through my trunk. Those things belong to me and you must learn to respect the property of others. Now it is time for you to finish your nap.”
The lower lip stuck out again. “Don’t wanna sleep.”
“Then you may sit in your bed and look at a book.”
“You’re mean!”
“Yes, I am mean when you’re naughty. And you must obey the rules if you wish to enjoy fun projects. We’ll make hats tomorrow—provided that you behave yourself for the rest of today.”
For a moment, Sophy looked surly enough to kick someone. She was even wiggling the stocking toes of one little foot. Then she cast a sidelong glance up at Tessa’s unyielding expression and must have thought better of the action. Grumbling, she marched out the doorway, followed by Lolly.
Tessa spied Avis Knightley waiting in the corridor. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you were still here.”
Avis smiled sympathetically as she handed over a penny. “I found this out here but didn’t wish to interrupt.” Then she lowered her voice slightly. “That was most impressive. How do you stay so calm?”
“With great effort,” Tessa murmured, sliding the coin into her pocket as they walked back into the schoolroom. “The girl is a mischievous imp who requires constant watching. I do hope it isn’t just wishful thinking for me to detect a slight improvement in her.”
“Well, I certainly can see progress. For one, the shrieking that used to carry downstairs has diminished considerably. For another, she actually did as you told her just now. What does His Grace have to say?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since earlier in the week.”
“Hm, Lady Victor said he’s been gone from the house quite a lot lately. No doubt he’ll summon the two of you to him soon. Now, I really must go. Her ladyship will be distraught if I’m not there when she wakes.”
As Avis took her leave, Tessa stood frowning at the empty doorway. She had been on pins and needles these past few days, expecting Carlin to pop in at any time. He’d brought her here that first day, yet he hadn’t returned. Was it unusual for a noble father to visit the nursery? Despite his bluster about wanting the best for his daughter, he’d shown no interest in Sophy since agreeing to let Tessa stay on as governess.
She found herself troubled by his absence. Leaving children to the care of servants might be the way of the aristocracy, but that didn’t make it right. Sophy needed his love and attention. And if the opportunity arose, Tessa fully intended to drop the duke a hint.
* * *
The following morning, Tessa took Lady Sophy outside to forage for hat trimmings. They both wore shawls to ward off the coolness of the early-October air. Although the duke had barred them from walks around the neighborhood, it was still nice to escape the nursery.
The large garden at the rear of the house reminded Tessa of a park with gravel pathways that wove between beds of late-blooming roses and other plants. A few well-placed trees offered shade from the sun, and the ivy that climbed the stone fence bore the red and orange tints of autumn. She breathed deeply, enjoying the rich scents of earth and humus. To have all the beauty of nature right at one’s back door seemed a luxury beyond compare.
She was pleased to see that Sophy appreciated it, too. The girl had already discarded her shawl and was crouched down, poking in one of the flower beds. Her yellow hair ribbon had come half untied, causing a partial spill of dark hair down one small shoulder.
Even though she had not been the precise model of ladylike conduct the previous evening, fussing over her supper and balking at bedtime, at least there had been no screaming fits and she’d heeded all reminders, albeit grudgingly. Tessa thought it best to overlook the minor infractions for now. Being overly harsh would only encourage rebellion in a child who was too stubborn for her own good.
Besides, she wanted Sophy to view her as a friend, not an enemy. That required walking a fine line between ally and autocrat.
Hopefully, a bond of affection eventually would grow between them. As yet, the girl was still too guarded to display fondness toward anyone. But there had been hints of unbending. The previous night, when Tessa had read a bedtime story, Sophy had scooted close, not quite cuddling but almost.
There were also times like now when the girl’s eyes shone with delight. She held up a twig. “Look, Miss James! Is this a good decoration for a hat?”
Tessa went over to inspect the broken stick lying in the girl’s grubby palm. A squashed red berry dangled from one end. Hiding her amusement, she took a pair of scissors out of her pocket. “Yes, indeed. Holly will look very festive on your bonnet. Shall I clip a few more sprigs from the bush?”
“I wanna do it! Gimme the scissors.”
Sophy made a grab, but Tessa held the shears out of reach. “You’re not allowed, remember? It hasn’t been a full week yet since you cut those pictures out of the book without permission.” Seeing a pout darken the girl’s face, she added quickly, “Why don’t you show me which of these berries you like the best. That’s the more important job, anyway.”
Thankfully, the girl let herself be distracted. Tessa snipped the chosen stalks and arranged them in the wooden basket that she’d borrowed from one of the gardeners. Then she sent Sophy on a hunt for colorful fallen
leaves. The girl hummed to herself while rummaging beneath the trees. It was a joy to see her play for once like any happy child.
Wanting to savor the sunlight, Tessa pushed off her bonnet and let it dangle by its blue ribbons at the nape of her neck. She took the opportunity to study the rear of the mansion. The impressive stone façade had tall windows and a long, covered porch that the servants called the loggia. Her favorite part of the house was at the end closest to her and Sophy, a large circular glass room that extended out into the garden.
Nothing fascinated her more than the conservatory. A week ago, she’d have thought it a hoax if someone had told her the nobs had indoor gardens. Now she felt a burning curiosity. If only she could peek inside! From her present spot, she could see just a tantalizing glimpse of foliage brushing the many windows.
Suddenly, amid the jungle of greenery, a flash of brilliant red and yellow appeared behind one of the glass panes.
Tessa caught her breath. “Quick, Sophy, look! Can you see the pretty bird inside the conservatory? It must be one of the parrots that your papa brought back from his travels.”
Sophy scrambled up to stare in the direction Tessa was pointing. An unexpected scowl descended over the girl’s face and she let her armful of leaves flutter to the ground. “Papa won’t let me go in the ’servatory.”
Tessa’s heart wrenched. Had she known, she wouldn’t have called attention to the parrot. “I see. Well, perhaps he’s just afraid you might accidentally let one of the birds out.”
“No! It’s ’cause he hates me. He never wanted a daughter.”
Appalled, she sank down to put an arm around the girl. “Oh, I’m sure that isn’t true. He loves you very much.”
“Does not!”
Sophy squirmed free and darted away. She scooped up a stone from the gravel path and pitched it at the conservatory.
The tiny missile struck one of the windows with disastrous accuracy. The glass made a sharp, sickening noise as it splintered, leaving a hole edged by jagged pieces.
Shock rooted Tessa in place. It had happened so fast she’d had no time to react. To make matters worse, a man’s face appeared at the broken window. The duke glared out at them before vanishing from sight.
Sophy stood stock-still, her eyes like saucers and her face ashen. She appeared terrified by her own reckless act. With a choked cry, she made a mad dash for the back door, no doubt to find someplace to hide.
“Sophy!” Tessa called, starting after her.
As the girl reached the broad steps to the loggia, her father came outside. He’d discarded his coat and his shirtsleeves were rolled to his elbows. His irate look could have curdled cream.
Sophy halted in her tracks. She stood there looking wildly around. Then she scurried back to Tessa and took refuge behind her skirts. “I-I didn’t mean to do it. Please, Miss James, tell him I didn’t!”
Tessa felt the trembling of that small body against her, the hands that clutched the fabric at the back of her waist. Without turning, she reached back to give a soothing rub to Sophy’s arm. For the moment, the girl’s fear outweighed any well-deserved reprimand.
Carlin stalked down the steps and approached the two of them, where they stood beneath the orange and gold leaves of a beech tree. “What’s going on here, Miss James? Is stone throwing one of the skills you’re teaching my daughter?”
Tessa stiffened as his sarcasm cured her of any inclination to wilt. “Of course not, Your Grace. It was an accident.”
“Stones don’t strike windows by mistake.”
“You’re right, of course. But young children sometimes act without thinking—especially when they’re angry at their father.”
Tessa’s heart lurched. The tart words had emerged of their own volition. She’d meant to drop a hint about his neglect, not a bombshell.
His dark brows clashed in a startled frown. He glanced down at Sophy, then back at Tessa. He had to be irked to be addressed so impudently by a servant, especially one who was charged with keeping his daughter out of trouble—and who had failed miserably at that duty. Yet she couldn’t regret having spoken out in the girl’s defense.
She bent down to pry Sophy’s fingers loose from their death grip on her skirt. “I need a word with your papa, dearie. Go gather the leaves you dropped and put them in the basket. Then wait for me on the steps.”
Sophy kept a wary eye on her father as she sidled down the path. Tessa noticed Carlin observing the girl, too. In those few moments, his ire seemed to subside as his expression took on a hint of worried uncertainty. She hoped that meant he would listen to her.
She clasped her hands tightly at her waist. “I’m very sorry for what happened, Your Grace. It was my fault for not keeping a closer eye on Sophy. You may deduct the cost of the repair from my wages.” Lud, it would make a crippling dent in her savings, but that would be better than being dismissed.
“Devil take the expense. What do you mean, she’s angry at me?”
“I pointed at a parrot in the window, thinking she’d be delighted at the sight. Instead she became very upset, saying you wouldn’t allow her in the conservatory.”
“Only because she might leave the door open and let the birds escape. They’d never survive in this cold climate.”
“Did you explain that to her? For that matter, have you ever taken her into the conservatory to show her the birds?”
Carlin shook his head. “In case you haven’t noticed, Sophy doesn’t care much for my company.”
“She scarcely knows you. And how will that ever change if you don’t spend any time with her?”
“That’s why I hired you, Miss James. To correct her wild behavior, train her properly, and transform her into a normal child who will regard me more favorably.”
His deep voice held a note of frustration as he again looked at the girl, who was stuffing leaves into the basket. He ran his fingers through his hair, mussing the dark strands. As he did so, the flex of muscles in his bare forearm drew Tessa’s interest. His lack of coat and cravat suggested he’d been doing some sort of work inside the conservatory.
The open collar of his linen shirt offered a glimpse of his broad chest, revealing skin tanned from his voyage around the world. A ripple of awareness heated her insides. She’d once read a penny novel about pirates on the high seas. Now her wayward imagination conjured the beguiling vision of him as a buccaneer standing at the prow of a ship, the wind whipping his hair and the salty spray dampening his shirt so that it clung to his sculpted torso.
“What, no cheeky retort?”
His question startled her. She lifted her gaze to see the duke regarding her with a slight, knowing smile. The heat of a blush crept up her neck. Lud, he had caught her ogling him like a common tart when she ought to be using this opportunity to repair his relationship with Sophy.
Wrapping the shawl tightly around her shoulders, Tessa refocused her mind. The duke needed to realize that he was going about matters all wrong. “There’s something you should know, Your Grace. May I speak plainly, without mincing words?”
He stepped closer and braced his hand on the smooth tree trunk, crowding her almost like an embrace. “Please do.”
The warm intensity of his stare rattled her as did his nearness. Being a nobleman, he’d read a sordid meaning into her question. She hastened to correct his mistaken notion. “It’s about Lady Sophy. After she told me that you had refused to allow her in the conservatory, her exact words were, He hates me. He never wanted a daughter.”
The duke jerked as if she’d slapped him. All levity vanishing from his hard features, he dropped his arm. “What? Are you certain of that?”
“Perfectly. And I would venture to say, it doesn’t sound like something a child would make up on her own. Could she have heard it from someone else?”
Carlin stared into the distance. “It must have been Mooney. Blast that bitter old woman for planting such a false notion in Sophy’s head.”
The glimpse of pain in him softened Tessa
, and she wanted to help him. “All lords wish to have an heir, don’t they? Perhaps that’s what your daughter overheard and misinterpreted.”
“Don’t make excuses. By God, I should have hired a new nursemaid myself before I left England.” He struck his fist into his palm. “It was damn foolish of me to leave the matter to the Norwoods.”
Tessa hastened to place her hand over his to forestall another outburst. “Please, you mustn’t do that.” The warmth of his flesh seared her, and she drew back at once. “Sophy will think you’re still angry with her.”
The little girl was indeed watching them. Hugging her knees, she sat huddled on the steps, the basket beside her. Even from a distance, she looked subdued and scared. Breaking a window was likely the worst offense she’d ever committed.
“I ought to be angry,” Carlin growled, though without the earlier fire. “She threw that stone on purpose.”
“Only because she feels unwanted by her own father. I’m not denying that she deserves punishment, or that she must learn to control her impulses. However, remember that she doesn’t know you. You’ve been gone for most of her life. To her, you’re a tall, fierce stranger who resents her very existence.”
Worriedly watching his daughter, the duke released a long breath. He returned his gaze to Tessa, his eyes candid and full of remorse. “I admit to being at my wit’s end, Miss James. I don’t know how to remedy the situation. I can only hope you’ve a plan tucked up your sleeve.”
“I do, but please don’t expect too much at first. It will take time and patience for her to warm up to you. Think of her as a feral kitten, hissing and spitting until she learns to trust you.”
“A kitten.”
“Yes,” Tessa said firmly, praying he’d heed her. “As a first step, now would be an excellent time to give Sophy a tour of the conservatory.”
Chapter 6
As Guy followed Miss James toward the house, he had his doubts about the advisability of her method. It seemed too much like a reward to Sophy for lobbing a stone at that window. Whenever he’d committed mischief as a boy, he’d earned the sting of his grandfather’s cane. Though that was far too harsh a penalty for a four-year-old girl, Guy wasn’t entirely convinced that showing her the conservatory was the proper course of action, either.