The Redemption of Lady Georgiana

by Lisa M. Prysock

  Chapter 6. The Earl

  Georgiana felt much better after a hot bath, a cup of chamomile tea and a long afternoon nap. For the first time in months, she’d actually slept well and undisturbed. She awoke refreshed and the dark circles under her eyes were diminished. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement and renewed hope. She was anxious to meet her three charges and the Earl, explore the mansion and perhaps have time for a stroll in the garden with her mother-in-law. She also hoped to find a book to read if she could locate the library. Surveying the dresses the ladies’ maid had hung in the wardrobe, she selected an evening gown she hoped would be appropriate for dinner: a white muslin gown with a blue silk sash at the empire waist.

  She dressed quickly and twisted her hair into a loose bun. Pleased that she was able to work her hair into a lovely chignon, she secured it with sapphire and diamond combs and pins at the base of her neck which had been a gift from Benjamin. She had offered to sell them to contribute to their survival in the Alps but Lady Margaret would hear none of it. She had stared at the combs, remembering their first Christmas together and how surprised she had been to find them so lovingly wrapped in a lovely cedar box placed in her hands that long ago holiday morning. Oh Benjamin! How my heart misses you… One of her fingers ran the length of the ceramic tray that her comb and brush sat on, a wedding gift from her beloved. She drew her breath in sharply and closed her eyes as if it would lock her memories into her heart in a safe place. She opened them again and tried to focus on the task at hand of readying herself to meet the Earl and his children. She pinched her cheeks for a little rosy color and slipped into her blue silk slippers while she applied a French, glossy cosmetic to her lips that she knew English women knew little of.

  She added two dangling pearl drop earrings to complete her look and applied the scent of a jasmine perfume to her wrists, neck and hair with her fingertips. She prayed her French accent would not bother the Earl or his children too much and promised herself she would try not to speak in half French and half English among her own people, even though she had not lived in her country of origin for more than a decade, though she had made two visits to the country. She was glad she had been careful of her only bottle of perfume and hoped they might find time to go into the village soon and perhaps purchase something. There was precious little left in the lovely glass bottle she had used sparingly since her husband’s passing.

  Where might the library be located she wondered? There might not be time to see the gardens before dinner if she postponed her walk so she thought the better of it. She decided instead it would be best to check on Lady Margaret before finding the library and slipped out into the hall and knocked on the door beside hers.

  The ladies’ maid, Molly Cuddleton, Georgiana seemed to remember, answered the door and beckoned her inside. “Come in m’lady,” Molly said with a curtsy. To Georgiana’s relief, Lady Margaret was dressed and Molly was finishing her hair. She strategically placed a few more pins with pearl tips to hold the braided coil in place and secured the base of the front and back of the coil with a several pearl edged combs.

  “Thank you Molly,” Lady Margaret said pleasantly as she admired Molly’s work. “I can’t wait to see all of the beautiful hairstyles you can create.”

  “Ye are most welcome, ma’am,” Molly said in a Welsh accent, grinning shyly as she turned to lay a nightgown out on the bed for Lady Margaret. “I was just comin’ to see to yer hair Lady Georgiana, but I see ye have a fine chignon. I promise to try to attend both of ye more efficiently in the future so ye won’t have tuh wait so long…”

  Molly looked apprehensively from Lady Margaret to Lady Georgiana. “Have no fear,” Lady Georgiana said at once to set the maid at ease. “We aren’t terribly fussy and I don’t mind doing my own hair from time to time.”

  The maid looked relieved. She surely didn’t want the Earl to be upset with her efficiency. She wasn’t sure how she was going to manage doing hair for both of the Earl’s daughters and the Coltons. She would have to start much earlier in the mornings and evenings. She curtsied again to Lady Georgiana and hoped she would soon prove her capabilities to both of the ladies before her. She busied herself flitting about the open wardrobe and fussing with the garments that now hung neatly inside.

  “I thought you might like to take a quick stroll through the garden before dinner,” Georgiana said to her mother-in-law. “We’ve been cooped up in that coach for too long!”

  “Indeed! I would be delighted! I just need to find my shawl.” Lady Margaret stood up, grasping her cane, and to her amazement, Molly Cuddleton was holding the perfect gray linen and white silk trimmed shawl to match her cobalt blue silk dinner gown. The cobalt blue dress shimmered in the evening light with her every move making it a fine choice for her first dinner with the Earl. It featured a scoop neckline edged in white lace and an empire waist that flattered any figure. The short puffy sleeves edged in long ruffled white lace at just elbow length made the dress perfect for summer weather conditions. “Yes, this shawl would have been my choice! It goes so well with this gown. However did you know which one I would have chosen? What a clever and helpful girl you are!”

  “Well, ‘tis a suitable match for yer dress, m’lady. The gray subdues and tones down the cobalt blue jus’ the right amount, if’n ye ask me,” the maid said with a sweet little laugh. Lady Georgiana and Lady Margaret were soon chuckling in amazement at the clever girl.

  “I see you must keep up with the latest in fashions. You are amazing Molly! I haven’t been attended to this well in ages…” Lady Margaret accepted the shawl as she bestowed a pleased smile upon the helpful girl. They made their way out to the hall, leaving Molly feeling happy to have served the guests of the Earl in a somewhat efficient manner. They went down the staircase unnoticed in their slippered feet and followed the foyer through the center hall of the house leading to the rear garden. This led to a set of French doors like those in the upstairs bedroom. The doors opened onto a stone porch that highlighted a path to the garden with two sculptured angels flanking the brick walkway.

  “It’s like walking into the Garden of Eden,” Georgiana whispered as they linked arms to help each other meander through the inviting garden.

  This made Lady Margaret laugh to think of it. She was already in fine humor because of the increased comfort level of their surroundings. She also had slept better than she had in months. Her hands trembled this evening from excitement and happiness rather than feelings of fear and sorrow. “It’s wonderful here, ma petite fille, n’est ce pas?” ¹

  “C’est belle et magnifique! ² The Lord hath shown us mercy to bring us safely here among this household. I feel such great peace and exuberant joy returning to my soul!” Georgiana knew of no other way to describe what she was feeling than in part French and part English. She felt alive again somehow… everything Lady Margaret had told her of Jesus really was true. Though she sometimes fought through doubts, He seemed to be proving Himself to her again and again.

  “I’m so glad you are happy to be here,” Lady Margaret replied, a look of peace and contentment settling on her face as they strolled slowly, taking plenty of time to admire the many roses in the Earl’s collection.

  Lady Georgiana looked at the lovely sunset in the distance. “The truth is, all of this is very nice, very sweet; but I would be happy near you, ma mère,³ wherever you wanted to be. I would have stayed in France with you at Lake Annecy if you so desired. It might have taken us a little longer to heal, but I would have stayed if you had chosen to stay, even though it was a little hard and there were fewer comforts and conveniences, shall we say? I am not going to abandon you in your hour of need. You have shown me the God of Abraham and how He sent His precious Son to us. I shall follow Him with you. He shall be my God because He has been yours and I see how He is with us even in the times of trouble. Apparently, He has not forgotten us. Our situation is considerably improved.”

>   “He certainly has not forgotten us,” came the reply of a confident Lady Margaret. She was confident in her God. The God of Israel had never let her down before and she was feeling a display of His great love now more than ever.

  ¹ma petite fille, n’est ce pas? = my little daughter, isn’t it?

  ²C’est belle et magnifique = it’s beautiful and magnificent

  ³ma mère = my mother

  The Earl’s coach, pulled by four of his best horses, came to a halt in front of Wellbrook Hall. A footman opened the door and pulled out the steps for his Master.

  Once inside, the butler took his hat and walking stick at the door. “Welcome home, my Lord.”

  The Earl said, “Good evening Bradley. Where is everyone? I’m used to being attacked by three monsters at the door…” He raked a hand through his dark hair and looked relieved to be able to catch his breath before the children caught him. Though a little disheveled, he was well in command of his thoughts as he sifted through a tray of missives and envelopes, comfortable in the hall of his own estate in spite of a rather distracted and apprehensive look on his face.

  “I think Molly took the children upstairs just a few moments ago,” Bradley said as he placed his master’s hat and walking stick in their place by the door behind the recessed curtain to the cloak room.

  “Very good. Are our guests installed comfortably into their rooms?” The Earl inquired immediately after the well-being of his guests and distant relations without taking his eyes off of one of the notes in his hand, still holding his portfolio under one arm. He was anxious to meet his relations and hoped his attire would be suitable for dinner and that his delay hadn’t caused any mishaps. He had no time to change, but perhaps a moment in the study for quiet reflection.

  “Yes indeed. I believe they are rested and now exploring the garden to the rear of the house,” Bradley replied.

  “Ah, yes, thank you,” he said approvingly. “A fine place to become acquainted with Wellbrook Hall. Have they toured the conservatory yet?”

  “I agree, my Lord, ‘tis a fine place to discover all that Wellbrook Hall offers, and no, I don’t believe they have yet had the pleasure of the conservatory.” The butler said proudly as they peered down the Hall toward the French doors, as if their guests might come bursting in at any moment. “I believe everyone else is dressing for dinner at this time. I was told by Mrs. Foster to inform you that the meal will be served promptly at seven, the usual time.”

  “Thank you, I will be in the library at my desk if anyone needs me. I would appreciate a few moments undisturbed though to look through today’s letters.” The Earl looked most relieved for the update that all things seemed to be going according to plan. He bounded up the staircase taking two steps at a time and headed for the library, which also had a fine view of the garden.

  He managed to make his way into the library without being noticed and allowed his portfolio to land upon his desk, strewn with a number of papers and letters, all demanding his attention. He added today’s new letters to the growing stack. He decided he would attend to those matters another day or perhaps later in the evening after dinner. It had been a difficult day already and he was of a mind to enjoy the evening ahead in order to be refreshed for the morrow. Turning away from the papers on his desk, he strolled quickly to the row of windows along the far wall and the French doors leading out to the balcony above the rear portico. He didn’t want to appear to be staring at his guests but he was curious as to how they looked. It had been years since he’d seen the mother of his distant cousins.

  And he was curious on another matter. How would this Lady Georgiana fit into his family? Was she going to be a satisfactory governess for his children? Where were his children at this hour anyhow? He was seldom able to slip into his library unnoticed. Perhaps they were taking a little extra time to dress more carefully in preparation for meeting the new governess.

  When he glanced out the window for a glimpse of his guests, he could hardly believe his eyes. His mouth dropped open. There, in the middle of his garden, was about as lovely an angel as he’d ever laid eyes on. A beautiful dark haired young woman in a white gown strolled alongside the mother of his distant and now, sadly deceased, cousins. She seemed to be smiling and laughing with her mother-in-law and tenderly listening to everything Lady Colton had to say. Her skin and hair seemed to glimmer in the rays of the sunset. A few of her thick, wavy curls had fallen loose from her chignon. My, was she a beauty! Perhaps far too beautiful to be a governess... wasn’t it some unspoken rule that governesses weren’t supposed to be beautiful? Well, indeed, if there was such a hard and fast rule, he had broken it unknowingly.

  Lady Juliana might feel threatened that such a beautiful governess now lived under his roof. He shook Juliana from his mind. He would have to deal with her reactions later. He’d had no way of knowing and if he had, it wouldn’t have changed his actions to invite the Coltons to Bridesgate Park.

  As he contemplated the way in which Lady Juliana might react to the presence of his new governess, he couldn’t seem to remove his eyes from the window. For what seemed like eternity but was merely a few minutes, he silently observed this lovely creature explore his garden with her mother-in-law. Everything delighted her! She looked at the petals of nearly every rose twice it seemed. She admired the colors and took in the scents of everything. She seemed to be as delicate as the flowers she surveyed. Apparently she loved the hydrangea and couldn’t pull herself away from those easily. “Look at these, ma mère! C’est très belle ici dans le jardin¹… look at these roses. Aren’t they lovely? ”

  She was speaking in French and seemed to have full command of the language. Selina, his eldest, who struggled so with her French lessons would benefit greatly from this governess and her comfortable and easy way with the words. Why, yes, he was sure she was speaking in French. He could distantly hear her speaking through the glass he was looking out of from the second floor of Wellbrook Hall. She spoke in a sweet voice with a look on her face that clearly said she was enamored with all that surrounded her. She had a lovely accent, and yet spoke perfect English. Well, she was English born and titled, nonetheless. He could not fault her for speaking such beautiful French and having such a lovely accent. Somehow, it made her seem more beautiful.

  Now they were exploring the rhododendron, lilies, bachelor buttons, asters, sweet pea and foxglove. She seemed drawn to all of his favorites too he noticed. Eventually, she led her mother to an iron scrolled bench with a view of the pond in the middle of the garden. She made sure her mother was situated comfortably first and then she sat next to her. From the bench they admired the sculpture of Mary holding the baby Jesus. The Earl realized that they probably felt comfortable there as so many of the French were Catholics and the sculpture was a fine representation of the Catholic faith, even though he wasn’t Catholic and he knew they weren’t either. It was simply the beauty of the sculpture, the pond and the message of faith they admired, and that it was a reminder of a scene they had probably seen a number of times near their home in France.

  He wondered about the French chateau and what kind of a peaceful life they must have lived in the countryside around Lac d’Annecy. The Viscount, Lord Colton, had described it once to him in a letter and later, Margaret, Lady Colton, had as well. In fact, he thought one of his cousins might have also. Had it been a letter from Benjamin or Samuel perhaps? His hands that were clasped behind his back as he thought of the loss of his cousins tightened in anger. Flashes of memories with

  ¹ma mère! C’est très belle ici dans le jardin = my mother! It’s very beautiful here in the garden

  them passed through his mind. It must have be painful for the Ladies Colton to leave the chateau and to have suffered so much loss. Lady Margaret was using a cane now he noticed. She seemed years older than when he’d last seen her.

  He shook himself away from the window and his curious thoughts about his
relations and back to the reality at hand. It had been a long day of tending to various matters concerning the acquisition of a new property, a very long meeting with the overseer and then attending another meeting with two tenants to resolve a squabble. Satisfied that he had done all he could to properly handle business matters for the day, he turned his attention toward the evening, glad that another day had passed with relatively normal agricultural matters to consume his time. Things could be far worse. He was in fact, thankful that the Almighty had seen fit to grant him with such a good and prosperous estate, a good station in life and three healthy children. It was nearly time for dinner. He must greet his guests, gather his children... and maybe at least choose a different cravat and dinner jacket.

  “Good evening Ladies Colton,” the butler said as his head bowed slightly, appearing before them in the garden. “The Earl has returned and has instructed me to invite you to meet with him in the first floor sitting room at your soonest convenience. I believe the children will also be joining you there for introductions just prior to dinner.” Bradley waited for a response.

  “Thank you! We are indeed looking forward to meeting the children and seeing the Earl again! It’s been so many years…Thank you, uh, it is Bradley, am I correct?” Lady Margaret inquired while fanning herself from her perch on the bench beside her daughter-in-law.

  “Yes, ma’am, Bradley is correct,” he answered, delighted that Lady Margaret had remembered his name. “Is there anything I can assist you with then before I tend to other matters?”

  “Yes, if you would be so kind as to tell the Earl on our behalf that we are most delighted to accept his invitation and shall join him directly, we would be most appreciative, Bradley.” Lady Margaret’s eyes hadn’t sparkled so radiantly since the passing of her husband.

  Lady Georgiana observed that her mother-in-law was once again in her element to display her fine etiquette and the gracious manners with which she had been born and bred to use within the confines of polite society, even if for the butler. The peerage had never really mattered to Lady Margaret. She sat back with a slightly amused look upon her face, content to watch the exchange between them.

  Bradley seemed pleased and was in truth, secretly relieved that he was in the presence of gracious guests who would be a pleasure to serve. He was thinking how nice it had been that he had been able to genuinely respond to the Earl’s guests and new members of the household before he left the Ladies Colton in the garden to accomplish the mission before him. Though they would be considered chaperone and governess, the Earl had given strict instructions that they were not to be treated as the hired help. He was distinctly aware that these ladies were relations of the Earl, even if they were in some sort of predicament of dire straits. The children needed a governess after all and extra chaperones could not possibly hurt. In fact, from everything he had observed, these were gracious guests. None of it was any of his business in any case but somehow, they made him feel respected, appreciated and needed. It wasn’t every guest of the Earl’s that accomplished the same. “I would be happy to convey your message, my Lady.” His head bowed from the neck and at her smile of approval he turned to make his way back through the garden.

  “Where is my…?” Lady Margaret folded her fan and it dropped to hang from the thin braided strap at her wrist as she looked around absently before standing up from her seat as the butler returned to the house.

  “Voici, ma mère,” ¹ Georgiana placed Lady Margaret’s walking cane in her hand, thankful they had remembered to bring it along to the garden. The journey had indeed made her mother-in-law a little weak. A few more weeks of excellent rest, regular and hearty meals and the peace of mind their new environment had brought would soon have her as good as new.

  “Oh thank you, dear. What would I do without you?” Lady Margaret grasped the cane and pushing down on it with all her might, she stood up to her feet.

  “You’re probably a bit weak from the journey. We’ll take it slow,” Lady Georgiana replied as they set off in the direction of the French doors leading back inside the manor.

  Soon they were comfortably seated before the Earl in the sitting room. It was a great relief for all of them to finally meet. For Lady Margaret, it was bittersweet to meet once again the cousin and sometimes childhood playmate of her sons. For Lady Georgiana, it was altogether interesting to behold a handsome man with kind eyes. He looked to be a strong man with a broad chest and above average stature, a gentleman in his early thirties she surmised, with a commanding and confident presence. She couldn’t help but notice that he was a man of impeccable taste in dress as well. His clothes were tailored to fit

  ¹Voici, ma mère = Here it is, my mother

  perfectly, complementing well the simple but elegant furnishings of his gracious manners and home. There was a trace of arrogance in his mannerisms but somehow, he seemed the more handsome because of it.

  For the Earl, it was refreshing to meet a familiar face from days gone by in Lady Colton, whose outstretched arms made him feel as though he was embracing his own mother. At the same time, he found it altogether exciting to meet the sweet angel face he’d beheld in the garden from the library windows, the younger Lady Colton. He could not help but linger ever so slightly as his lips brushed her extended hand. An English rose with a French accent…

  He was almost flustered trying to remember everything he could in his mind concerning the proper etiquette for greeting a governess. He was fairly certain he should not have bowed to kiss her hand but for a woman of her beauty and station in life, though devoid of personal fortune to his knowledge, anything less would have seemed somehow completely wrong. She was after all, the daughter of a former ambassador of England. He knew this much from his correspondence with the Coltons over the years.

  “Georgiana, I would like you to meet the Earl of Bridesgate, Lord Nathaniel Brook Edwards, the Third,” Lady Margaret had said when they’d entered the sitting room as he stood up taller and met Lady Georgiana’s eyes, still holding her outstretched hand. He realized his error and let it go. To his relief, Lady Georgiana let nothing pass in her eyes or features that said she was offended. Fortunately she remembered that she should curtsey and did so, as did her mother-in-law. Then they had been able to sit down but the Earl had seemed a little restless.

  “Welcome to Bridesgate,” he said, recovering quickly. “Our families are old friends and we have deeply intertwined roots.” As he spoke he took a few steps towards the fireplace and leaned there to observe the newest members of his household from a safe distance. He tried to appear composed but his pulse seemed more rapid than usual and hadn’t recalled a time when he’d been so nervous meeting a woman before. There was something distinctly different about this governess. He could hear his voice but he wasn’t really sure if what he said made any sense. “Call me Nathan. I seem to remember your mother -in-law tiptoeing around a vast army of toy soldiers her sons and I left scattered around the halls on a number of occasions.”

  “Oh yes and those toy ships to navigate on the staircase…” Lady Margaret laughed from her place on the small sofa beside her daughter-in-law, recalling the joys of days gone by. She didn’t have to think too hard to remember her sons playing many childhood games with the Earl when they were young boys.

  “Tents in the drawing room…” he added, chuckling now a little and beginning to relax in their presence. “How ever did we get away with that?”

  “How could I forget?” Lady Margaret clutched more tightly the miniature Bible in the pocket lost in the folds of her dress. She yearned for those days again to look in the eyes of her sons and hold them close and tell them how much she loved them. Had she chastised them too much in their short lives? Her hands trembled.

  “I’m looking forward to having you both here and settled comfortably. Since Napoleon’s acquisition of Holland and Austria, it seems further war is inevitable. Lord Colton and his sons would be pleased t
o know you are on British soil now.”

  The Ladies Colton nodded. Before either could answer, he remembered his manners and immediately prevented the conversation from turning to politics and war by changing the subject effectively. “Are your rooms to your liking?”

  “They are absolutely lovely, Nathan,” Lady Margaret answered, grasping the handle of her cane and twirling it on the floor unobtrusively, “Beautifully decorated and very comfortable. I could not be any more pleased.”

  “Oh yes,” Georgiana contributed, “Truly beautiful! We are glad to be out of the coach and well rested.” She couldn’t imagine herself addressing this benefactor as Nathan. She’d only just met him and it seemed completely inappropriate, though natural to her mother. She tried to keep her hands clasped on her knee but she felt a little unnerved. First of all, he was her new employer. Secondly, he had that rakish dark hair and such a charming smile, she was floored. Was he smiling and staring at her? He seemed to be studying her every move. Was she blushing beneath his scrutiny? How should she address him? Lord Edwards, perhaps, or simply, my Lord? She tried to remember everything she knew of English etiquette when addressing those of the peerage. Though he was inviting her to address him as Nathan, she didn’t want him to keep granting her so many favors. He had already done so much for them by transporting them safely out of France and now, absorbing them into his household.

  “Excellent. If you need anything at all, simply let Briggs or Bradley know. They are most efficient and superbly loyal.” He continued, taking the conversation a different direction, his nerves finally settling down. “Lady Georgiana, why don’t we meet tomorrow morning after breakfast in the library and discuss your duties after you’ve had a good night’s rest?”

  “Certainly, my Lord,” she agreed.

  “Good, then that is settled. You should be properly introduced to the children shortly,” he said, glancing at the clock on the mantle. “I’d like you both to know more than I might tell an ordinary guest since you’ll be permanent members of our household. You should know that Selina hurts the most and holds everything in. She remembers her mother the most. Edmund, he is still angry sometimes about the loss of his mother and he isn’t sure what to do with what he’s feeling. He can be a handful. Madalene, well she has no memory of her mother and for her-- that is what hurts the most.”

  Lady Margaret nodded with compassion and let out a sigh of understanding.

  “It must be very hard,” Georgiana said softly.

  He nodded and took a seat in the armchair beside the fireplace. “For the most part, they’ve gotten on quite well but they do need help in a few areas. We’re making progress, but it’s slow.”

  The double doors to the sitting room were opened by Bradley and the Earl’s children entered which brought their conversation about them to an abrupt end. Madalene entered a little sheepishly at first, the youngest leading the elder. She broke from her small ladylike steps into a little skip to her father’s side, smiling broadly from beneath a head of golden curls. “There you are Papa! I’ve been looking everywhere for you! We didn’t get to see you at breakfast today.” Her lower lip protruded into a slight pout.

  She skipped ahead of the other two and quickly found a place to stand beside her father’s chair and clasped her small hand in his larger one.

  Edmund and Selina followed with a more reserved look as they fell into place beside their sister. Edmund, the tallest, looked obstinate, proud, somewhat mischievous and endearing all at the same time; his head tilted a certain way and more golden wavy locks like those of his younger sister framed his head. Edmund did manage to nod politely in their direction.

  Selina, the eldest, coolly and calmly observed the Ladies Colton from where she stood behind her father, brother and sister, her chin tilted up and to one side. Her eyes looked hard and a bit cold. She had a reserved and proud manner that made Georgiana wonder if it was because she was well bred or because she was putting on childish airs by acting aloof. She had dark hair like her father and it was parted in the middle, combed smooth into a knot above the nape of her neck with three spiral curls dangling about each side of her head. Georgiana remembered what the Earl had said about how she was holding in her hurts and decided to do all she could to be kind to this eldest one, especially.

  “Well, here they are!” the Earl announced cheerfully. “Allow me to introduce you to Lady Madalene, Lord Edmund and Lady Selina. Children, Lady Georgiana Colton will be your new governess. Lady Margaret Colton will be acting as a chaperone and companion when needed --and Lady Georgiana will act as a chaperone and companion when needed, as well. I expect you to welcome them and make them feel at home in every possible way, at all times.”

  The girls curtsied and Edmund’s head bobbed a nod of acknowledgement. “We’re very pleased to meet you,” Madalene, the youngest, said sweetly on behalf of the three.

  “And we are very pleased to meet you,” Lady Georgiana replied with her warmest smile. The older two muttered something polite but barely audible while looking at their feet. Madalene smiled back trying not to appear too eager with her smile. Georgiana’s heart went out to them at once.

  Lady Margaret added, “I’m certain we shall have many enjoyable days together. You may address Georgiana as Lady Georgiana and myself as Lady Margaret, for if you call either of us Lady Colton, we shall both answer at the same time.”

  “Father, it is nearly summer! We shan’t have a full day of lessons all summer, shall we?” Selina looked positively dismayed and Edmund glumly awaited his father’s response. Madalene, beaming, simply looked happy to have someone new in the house to know and love.

  “You’ll have most of each day almost until harvest to spend as you like,” the Earl said. He was more firm with them when he added, “You will have a few short lessons each day this summer but Lady Georgiana and I will work out those details tomorrow. For now, you need to know there is no need to worry. You shall have plenty of time to explore the grounds and play.”

  The double doors opened again and Bradley entered. “Dinner is served, my Lord.” This saved everyone from further distress concerning the arrival of a governess for the time being. Lady Margaret, Georgiana and Nathaniel exchanged amused looks of relief. Bradley’s appearance could not have been timelier judging by where the conversation was headed. Georgiana felt she had her work cut out for her. She would somehow have to find a way to not extract too much from the children during the weeks ahead and yet comply with the Earl’s wishes for learning to continue.

  …and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance… I Samuel 25:3, Authorized King James Version