And that had been that. He had never raised the matter again. Still, he could not help but worry endlessly about Nancy.
“Father!” he looked up to see her staring in surprise at him, “I didn’t expect you back so soon.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Soon? I believe I have been gone for quite a while. Have you not missed me at all?” he turned his mouth down theatrically.
Nancy almost smiled.
“The governess you retained has kept us rather busy. We haven’t had time to miss you.”
Duncan smiled. “I can’t tell if you’re being missish or not. Is that not the job of a governess?”
Nancy simply harrumphed and looked away.
“Lord Sulby!” a more breathless voice said from behind him and he turned to find Miss Fletcher looking considerably happier to see him than his daughter did. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“Yes, apparently it’s my day for surprising everyone. How are you Miss Fletcher?”
She smiled, revealing twin dimples in her cheeks. He stared at them in fascination. “I am well, Lord Sulby.”
The birds sang a concerto as the wind whispered in the trees and they stared at each other, not a word passing between them. A sudden susurrus of sound startled Duncan into turning. His daughter stood nearby, glaring at him, a bouquet of flowers in hand.
He smiled. “Are those for me?”
Nancy merely pursed her lips. “No. They’re for the schoolroom. You remember that Mother liked to pick flowers for us, don’t you Father?” she narrowed her eyes at him.
“Indeed, I do remember that, darling. How lovely that you carry on the tradition.”
That only seemed to annoy her further and she stomped off. Duncan turned back to Miss Fletcher, eyebrows raised. “I can never say the right thing with her.”
Miss Fletcher nodded, smiling wryly. “I remember when I was that age, my Father could not tell me anything that I felt was worth hearing either.”
“Is that so? I can hardly imagine such a thing. You seem such a reasonable young lady.”
The smile dropped abruptly from her face. “Yes well…looks can be deceiving.”
Duncan frowned, wondering what he could have said to make her sad. “I’m sorry if I brought up a difficult subject. Does your Father still live?”
She looked into his eyes, seemingly surprised. “Yes…well, I hope so at least. I haven’t heard from him since…” her voice trailed off as her bottom lip trembled and her eyes glistened. Almost instinctually, he found himself moving closer to her, his hand reaching to squeeze her shoulder.
“Would you like to write to him? I can have the letter delivered.”
She looked up into his eyes, gratitude shining in her own. “Would you?”
“Of course. I want you to be happy.” He realized he was still holding her shoulder but could not bring himself to let go. She felt so bonny and fragile beneath him that he wanted to scoop her up and hold her close to his chest. He wanted to cherish her until she could not help but be happy. He did not know where these instincts were coming from.
But they scared him. He took a step back and forced himself to let her shoulder go.
“Thank you, My Lord,” she said quietly and swallowed, looking as if she was fighting not to cry. His hand lifted wanting to touch her again but then he firmly put it back down again. He nodded jerkily.
“You’re welcome.”
He began to back away and then turned and hurried off. He felt quite unsettled and resolved to go to his chambers and change his clothes.
Emily watched hungrily as the Earl walked away, wondering what she could have said to make him uncomfortable. It had been a week since she’d seen him and she’d been hoping to speak to him a little longer. She knew she was acting like a lovesick fool but she literally could not help it.
She had been hoping that her feelings were an exaggeration brought about by an excess of imagination. But apparently she was still as giddy as ever. She wiped the tears from her eyes and went back to the library to write her letter.
“Guess who is home!” she announced to the twins who were still busy at their work. They looked up at her with excited faces.
“Who?”
‘Your father.”
“Oh!” the twins ran off at once to go and greet their father. Emily watched them go with a smile on her face but it soon slid off as she remembered her own father.
“You know, my Father could never love you. You’re nothing but a governess.” Emily jumped at the sudden voice, before turning to see Lady Nancy frowning at her.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Do not act as if you don’t know what I’m saying.”
Emily sighed, turning away. She was getting quite tired of Lady Nancy picking at her but she did not want to retaliate in kind.
“I need to go see about tea for the children,” she said as she walked out of the room.
She strode as fast as she could toward the kitchen her mind churning with questions. She did not understand the underlying animosity behind Lady Nancy’s hostile behavior. There was no reason for it. Emily tried not to respond in kind, but sometimes it was hard.
She was beginning to understand why governesses did not last long in this household.
“Oh, Miss Fletcher!” Mrs. Cooke gave her a wide smile as she stepped into the kitchen. “What can I do for you today?”
“Lord Sulby is at home and the twins have gone to greet him. I thought I would take them some tea.”
Mrs. Cooke beamed. “How very thoughtful of you. Here let me make up a tray for you. Have a seat. Tell me, how has been your day?”
Emily sighed. “Well, I think we had a very productive time of it. The twins were conscientious about following their lessons and even Lady Nancy was grudgingly working. But now their father is home and Lady Nancy is hostile again.”
Mrs. Cooke made a non-committal humming sound. “Yes well…you know that Lord Sulby is their only parent so they are bound to get territorial when he is around. I suppose he has brought presents to spoil them like he usually does?”
Emily shook her head. “I did not see any.”
“I expect the footman took them up to his room already. He never forgets to bring gifts when he has not seen them for a while.”
“The Earl is a very attentive father I suppose.” Emily knew she was digging again but really she just could not help herself.
“Yes, I suppose he is more involved with his children than most. I tell you I have been in service to the gentry for nigh on thirty years now. I haven’t seen any as patient, kind, and present as Lord Sulby with their children. Why most are closer to their governess than their mother!”
Emily nodded thoughtfully. “Well, I suppose it’s hard to be close to a governess who doesn’t stay very long.”
Mrs. Cooke laughed. “That’s true. Now here’s your tray. Go on with you. Come back later and we shall have a cup of cocoa together.”
“All right, thank you.” Emily took the tray and carried it carefully to the parlor where she knew that the Earl and his children would end up. She found the three of them there already, Lady Anne and Lord Essex exclaiming with excitement over new toys. Lady Anne had a large doll, its golden mane moving about in a very life-like manner. Lord Essex had an entire toy theatre that he was even now devising new tableaus for.
Emily looked at the toys with wide eyes, never having seen such a thing in her sheltered existence. Slowly, she put the tray down on the table and then straightened up, still watching as Lady Anne made her doll clap as Lord Essex moved the characters in the toy theatre about in a miniature rendition of Mother Goose–a book Emily had just read to the twins yesterday.
She smiled with delight, clapping her hands together as she became absorbed in the drama. She even forgot that Lord Sulby was watching. Lord Essex grinned up at her before screwing up his face to make a growling sound as the ogre knocked on the door.
Emily put her hand over her mouth and squeaked with fear as he broke the door down. L
ady Anne looked up at her with a laugh, as she made her doll squeak with fear as well.
The Earl cleared his throat and she dropped her hands, mortified. “Miss Fletcher,” he said, his voice seeming very strained, “Is there a reason that…?” he quirked an eyebrow as he looked her up and down with inquiry.
“Oh! Forgive me. I brought you some tea and crumpets.” She pointed at the tray. His eyes followed her hand and his expression became wry.
“We thank you, Miss Fletcher.” He said in a way that was obviously a dismissal.
“Shall I pour?” she asked quickly, bending down to the task before he had a chance to answer. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Why must you act like such a country bumpkin?
She set out their tea cups and crumpets and then made to step back.
“Won’t you eat with us, Miss Fletcher?” Lady Anne asked.
Emily’s eyes went to the Earl’s. He did not look as if he wanted her there, but he also did not want to disappoint his child. She waited patiently to see what he would say.
“Please, Miss Fletcher. Join us.” He pointed to the armchair opposite him and she took it quickly, glad for the chance to study him without looking as if she was spying.
“Thank you very much.”
She poured herself a cup and smiled at Lady Anne. “That is a very pretty doll, Lady Anne. What shall you call her?”
Lady Anne looked at the doll, “I shall call her Jane.” She said solemnly and then turned to look at Emily, “That was my mother’s name.”
Emily immediately put her cup down, eyes softening with sympathy. “That is a wonderful name. I’m sure your Mother is very happy that you remember her in such a way.”
Lady Anne sighed. “No I don’t think so. She can’t see me anymore. She went off to heaven.”
“Oh, well, my mother is in heaven too and–”
“She is?” Lord Essex interrupted, watching her with wide-eyed wonder.
“Yes, she is. But I know she still watches over me.”
“How?” Lady Anne wanted to know.
“Well, sometimes when I am really sad, I talk to her. And somehow, something happens to make me feel better.”
They both regarded her with twin skeptical glances. “Really?” Lord Essex said doubtfully.
“Really. Like for example, the other day I was miserable because I had no prospects and no money but then the agency got me this wonderful job and now I am here with you. Don’t you think my Mother had something to do with that?”
Lady Anne and Lord Essex exchanged dubious glances before turning back to her. “But…wasn’t it the agency that sent you here?”
Emily smiled, amused at their literal minds. “Yes, of course. But since it was just at the nick of time, I think my Mother had something to do with it.”
The twins didn’t seem convinced but they kept quiet and ate their crumpets like the genteel paragons they were brought up to be. The Earl cleared his throat.
“You had no prospects? The agency told me you had good references.”
Emily felt her heart sink.
Did I just give myself away?
Chapter 10
Duncan watched Miss Fletcher’s face pale and did not know what to think. She was simultaneously the most childlike, innocent, yet secretive woman he had ever met. One moment, she was looking at him with wide admiring eyes, her affection for his children on display, the next, her eyes were shuttered and she was avoiding his eyes.
He made a note to inquire further into her references. He had not bothered when the agency recommended her due to his desperation. But now, he needed to know everything about her, who she was, and why she was here.
He could see the impact she was having on his children. He was unable to stop thinking about her himself. If he was honest, one of the reasons he’d been avoiding his own home for the last week, was so as not to run into her.
He’d had enough scandal in his life with Jane. The opium eating had not gone unnoticed among the ton. Neither had the affair. He’d felt like a laughing stock for a long time. If he had not made it a point to avoid the social rounds as much as he could he did not know if he would have survived.
His children would be forced to contend with everything once they were out, but he was hoping that by then, the ton would have moved on to something more recent and scintillating. He was not about to give them more fodder by falling in love with a governess, no matter how delightful her smile.
He left the house early the next day, partly in an effort to avoid Miss Fletcher. He did have some business to take care of at Westminster, a bill that a peer was trying to sponsor and wanted his input on. Before that however, he was to meet with his particular friend, Cecil Dowding, the Marquess of Holburn who was looking to sell his property at Dordogne and was willing to give Duncan first refusal.
Duncan thought that the Gascony countryside might make an excellent holiday home for his children and he had his eye on the Chateau Cedre for a while. His friend had taken Duncan and his family up there to rest and recuperate following Jane’s death.
The peaceful surroundings removed from the scene of the crime had done them all a world of good. The twins enjoyed the extensive grounds where they could run wild, unhindered while Nancy had ensconced herself in the library, devouring the many books on offer. Duncan himself had enjoyed the wide selection of wines on offer.
It was idyllic.
As much as he did not want it to, his mind insisted on placing the governess at the chateau, perhaps enjoying a glass of wine with him, or running with the children in the gardens, maybe recommending a book to Nancy, or reading aloud to them all after dinner. In his mind’s eyes, she fit quite seamlessly into the fabric of their family and it scared him quite badly.
“What’s on your mind, old boy? You’re clearly not paying attention to a word I’m saying,” Holburn asked him.
He jerked, startled out of his daydreams. “What? No, I am paying attention.”
“Is that so? What did I just say then?”
Duncan cleared his throat, embarrassed to be put on the spot in such a manner. “I might have drifted in the last few minutes…” he admitted reluctantly.
Holburn laughed. “Is it Lady Nancy? Is she giving you the megrims again?”
Duncan sighed heavily. “My child is a force unto herself…but no. She is not the source of my stress today.”
Holburn leaned in with interest. “Who is then, my friend? Do tell.”
Duncan looked away. “Forgive me, but I do not wish to discuss it at the moment.”
Holburn cocked an eyebrow but said nothing more.
That is why we are friends. Holburn always knows when not to push.
“All right, can we finalize the details for the chateau then? Will you be taking a mortgage on it?”
Duncan exhaled loudly, “I shall let my man of business deal with those details. Just give me the papers so I can pass them to my solicitor and I’m sure we shall have everything finalized by week’s end.”
Holburn nodded. “Very well.” He handed over the binder filled with all the legal documents that Duncan needed. He smiled in gratitude, putting it away and they turned to more pleasant matters such as the quality of the beefsteak at the society these days and whether Holburn would be attending the Royal Ascot.
“Of course I shall go. Do I ever miss the event?”
Duncan laughed, shaking his head. “You are incorrigible old boy. You should find yourself a nice debutante to make a respectable man out of you.”
Holburn grinned. “One day perhaps, but please God not yet.”
“I’m surprised the debutante mothers are not nipping at your heels.”
Holburn raised an eyebrow. “Who says they’re not? You’re lucky you don’t go anywhere near the season; they’d be nipping at your heels too.”
Duncan snorted derisively, waving a hand. “I’m done with all that.”
“I doubt they know that. If you show your face, then be prepared to be mobb
ed.”
Duncan shuddered theatrically. “Lord save me from determined mothers with marriageable daughters.”
Holburn suddenly gave him a serious look. “I do understand why you would not want to marry again. But what about a mistress? You cannot surely mean to go the rest of your life without the soft warmth of a woman’s companionship? That would truly be tragic.”
Duncan quirked an eyebrow. “Some of us are quite capable of living without constant sexual gratification.”
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