by Abigail Agar
“Oh dear, am I really that famous for it?” she laughed awkwardly in reply.
“Well, sorry, but you know how gossip spreads. Forgive me if it was meant to remain a secret. Or if you’d like, I can always tell you about my own family and our troubles. Would that make it easier?” the maid offered.
Victoria smiled at her, finding Miss Franklin to be endearing. Her innocence in her own situation was refreshing to hear and it showed how she held no judgment for Victoria or her family.
As it happened, she had received news that very morning that shocked her, delighted her, and angered her all at once. Perhaps sharing it all with Miss Franklin was just the key to working through it in her own mind.
“You needn’t do that unless you wish it,” she remembered to answer.
Miss Franklin nodded.
“I think I should like to. I come from a good family. Not wealthy, but good. And I scarcely have a chance to speak about them,” she noted.
“Then please, do tell me,” Victoria invited her.
“Well, my mum was the sweetest angel you could imagine. She raised me and my three brothers and my sister all. But she passed away two years ago,” Miss Franklin said with tears pricking at her eyes.
“How terrible, I am so sorry, Miss Franklin,” Victoria empathised.
“It is what it is. I miss her something awful, but she went quick. Got sick one day and she was gone the next. But my father is still with us, working hard. He’s a merchant. Not a very good one, but he does his best,” she explained.
Victoria listened as Miss Franklin shared all about her family, seeing what a relief it was for her to be able to talk about them. It only convinced her further that she would do well to reciprocate and share about her own situation.
“Well they sound quite lovely,” Victoria remarked when it was clear that Miss Franklin was finished.
“Indeed, they are. Now, tell me about your family. I know that rumours are just that and I’d like to be friends, the sort of friends who know the truth about each other,” she said.
Victoria nodded at that, feeling very much the same. She didn’t want to simply exist in the house, she wanted to have friendships and a companion as well. This was as good a time as any and Miss Franklin was rather sweet.
It was not Miss Franklin’s place to be so bold as to ask about these things, but Victoria had realised rather early in coming to the home that the housekeeper was afforded a great deal of leniency. The Earl and others all put up with her occasional brashness because she was, quite simply, lovely to be around. Her personality exuded joy and it seemed to give her a great number of opportunities.
So when she pushed to learn about Victoria’s family, Victoria was not overly surprised. She only wished that she had been better prepared to answer about it.
Of course, there were the truths of her family and the truths of what secrets she already knew in the house. Victoria knew she didn’t have too many choices as to the latter. She had bound herself in dishonesty.
“Well, I assume you are aware that my family was once rather wealthy, and were high members of society,” she began.
“Certainly. It explains why you speak in such a fancy way,” Miss Franklin laughed.
“Well, having wealth bought an excellent education. My father and mother had designs on my marrying nobility, but my father always believed that I ought to bring more to a marriage than the standard of beauty and birth. He wished for me to have a first rate mind,” she explained.
“That is quite the right attitude,” Miss Franklin added.
“Yes, yes it is. And he was always a very good father to me. However, he was not always so responsible,” Victoria said, turning to the main point about her family.
“You see, he enjoyed the vices of life afforded to the wealthy. He began drinking with the men at his club. That led him to gambling quite often. He would lose a fortune in one evening and then go back the next,” she explained.
“Oh dear, that is a terrible idea,” Miss Franklin said, shaking her head.
“Yes, it was. But the worst was that he began to live unfaithfully to my mother, and he betrayed her. He even rented out homes for his mistresses. After a time, he would grow bored and move on to a new lady,” she said.
“My mother knew nothing of the women and I...well, anyway, it all came to light eventually. The truth had been known long before by his friends and acquaintances but it is hardly unusual for men of that ilk,” Victoria said, needing a break before she continued.
“But what happened next? You speak of your father in the past tense, is he not still alive?” Miss Franklin inquired.
Victoria thought about that question. Of course he was still alive. But was he the same person? That was what she wished she knew.
“He is. And after my mother learned of his behaviour, she separated herself from him to the fullest extent that might be deemed acceptable by society,” she replied.
“So they are no longer living as husband and wife?” came the next question.
Victoria paused.
“I...I received a letter this morning,” she started, hesitantly. “It would seem that that my father has shown a genuine repentance and my mother has chosen to allow him to prove himself once more as her husband,” Victoria shared.
It had been a shock to her. As much as she had hoped for reunification, she was still angry at her father and wondered if this was the right decision for her mother.
Miss Franklin’s mouth dropped wide open in surprise.
“Your mum took him back?” she asked innocently.
“Yes, it would seem that she has. They have been living apart for quite some time and are far removed from society after the downfall. But my mother appears to have trusted him enough to see a change and believe it to be true. I certainly hope that it is genuine. I should not like to see my father that way again,” Victoria sighed.
She wanted desperately to believe that it was true, that he had really changed. But she couldn’t know for certain whether or not her father was being honest about it all. She hoped with all her heart that he was.
But there were far too many wounds for her to give over her trust to him so easily.
When Victoria had read the letter that morning, she had been astounded. Her mother had certainly informed her that her father had made efforts to prove himself, but she had not expected those efforts to come into fruition. But she had opened the paper and been entirely devoted to its contents with a deep interest and wonder.
My Dear Victoria,
I hope that these words find you well. I was glad for your last letter and the updates you provided me with regarding your current position. It would seem that all is well with you and that the little girl is finally beginning to show improvement which brings me delight and pride.
As for us, I must inform you of a change that has come.
You may be astounded to learn this, but I am delighted to tell you that your father has truly proven the changes that he has made in his life. He has ceased his drinking and gambling habits, which brings me joy. His debts are nearly paid and he has managed to do so by finding a position helping a man with trade.
I was shocked to learn that he had gotten such menial work and was choosing to make every effort to take responsibility for making up the mistakes he had committed. His offenses were great, but his passion for turning things right has impressed upon me his desire to change.
You ought to see him now, the ways he is striving to be diligent in his work.
Of course, as you are well aware, the worst of our downfall was his betrayal of our marriage bed.
The pain that you and I both experienced for his unfaithfulness was dreadful, but I am glad to say that this, too, has changed.
Your father has banished all of his mistresses, sold the home he had purchased and ceased to rent the other two that he had. Of course, I refer to those in which his mistresses lived.
He has promised me that there is no further contact between them and ev
en provided me every option for proving himself. He has committed that he might not go anywhere unless I should go with him if I like.
Of course, I told him that is not necessary, I am not his keeper. But he has determined to give me full reports of his comings and goings and I quite enjoy that it allows me to hear more about his day when he does so.
All of this I tell you because I wish for you to know that your father and I have come to peace with one another. He has been working to let a small house for us to stay in eventually and is trying hard to pay for it, as well as keeping us in food and relative comfort. It is nothing such as before, but the simplicity will still be greater than having to depend upon my dear sister, as we are doing now.
She has been rather kind to your father despite the way she speaks of him to me when he is not around. I hope that she shall soon forgive him as I have. In the meantime I am entirely grateful to her for allowing us to remain with her and work towards the future that we wish for.
In the meantime, I am content with knowing that your father and I are back with one another and that is enough for me. I do not need the wealth and riches. I need only to be with him and know that he has grown into a new man of strong character and great respect.
Anyway, I wished to update you on this development in hopes that you might come to visit us soon and that you would know that your father truly is a good man. Weak and riddled with mistakes as we all are, he has shown himself repentant and I am overjoyed to return to the union we long ago committed to.
With Deep Love,
Your Mother
Victoria brought her thoughts back to the present, letting go of the memory of that morning when she had read the letter with utter astonishment.
“I am very happy for you,” Miss Franklin said, breaking the quiet in the room.
“Thank you. I am glad as well. It should be good to have my parents returned to one another like this,” Victoria smiled.
“Are you going to see them?” Miss Franklin asked.
“I should like to very much, but I have only just begun this position. I cannot very well ask the Earl for a great deal of time off in order to visit them until I have been here a while longer,” she reasoned, giving the answer she had realised that morning when thinking the very same thing.
“I am sure he would be understanding, given the situation,” Miss Franklin noted.
Victoria simply nodded quietly. She wondered how she could possibly explain it. After all, she had wished for her station to be kept a secret all along. If she’d managed, she would not have allowed anyone to know about her past.
It was only when the Earl of Hanover revealed to her on her first day that she conceded to the fact that it would be a difficult secret to keep, and now she had determined to share it without shame to those who asked. It was not easy to express, but she was able to do it.
If her father had truly changed, however, it would be painful to have people continue to ask. She would not wish for them to see him for who he was if he had truly become a new man, a good one who was faithful to his wife and responsible with his dealings.
But whatever questions might still come, Victoria was prepared to explain to others that her father had made mistakes. Those mistakes had been difficult, but they did not reflect his true nature.
She would choose to be proud of him. Proud of her father for changing for the better and proud of her mother for being a woman of grace and mercy. Yes, she came from excellent parents and she would not forget it. She only hoped that she could make them as proud as they had made her.
Chapter 14
Reginald had been rather impressed by the impact of Miss Jamison upon his daughter and was curious to learn more about what made her this unique woman. He had been thinking about it often enough, but now was the time for him to see her in action and learn.
He had questions for her, things that his daughter could not answer. It was best if he learned straight from the woman herself. He determined that he would speak to her again, and perhaps more than once if he had the opportunity to do so.
There was something about the idea of spending time with her that continually got him excited. He enjoyed seeing her and learning about her. He enjoyed every moment in her presence even if it was difficult or strained.
Reginald had wished that Miss Jamison had spent more time around him at the dinner and that he might have had a better chance to interact with her. But there had been something in her demeanor that night that told him she had little desire for company, regardless of what he might wish.
For now, his best option was to call her to his office and speak with her without the presence of others. He could read her face more easily and not have to worry about her anxiety of being around those who might know of her family history.
“Miss Franklin, could you please send in Miss Jamison?” he requested, sitting in his study with a glass of brandy.
He waited, pondering all the things he wished to know. Before long, the governess appeared, and Reginald found himself straightening his jacket despite himself in an effort to appear more presentable.
“Ah, Miss Jamison, it is good to see you,” he greeted.
She appeared strong but uncertain, a blend of curiosity and boldness that he was coming to see as her nature. The young woman was coming to terms with her lack of authority while still maintaining her pride and it suited her well, and made her more intriguing than most.
“And you, my lord,” she curtseyed, lowering her eyes as she bowed her body. It was a graceful maneuver, something he was coming to expect from her. With a straight spine and extended neck, she was rather the portrait of delicacy and elegance. It was a position that no governess was ever expected to take.
“You may take a seat,” he offered.
Miss Franklin was awaiting further instructions and he asked Miss Jamison if she wished for anything. When she shook her head and told him she was content, he dismissed the housekeeper who he had seen befriending his governess quite well.
“Now, to business,” he smiled.
“Yes, my lord? What is it that you wish?” she asked, as if expecting him to order her about as easily as he did the housekeeper and the maids.
“I must say that you have made me rather curious regarding my daughter,” he confessed.
“I see. Curious how?” she asked.
“Curious in that I have never seen her so interested or attuned to books. Curious in that she does not speak insultingly of you when you are not around,” he answered, laughing with what he hoped to be a blend of happiness and embarrassment.
Reginald was hardly proud of his daughter’s character, but now that he saw it changing, he felt that it might be possible to laugh it off just a little bit.
“Oh yes, I understand. They are rather important issues,” Miss Jamison acknowledged.
“Indeed, they are. And I was quite disappointed many times in the past when I saw her wasting her intelligence. But you seem to have been able to wipe away much of that waste in a rather short period of time,” he noted.
The governess smiled and held her tongue. Reginald sensed that she was reminding herself of her place and was not willing to speak freely.
“You have been teaching my daughter for a little over a week now. I should appreciate it if you will report to me regarding your plans for Marian’s education?” he said.
“Certainly, my lord. It is very important that her father be aware of where she is at and how we shall proceed,” Miss Jamison said, looking greatly relieved by the request.