“Well, go on then. You’re only wasting time standing here.”
Julia nodded to her and hurried off. In matters of the heart there was no time to waste.
Mrs. Emmitt watched Miss Foster leave through the doorway at the end of the lower hall and smiled. This was perfect. With the governess out of the house, she could speak to Sir William without interruption. She hurried upstairs and crossed the great hall. With any luck she could get rid of the thorn in her side and take back her rightful place.
Mr. Lawrence stood at the bottom of the oak staircase conversing with Nelson the footman. He looked up and met her gaze. “Mrs. Emmitt? Is everything all right?”
“I need to speak to Sir William. Is he in the library?”
“He is. But is there something I can help you with?”
She glanced at Nelson and then Mr. Lawrence. “No, thank you. There’s something I want to discuss with Sir William.”
Mr. Lawrence frowned, obviously perturbed she would not explain herself. But it was not possible with Nelson standing by.
“Very well.” He entered the library and announced her, then ushered her in.
Sir William sat at his desk with a book in his hand. He turned as she entered. “Mrs. Emmitt, what can I do for you?”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, sir, but I must speak to you about Miss Foster.”
He shifted in his chair, and a slight line creased his forehead. “Is there a problem?”
“Yes, I’m afraid there are quite a few. And with her trial coming to an end soon, I thought you ought to know.”
He studied her, his eyes clouding slightly. “I’m surprised to hear it. I had the impression she was doing very well.”
A tremor passed through Mrs. Emmitt. She had better tread carefully, or she might end up on the wrong side of the issue. “Well, I don’t like to bring you a bad report, but I’m afraid Miss Foster is not getting along well with the young ladies.”
“I realize my cousins are not happy about having a governess, but I hoped they would become accustomed to it in time.”
Mrs. Emmitt shook her head. “There is contention between Miss Foster and the young ladies every day, and she’s become quite forceful in her dealings with them. I’m not comfortable with it, not at all.”
His frown deepened. “Forceful? What do you mean?”
“She’s very strict, and her expectations for their lessons and behavior are impossibly high. If they question her, she becomes angry and tries to control them with harsh words or mockery.”
Sir William rose from his chair. “I find that hard to believe. My sister spends a great deal of time with them, and she’s never mentioned any of this.”
“Miss Foster would never show her true colors in front of Miss Ramsey.”
“So you’re saying this is going on behind closed doors?”
Mrs. Emmitt swallowed and nodded. Katherine had promised to back up the story, but what if she changed her mind? Mrs. Emmitt wanted to be rid of the governess, but she didn’t want to lose her position over it. “The young ladies have no respect for her, none at all.”
“And you believe Miss Foster is at fault, not the girls?”
“It’s not a question of fault, sir. I’m afraid Miss Foster is simply too young and inexperienced to handle the position. Her temperament and disposition are not what they seem. I don’t believe she is able to give the young ladies the education and guidance they need.”
“I don’t understand. You were the one who brought her to me. You gave me the impression she was well qualified and had good references.”
She gave a curt nod. “Yes sir, I did. And I’m sorry for it now. I should’ve looked into her background more carefully before I brought her to you.”
He clasped his hands behind his back and paced to the window.
Moisture gathered on her forehead as she waited. Had she convinced him? Perhaps she should try a different route. “Sir, I’ve worked here many years, and I’m very fond of the young ladies. They’ve been through a very hard time these past few months. I don’t like to see them unhappy.”
“None of us want that,” he said, still facing the windows, his voice as cool and chilly as the weather outdoors.
“Their father entrusted them into your care. You must do what’s best for them.”
He turned toward her, his expression steely. “I understand my responsibilities toward my cousins, Mrs. Emmitt. I’ll look into it.”
“Thank you, sir.” She nodded to him and walked out of the library. Now she must let Katherine know the plan had been put in motion. If everything went as she hoped, Miss Foster would be gone soon and things could finally get back to normal.
William paced the length of his library and back, brooding over his conversation with Mrs. Emmitt. A dull ache began to pound at the base of his skull. Could it be true? Was Miss Foster harsh with the girls, bullying them when no one was there to see it? She was spirited and spoke her mind, but could she really be that devious?
No. It didn’t make sense. This was probably just a case of Katherine and Penelope’s trying to discredit Miss Foster by complaining to Mrs. Emmitt. They hoped he would dismiss her, and they could be out from under her supervision. No doubt the housekeeper felt loyalty to the girls, and that was why she brought their complaints to him.
But what if it were true?
He stopped by the fireplace and stared into the flames. He had been fooled before by a woman, and the results had been disastrous. His wife’s duplicity flooded his mind, and his chest tightened. Amelia had always been a perfect lady in public, but at home, in private, her true character had driven a stake through his heart.
Surely, Miss Foster was not cruel and deceitful like Amelia, was she?
Doubts swirled through him. It wasn’t just Katherine and Penelope who needed his protection. He had placed his children under Miss Foster’s care. He must not be fooled again. The price was too high.
He would have to confront Miss Foster and find out if there was any truth behind these complaints. If so, he would put things right for his children’s sake as well as his cousins’.
William strode out of the library and mounted the steps. As he passed down the hallway, voices in the nursery drew his attention. He stopped by the door and leaned closer to listen. Perhaps he had come at the right time to learn what truly went on in the nursery between Miss Foster and his children.
“This is how Robin Hood took his stand against the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham!” His son’s voice rang out from beyond the nursery door.
“Andrew, come down this minute!”
William frowned. That was not Miss Foster’s voice.
“Off with you, you wretched scoundrel!” his son shouted.
“Andrew, stop! You’re frightening your sister.”
“No! You’ll never capture me alive!”
“Please be a good lad and climb down before you break something or hurt yourself.”
Enough! William pushed open the door and glared at the nursery maid. “What is going on in here?”
Andrew froze where he stood on the window seat, a toy sword raised high. “Papa!”
The young nursery maid’s face turned as pale as her white cap. “Sir.” She bobbed a quick curtsy, reached for Andrew’s hand, and tugged him down off the window seat. Millicent stood by her dollhouse in the corner, watching them with wide blue-green eyes, her doll clutched to her chest.
“Where is Miss Foster?”
“I believe she’s gone to the village on an errand.” The maid’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
He huffed. “And this is what happens when she is away?”
“I’m sorry, sir. Master Andrew was just acting out a story Miss Foster read to the children this morning.”
Andrew dashed over to the table and lifted a book for him to see. “It’s the Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Have you read it, Papa?”
“No. I have not.” William scanned the room, trying to discern if this was an actual proble
m or just a bit of childish behavior on his son’s part. A few toys were scattered on the table, but everything else looked in good order. He turned to the maid. “When will Miss Foster return?”
“Within the hour, sir.” The maid placed a hand on Millicent’s shoulder.
“All right.” He relaxed his posture and shifted his gaze to Andrew. Perhaps Miss Foster’s absence was for the best. “Collect your coat and hat, Andrew. We’re going for a walk.”
A smile burst on his son’s face. “Really? I’ve been longing to go outdoors, but Ann doesn’t like to take us without Miss Foster.”
“Help Andrew dress for our walk,” William said to the maid. “Then send him downstairs to meet me. And please tell Miss Foster she is to see me as soon as she returns from the village.”
“Yes sir.” The maid bobbed another quick curtsy, relief evident in her expression.
Five minutes later his son came bounding down the stairs, wearing a wool cap and coat and sturdy leather boots. Nelson opened the front door for them, and William and Andrew set off across the park, following the gravel path.
“So, Andrew, do you often disobey your nurse and climb on the furniture?”
“No sir. I try not to.”
“But you did today.”
“Yes sir.” He scuffed his boots in the gravel. “I was so tired of being in the nursery. We usually go for a walk after luncheon, but it’s been raining for three days, and Miss Foster said we couldn’t go out. And then today we had to stay in again because she had to go to the village and do something for Aunt Sarah.”
“Her errand is for your aunt?”
Andrew nodded and hopped over a puddle. “I’m so glad you came. I hate staying inside all day.”
A smile tugged at William’s lips. He couldn’t help it. He’d been much like Andrew when he was a boy. Though he’d learned to discipline himself and attend to his duties, there was nothing he loved more than tramping through the woods or hiking across the fields. Even these cool autumn days didn’t keep him indoors if he could help it.
“So, do you like Miss Foster?”
Andrew wrinkled his nose. “She’s all right.”
William thought for a moment, wanting to phrase his question carefully. “How does she handle things when you disobey?”
“She doesn’t smack me the way Mrs. Lambert did.”
William stopped. “Mrs. Lambert smacked you?”
Andrew squinted up at him. “Yes sir. She said it would drive the foolishness from my heart.” His son looked down, kicked at a stone, and sent if flying. “But I’m not sure that’s true.”
“So, what does Miss Foster do when there is a need for discipline?”
“She usually has me sit in the blue chair.”
“The blue chair?”
“Yes, the one in the alcove in the upstairs sitting room.”
“How long does she make you stay there?”
“She says I may come back when my heart has changed and I’m ready to talk to her about what happened.”
“So it’s up to you how long you sit in the chair?”
“Yes sir.” He bent and picked up a stick at the side of the path.
That didn’t sound like very severe discipline. His own nanny had been a gentle, indulgent woman, but his tutor, Mr. Burton, had often used a wooden ruler to slap his hands when he’d been slow to answer or disobedient. “Has Miss Foster ever been rough with you or Millicent?”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “Millie never gets in trouble. All Miss Foster has to do is look at her, and she bursts into tears and begs to make things right.”
“So Millicent is never sent to the blue chair?”
Andrew twisted his lips and tapped the ground with the stick. “She had to go there once when she wouldn’t eat her luncheon.”
“Does Miss Foster insist you eat all your food?”
“Not all. But we must try a bite of each thing on our plate.”
“And Millicent wouldn’t do that?”
Andrew shook his head. “No, and she cried buckets when Miss Foster sent her to the blue chair. But a few minutes later she came back and hugged Miss Foster and said she was sorry.”
William frowned slightly. “That was all the discipline she received?”
Andrew looked up and grinned. “When it was teatime, I had cake and sandwiches, but she had to eat her leftover food from luncheon.”
William chuckled. “I suppose she ate it then.”
“Yes, all the potatoes and some of the peas and lamb.”
“And what about your schooling? What happens if you don’t understand your lesson or you give the wrong answer?”
Andrew shrugged. “If I get an arithmetic problem wrong, I have to do it again until I get it right. Miss Foster says we must master our studies, and our mistakes help us learn the right way to do our work.”
“But what if you don’t know how to do it?”
“She will always show us if we ask, but we still must do the work ourselves.”
“What if you become distracted or you’re slow to finish an assignment?”
“She won’t read aloud or take us on a walk until we’re done with our lessons.”
William nodded. It all sounded reasonable. No doubt Miss Foster found it easier to work with the children than his two cousins. Could she be kind and sensible with Andrew and Millicent but harsh and mocking toward Katherine and Penelope? That seemed unlikely, but he supposed it was possible.
Katherine could raise his ire in two seconds with her sharp tongue and stubborn ways. Did Miss Foster respond in a similar fashion when Katherine challenged her authority? Was she able to control her temper and accomplish her tasks with the girls? Those were the questions he still needed to answer.
At least Miss Foster seemed to handle his children well. He smiled, thinking of the clever ways she motivated them to obey and do their studies.
Andrew skipped ahead, swinging his stick as though it were a sword. His happy, carefree expression lifted William’s spirit. His son needed an intelligent and caring governess, someone strong enough to help shape his will but not damage his spirit. Miss Foster seemed to fit the bill, but he would need to spend more time with the children to be sure.
When he lived in London he used to see the children every day after tea for an hour. But since Amelia’s passing it had been too painful, and he had let the children’s hour fade from his routine. Perhaps it was time to begin again. Then he could watch Miss Foster interact with them, observe their behavior, and hear more about their schooling.
He chuckled to himself. Wasn’t that exactly what Miss Foster had asked him to do?
ELEVEN
Julia removed her hat and coat and hung them on the hook in her room. She took a quick glance in the mirror and shook her head. Taking some hairpins from her dresser, she tucked a few strands back in place, then checked her reflection once more. Her cheeks were flushed from her ride to the village, and her eyes glowed with the knowledge she’d gained in her conversation with Reverend Langford.
Sarah would be pleased to hear that the reverend considered Mr. Dalton a good man, wise and spiritually mature. He also reported he was loyal and caring toward his mother and young niece. But sharing that news with Sarah would have to wait until this evening, when the children were safely tucked in bed. It was almost four, and Ann and the children were waiting for her.
A knock sounded at her door, and she hurried to answer.
Nelson stood in the hall wearing a slight smile. “Sir William wants to see you in the drawing room.”
Her stomach fluttered. “Sir William?” Why would he call her downstairs?
“Yes. The young ladies and Mrs. Emmitt are already there.” Nelson’s expression turned smug. “You’d best be prepared for battle. They don’t look too happy.”
Julia swallowed as her mind raced ahead. Was she being summoned to help resolve the issues between Sarah and Katherine? If so, why would Mrs. Emmitt be there? What did she have to do with it?
&nbs
p; A tremor raced up her back as she followed Nelson downstairs and into the drawing room. William stood by the fireplace, his expression sober. Penelope and Katherine sat on the settee facing him, while Mrs. Emmitt stood behind the settee where the girls were seated.
William turned to Julia. “Come in, please.”
Julia nodded to the girls and Mrs. Emmitt and then William. “You wanted to see me, sir?”
“Yes. Your one-month trial has come to an end, and there are some matters to discuss before I decide if you are to continue in your position.”
Julia’s heartbeat sped up. “Oh … well, I’ve become very fond of the children, and I believe the young ladies are making good progress.” She tried to infuse her voice with confidence, but it wavered slightly.
“Unfortunately, Katherine and Penelope are not happy with your interaction with them.”
Julia shot a quick glance at the girls. Katherine lifted her chin and looked away, her expression stony. Penelope lowered her head and stared at her clasped hands. “I’m sorry to hear that. I know the transition has not been easy for them. Is there a specific problem you’d like to discuss?”
“I believe it’s more your general manner of dealing with them that is in question.”
Julia lifted her hand to her heart. “My general manner? I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
William motioned to Katherine. “Please explain your concerns to Miss Foster.”
Katherine focused her cool gaze on Julia. “Penelope and I are not accustomed to being berated and cruelly treated, and we won’t stand for it any longer.”
A tremor shot through Julia. “As your governess, I must correct you at times, but I don’t believe I’ve been cruel, and I certainly would never berate you.”
“But that’s exactly what you’ve done.” She elbowed her sister. “Isn’t that right, Penny?”
The younger girl looked up. “Well, she does correct us during our lessons.”
“Of course she does. That is her job.” William’s frown deepened. “What we are trying to ascertain is how she treats you when correction is needed.”
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