Regency Romances for the Ages

by Grace Fletcher

Maybe having a beautiful servant around him every day was not a good idea. But it was too late to change his mind. Devonshire had a feeling his decision wouldn’t be very popular.

  Chapter 3

  A Master at the Piano

  V irginia entered the bedroom the girls shared and saw them sitting by the fire, Jacqueline reading while Joan sat on the floor playing with a doll. She sighed and pointed towards the beds.

  “Come on, you two. Into bed.”

  Joan pouted and whined. Jacqueline didn’t look happy.

  “But we want to stay up and play.”

  This was the only time Virginia hated her job. Jacqueline and Joan were lovely girls, and she adored them. They just hated going to bed.

  “And your uncle will be upset that you’re not in bed at the time you were given. I’ve already let you stay up an extra half-hour and the duke won’t be happy if he finds out about that. Bed.”

  Both girls grumbled, but they did as they were told. That was an improvement. The first night Virginia had put them to bed, it had taken over an hour. Both girls hated going to sleep even if they were exhausted. But Virginia didn’t push them, slowly inserting an extra half-hour here and there and pulling back the time to get to the bedtime they were supposed to have. It seemed to be doing the trick and there was less complaining than before.

  It had worked on Virginia when she wouldn’t go to bed, and it hadn’t lost its effect.

  As Virginia put the girls into bed, she thought about the past three weeks. The girls had been wary of her but warmed very quickly. Being young, Virginia felt she could relate and understood them better than someone much older. Jacqueline had taken a bit more time than Joan to stop being a moody child, but Virginia understood that. They had only recently come out of mourning for their mother’s death and having new people introduced to them wasn’t going to be something they wanted right then.

  Virginia had never expected to get a job, she thought she would be a wife and mother and run a household. But she didn’t regret this. It was very satisfying to see the two girls smiling and laughing after a few days, and the duke was relieved that his nieces were in better spirits.

  He did keep out of their way for the most part, Virginia noted to herself as she sat in a chair beside Joan’s bed to read them a story. There were times when Devonshire would be in the same room and interact with the girls, who clearly adored him, but mostly he kept away. It was like he was almost embarrassed to be in the same room as Virginia, with a reluctance to talk to her. When they did speak, he eventually loosened up, but it was still strained.

  Virginia had no idea why there was any tension although she was a little relieved she didn’t spend much time with him. She had heard the duke was a handsome man. Tall, flaming red hair and dark eyes that always seemed to twinkle, he certainly was that. At six feet, Virginia would have seen him as a potential suitor. He would have been in her sights had she gone back for another Season. But she wasn’t having another Season, she was his governess.

  Maybe not spending much time with her handsome employer was a good thing. Virginia didn’t want to get herself into a situation where emotions were complicated.

  It didn’t take long for the girls to fall asleep. Virginia saw Joan’s eyes close before she was halfway through the first story, and after the second one Jacqueline yawned and settled down. Both of them were right out by the time Virginia closed the book. Laying it gently on the chair, Virginia drew the extra blankets up and tucked Joan’s doll in beside her. Then she tiptoed out of the room.

  It was still early. Virginia wasn’t one to go to sleep at this hour. Normally, she would go to the library and read, enjoying the solitude. Devonshire stayed in his study where he spent a lot of his time. He barely went into the library.

  But as Virginia passed the drawing room, her eyes fell on the beautiful grand piano sitting by the window. Her fingers itched. When she had been at her own home, Virginia loved to play. Any time when she had a moment to spare, she would be playing. There was something soothing about playing the piano even if it was just for her own entertainment. Georgia had made sure she got lessons with one of the best tutors in London, and Virginia had excelled.

  Georgia had told her the piano had been played by the dowager duchess, who was very accomplished and would entertain for many of the parties held in her home. She was praised for her playing. Unfortunately, now she had passed, it just sat there with no one touching near except to dust it.

  Virginia didn’t think it was polite to play the piano without permission, but she couldn’t help herself. Stealing into the drawing room, she lifted the top from the keys and ran her fingers across them. Then she played a C major chord. It was in tune. That was something.

  Virginia sat down on the seat, adjusting it to her height, and laid her fingers on the keys. Then she began to play. Fur Elise was her favourite and soon the room was full of music. Virginia closed her eyes, not bothering to look at the keys, and wrapped the music around her. This was the first time since she had left her father’s home that things felt relatively normal. She could forget that she wasn’t here as an honoured guest, merely a member of the staff. She could forget that her father had lost all of his money and her inheritance.

  There were many things she could forget.

  Virginia finished the piece, feeling her heart pounding. No matter the piece, playing always had always taken her breath away. It was easy to get pulled into the music.

  She opened her eyes and shot to her feet with a gasp. Devonshire was standing by the piano, watching her intensely. Virginia hadn’t realized he was so close.

  Then she remembered what she had been doing. Blushing furiously, she bowed her head.

  “Forgive me, Your Grace. I shouldn’t have.”

  “No, it’s fine.” Devonshire didn’t look unhappy. In fact, he looked surprised. “I did wonder who was playing.” He ran a hand over the cool black surface. “The last time this was played was before my mother fell ill.”

  Virginia swallowed and lifted her eyes. He wasn’t angry. She was a servant who had overstepped her place. She sat on the stool before her legs gave way. “Did you and your sister not want to play?”

  “Carla tried, but she wasn’t very good. She preferred the violin.” Devonshire chuckled. “I’m all thumbs so there was no chance of me getting a decent tune out of anything.”

  Virginia didn’t believe that. The duke had long, sensitive fingers. He could easily play if he wanted. She mentally shook herself. “What about Jacqueline and Joan?”

  “They do play, but they’re still in the early stages.” Devonshire leant against the back of a couch and folded his arms. “They haven’t touched it since their mother died, however.”

  “I can’t say I blame them.” Virginia remembered when she lost her own mother. She hadn’t felt like she wanted to do anything, even play piano. But that had come back in time.

  Devonshire gave her a smile, one that had Virginia’s heart stumbling. “In a few years, they’ll be playing at concert level.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “I’m sure.” Devonshire paused. “But they won’t be playing like you. That was lovely.”

  Virginia could feel her face getting even warmer. “Thank you.” She coughed. “I haven’t had a chance to play lately.”

  “Well, you are working.”

  “You know what I mean. And our piano was never this beautiful.” Virginia played a G major chord and smiled. “Or this in tune.”

  “I have to have the best.”

  Virginia rolled her eyes. “Because you’re the duke. I know.”

  Devonshire winced.

  “That came out badly, didn’t it?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  They shared a look. Despite Devonshire’s reluctance to be in her company and the tension, there was something that seemed to fit between them. Virginia had not experienced that with anyone else.

  And it shouldn’t happen with the duke. He was her employer after
all. Virginia had to show him respect and defer to him, not treat him as if they were equals. If Devonshire was annoyed at the arrangement, he didn’t say anything.

  “Who taught you to play?” Devonshire asked.

  “My mother. She was a beautiful player and singer.”

  Devonshire looked thoughtful. Then he looked at the piano. “Would you mind playing and singing for me?”

  Virginia blinked. “You want me to perform for you?”

  “Of course.” Devonshire waved a hand at her. “Play.”

  Virginia couldn’t help herself. “What’s the magic word?”

  Devonshire didn’t get angry. He simply raised his eyebrows. “Did you just talk back to me, Miss Madden?”

  Virginia smiled sweetly at him. “I only respond to polite requests, as you very well know.”

  Devonshire rolled his eyes and sighed. “You’re supposed to be educating my nieces, not me.”

  “Even men need educating.” Virginia shot back. “Especially the higher up in nobility you go. You wouldn’t believe some of the awful mannerisms and behaviours that are picked up.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t teach them?”

  Virginia’s eyes widened and then she saw Devonshire’s mouth curving into a smirk. She rolled her eyes and turned to the piano. “I’ll play. If that will keep you quiet.”

  “I’m not fussy, Miss Madden.”

  Virginia concentrated on her fingers and began to play. She knew if she looked over at her employer, it would be even harder to concentrate. The man was a huge distraction.

  Chapter 4

  Complicated

  Feelings

  V irginia stood at the open terrace windows and watched as Devonshire played with Jacqueline and Joan in the garden. They had managed to tie a blindfold over Devonshire’s eyes and he was stumbling after his nieces, who darted around him with a lot of giggling, as his arms swiped at empty air. Virginia couldn’t stop herself from laughing at the sight.

  She had a slight stab of regret that she had turned down the offer to join them, but Virginia knew it was for the best. It wouldn’t do to have the duke grabbing at the governess while blindfolded.

  And Virginia wasn’t sure she would be able to keep composed if the man touched her. Just looking at him made her feel warm all over.

  That was not good at all. Virginia had heard of scandals that happened due to improprieties between nobility and servants. While she was, technically, not of servant status, Devonshire believed she was. But Virginia was aware of the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn’t looking. If anything happened, not only would the scandal be enough to ruin Virginia’s chances of ever getting back into Society, her true identity would be found out.

  She may have to leave soon. Virginia knew she would need to leave before it got too uncomfortable. But the girls adored her and they would be broken-hearted once she left. Virginia couldn’t do that to them. So staying at the estate but out of Devonshire’s way would have to be all she could do.

  Virginia had hoped this would be a chance for her to get away from the blackening that her father was doing to their name. Instead, she was starting to add to it.

  “Excuse me?”

  Virginia started and spun around, her eyes landing on a handsome man in his early thirties, his dark hair curling around his collar and bright blue eyes twinkling at her in amusement. Virginia’s heart sank. The Duke of Chester. They had been in the ballroom together many times. He had asked her to dance at her first ball. But that had been two years ago.

  Did he recognize her now?

  Virginia tried to hide her shock and curtsied.

  “Forgive me, Your Grace,” she mumbled. “I was miles away.”

  “I was wondering where you were.” Jeremy Budgen, Duke of Chester, chuckled and then nodded at Devonshire falling flat on his face with his nieces jumping on top of him. “It’s a surprising sight, isn’t it?”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Devonshire has said many times over that he doesn’t think he would be a good father and he didn’t want children, if he could avoid it. He was more than happy to pass the title on to the next male heir in his family. But seeing him with his nieces…” Chester folded his arms, his gaze turning back to Virginia. “I wonder if that’s the same man.”

  Virginia swallowed and nodded. “He adores Jacqueline and Joan, and vice versa.”

  “That he does.” Chester was still looking closely at her. “Forgive me, my lady, but I forgot to ask for an introduction.”

  He didn’t recognize her. Yet. Virginia hoped this worked in her favour. She smoothed her hands on her skirts.

  “Virginia Madden. I’m Jacqueline and Joan’s governess.”

  “Governess, eh?” Chester tilted his head to one side as he regarded her thoughtfully. “You look familiar, Miss Madden. Have I seen you before?”

  “I shouldn’t think so.” Virginia was saved from speaking more when she heard a shout from the garden.

  “Chester!”

  Relief flooded through her as Devonshire and the girls came onto the terrace, all of them red-faced and out of breath. She ducked her head and stepped back, focusing her attention on the girls as she brushed the grass off their dresses. Out the corner of her eye, Virginia watched as Devonshire and Chester embraced each other warmly.

  “Good to see you, Devon.” Chester declared.

  “And you.” Devonshire stepped back. “I didn’t think you were coming up until later in the week.”

  “I thought I’d surprise you.”

  Devonshire grinned. Virginia had to look away before she swooned. Why did her employer have to be so handsome?

  She hustled the girls away, directing them towards the stables. Maybe a ride through the countryside will take her thoughts off the Duke of Devonshire, even for just a while.

  ***

  “So, Miss Madden is your new governess?”

  Devonshire glanced up as he searched for some papers on his desk. Chester was standing at the window, looking down into the gardens. Devonshire didn’t need to confirm who he was looking at as Virginia always brought the girls on their horses that way. They kept to the same route. Devonshire had spent many hours watching them and it had embarrassed him that he was taking so much of an interest in his nieces’ governess.

  That was not right. But his heart was telling him otherwise. This was not something, however, he was about to tell his closest friend.

  “Yes, she is.” He grunted and began searching again.

  “Very pretty.” Chester sounded approving. “I was expecting a plain little thing, not a brunette beauty.”

  “I haven’t noticed,” Devonshire muttered.

  Chester chuckled. “Of course you have. You don’t let a pretty girl walk by without letting them know you’re aware of them.” Chester turned away from the window to smirk at his friend. “Even servant girls.”

  Devonshire wished Chester didn’t know him so well. He could appreciate an attractive woman, and it had certainly not gone past him that Virginia was a beautiful young woman. Very mature beyond her years. If she were in Society, she would take the ton by storm. But she was a governess, and he was the duke. That was a recipe for disaster. “She’s been busy working with the girls and I’ve been busy in here.”

  “Oh, really?”

  Devonshire frowned as he sat. Chester seemed to be pushing him more than before. They teased each other about women, but Chester often dropped it. Not this time. “Why are you so certain that I’ve noticed? She’s just the governess.”

  “It’s your demeanour about her.”

  “I was barely with her with you present.”

  “But I know you.” Chester winked and tapped the side of his nose. “You certainly have noticed.”

  Devonshire swiftly changed the subject. “Can we talk about something more important?”

  “Yes, we can.” Chester sat in the chair opposite, looping his leg over an arm. “Are we still on for the house party this weekend?”r />
  That wasn’t what Devonshire wanted to talk about. It wasn’t classified as important to him, not anymore. But their mutual friends would say otherwise. Devonshire sighed and rubbed his eyes. “I don’t know.”

  “What? You were eager about doing it when your mourning period was over. Time to get back into Society, you said.”

  “I did, but that was months ago. Now I don’t really care right now if I’m honest.”

  Chester was looking at Devonshire in confusion. It was like he had never seen his friend before. “Where’s my friend gone?” he demanded.

  Devonshire rolled his eyes. “I’m just not in an entertaining mood, Chester. I thought I would be all right to spend time with all my friends again but… it’s hit me harder than I realized.”

  “All the more reason why you should have company to lift your spirits.”

  The old Devonshire would have agreed. Any distraction from mourning was welcome, but the new Devonshire had more responsibilities. He had to admit, at least to himself, that he had grown up since the girls had come into his home. “But what about Jacqueline and Joan?” he asked. “Last time I had a house party, I didn’t have them under my guardianship. Now I’m responsible for them, and I know they’ll get ignored.”

  That was the sad part of it. Children should be seen and not heard, in the opinion of Society. If they did have a voice, they were simply patted on the head and sent to bed. Devonshire didn’t like it, and he didn’t want that to happen to his nieces.

  “I don’t ignore them.”

  “I know you don’t but some of our friends will. And I won’t have my family be dismissed in that manner.”

  Chester looked sympathetic. He lowered his leg and sat forward. “I know. But we’ll see what we can do with that. Have them interact with us. I’m more than happy to entertain the girls. They’re good children.”

  “I’m glad you recognize that.” Devonshire felt a swell of pride at hearing praise of Jacqueline and Joan. They weren’t his children, but he was proud of them. “Miss Madden can look after them and bring them in now and then.”