Chester scratched his head. “Why do you want to know?”
“Because I want to know why she’s here. Why she’s a governess for my nieces instead of where she’s supposed to be in life. I just…” Devonshire sighed heavily. “I just don’t understand.”
“I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.”
“There’s a logical explanation for leaving without telling her family where she was going?” Devonshire shot back. “I want to know and I want to know now.”
Chapter 7
The Confrontation
V irginia was relieved that the duke’s guests were leaving that day. It felt like a weight coming off her shoulders. When it was just Devonshire, she could be more like herself and relaxed. But when members of Society arrived and stayed for a period, Virginia felt like a fugitive on the run, tiptoeing around and trying not to be seen.
It wasn’t a life Virginia wanted, but it was all she could do. The only other option was to leave and go somewhere where nobody would recognize her. Wales, perhaps, or Scotland. Or even Ireland or France. She had saved up her pay from what the duke had given her—and it was a very handsome sum each time—so Virginia knew she would be able to get over to Europe, if she wished. But she didn’t want to leave Jacqueline and Joan. The three of them had grown close and Virginia loved them like they were her own. She couldn’t leave them behind.
However, if Devonshire found out who she was, she might not have a choice. He would be humiliated that she had been dishonest to him and angry that he was harbouring a runaway. He would send her back. Virginia knew she would never go back to her father. Not after what he had done.
“Ginny.”
Virginia looked up. She had been sitting in the schoolroom, watching as Jacqueline and Joan wrote out their sums, their heads bowed as they concentrated. It was a rarity that she could get them to work and she didn’t want to break the spell.
But the look on Georgia Morley’s face as she came hurrying into the schoolroom said that was going to happen soon.
Virginia stood and Jacqueline looked up.
“Where are you going?”
“Just a moment.” Virginia indicated towards Jacqueline’s paper. “You’re nearly finished. Keep going, sweetheart.”
Jacqueline didn’t argue, merely bowed her head again. Virginia hurried to the door and joined the housekeeper.
“What’s wrong, Georgia? You look like someone’s walked over your grave.”
“Not quite.” Georgia looked very uncomfortable. “The duke wants to see you. And he’s not happy.”
Virginia’s good mood dissipated. This was not good at all. Devonshire wasn’t the arrogant sod she had first met, but she had not seen him in a foul mood before. Georgia had said it took a lot to get the man upset.
What had she done now? Had he found out? Virginia couldn’t think how, she had been very careful.
“Do you know why?”
“I don’t know.” Georgia glanced towards the hall. “But you’d better go. He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Virginia knew that. She sighed and glanced at the girls, who were now both watching her intensely. “Could you watch the girls for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Virginia hurried out. Whatever was wrong with Devonshire she would have to deal with quickly. From what she had heard when Devonshire lost his temper—and that wasn’t often—it wasn’t pretty. She didn’t want to be in the firing line.
Devonshire was sitting at his desk when Virginia entered, writing furiously. He didn’t look up as Virginia closed the door and walked across the room towards him. As she got closer to him, her heart started pounding in her chest and all the blood rushed to her head. Virginia curtsied.
“Your Grace.”
Devonshire stopped writing for a brief moment. Then he started again. Virginia waited, focusing on a point on the wall. She had been witness to her father doing this and could wait a long time. It wasn’t that difficult.
But waiting for Devonshire to address her was not as simple as she thought.
“Miss Madden.” Devonshire put his pen down and sat back, looking her in the eye with a scowl. “Or should that be Miss Marsden?”
Virginia’s heart stopped. He knew. How did he know? Virginia swallowed and tried not to sway as her heart started again. “I beg your pardon?”
“I know the truth, Virginia. You’re Virginia Marsden, daughter of Baron Marsden. He’s just gone bankrupt due to his gambling habits. And gambling away your inheritance.” His eyes seemed to be looking right inside her. “That’s why you ran, isn’t it? Because you lost everything?”
That was right on the money. Virginia fought her panic. “I do not know what you’re talking about, Your Grace,” she said softly.
“It makes sense to me.” Devonshire stood and stalked around his desk, never taking his eyes off her. “You’re very mature and poised for someone so young. Very refined, graceful, with good manners. You act like you’re a member of the aristocracy and yet you say that you were brought up in a humble household. And you play the piano beautifully. Very beautifully.” He folded his arms. “Much like Virginia Marsden has played at social gatherings. She was such a stunning performer she was sought after.”
That had been true enough but Virginia didn’t want to remember those times. “Your Grace…”
“I spoke to your former beau yesterday.” Devonshire’s next statement had Virginia falling silent. “He told me all about you. And it matches with what I know about you personally.” He gave a slight snort. “Just so you know, you wouldn’t have been happy married to him. All he wanted was your money. But I’m sure you already knew that when he broke the engagement as abruptly as he did.”
“Stop it.” Virginia began to back away, but Devonshire followed her.
“Then there’s avoiding my friends despite several attempts for you to meet them and my attempt to get you to play for them. Because you were known if not by face then by your playing. And you knew Kimberly Farcet. She would have recognized you straightaway. I don’t know how I didn’t connect it all, now that I know everything. But I guess you’re good at gambling in your own way, Miss Marsden.”
Virginia gritted her teeth. She would not be compared to her father, ever. “I have never gambled with anything,” she hissed.
“You gambled with your reputation. You ran away from the scandal building back at your home and inserted yourself here.” Devonshire stopped pursuing her and tilted his head to one side. “What was the plan? Get into my good graces and marry me, make yourself a duchess so things will be better?”
“No!” That thought had never occurred to Virginia and she could feel the outrage building. “Why on earth would I do that?”
“Because you needed a boost. Your father has put your reputation into tatters. You wouldn’t be able to get a good marriage out of this. And I needed a governess.” Devonshire spread his hands. “What better way to worm into my life?”
He thought she got herself a job with him because she wanted to marry him? Virginia had thought the arrogance was softening, but it was still there. He was so full of himself and any soft spot she might have had for him shrank as she glared at him. “Do you really think I would have got anywhere in life if I stayed, at my age?” she demanded.
“So, you’re admitting it?”
“Fine. I’m Virginia Marsden. I ran because Father ruined everything. I was about to be married to someone I thought loved me for me. Then Father took away all of my money. He made it impossible to get what I wanted in life. I had to get a job, but no one is going to hire me. I lied so I could start a new life for myself, that I had control over, and where I wasn’t worrying about where the pennies were going.” She felt drained after saying all that. And from Devonshire’s expression, he didn’t believe a word.
“And you expect me to believe what you just said?”
“Believe what you want.” Virginia’s hands clenched into fists. “But understand this, Your Grace, I do
n’t like being called a liar. And I won’t stand for it.” Without bothering to curtsy, she turned to leave.
“I didn’t say you could leave!”
“That’s unfortunate!” Virginia had never answered back like this before to anyone. Not even to her father when he told her what had happened to her inheritance. Her frustrations were coming to the boil. Then she squeaked when Devonshire grabbed her arm.
“Virginia, wait!”
Virginia reacted. She wanted to get out of there and she didn’t like being touched without her consent. The pain shot along her arm as she hit Devonshire in the face with her fist. It hurt, but it had the desired effect. Devonshire dropped her arm and sprang back, staring at her as he held his jaw.
Virginia’s immediate reaction was to apologize. She had never hit anyone before. But she then remembered she didn’t have anything to apologize for. He had grabbed her. She growled and backed away.
“Touch me again and I’ll do more than that.”
Then she ran from the room. Devonshire didn’t follow her.
Chapter 8
Losing His Governess
“S he actually struck you?” Chester looked shocked at what Devonshire had told him.
Devonshire still couldn’t quite believe it himself. He could still feel Virginia’s fist in his face and rubbed at his throbbing jaw. “She did,” he grumbled, “and it still hurts.”
“I can see how it would,” Chester chuckled and leant back against the desk, arms folded. “Baron Marsden had been a competent boxer in his youth. His must have taught his daughter a thing or two.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.”
While Devonshire was proud that Virginia wasn’t afraid to defend herself and was showing herself to be a strong woman, he wasn’t happy that he had had to find out this way. Virginia’s outburst had been surprising, to say the least.
His governess was certainly not meek.
And she was his. That hit Devonshire even harder than Virginia’s blow. Virginia Marsden was in his charge. It didn’t matter that he had been deceived. Devonshire now understood why. She was under his protection and Devonshire was determined to let her know.
Things were going to change. Devonshire was going to change everything. The debts would be paid, he would smooth things over and get Virginia back into Society. And he would make Virginia his wife, no doubt about it. She would be perfect as his duchess and be a perfect mother to his children.
Realizing that his feelings for her were now not as forbidden as he originally thought, all of this came to the forefront of his mind and Devonshire wasn’t about to shift it.
“What are you going to do now?” Chester asked.
“I don’t know. We need to talk but I can’t find her.”
Once Devonshire had gotten over the shock he had gone looking for Virginia. But she had vanished. There was no sight of her anywhere and nobody knew where she was.
Devonshire had given up and decided to leave it until the next day to let Virginia calm down. Now it was the next morning and Devonshire was eager to see Virginia at the breakfast table.
“She’s obviously very good at hiding.” Chester was still smirking.
“This isn’t funny, Chester.”
“I know. But I think it is funny she can disappear in a puff of smoke.”
“She can certainly do that.” Devonshire began to pace. “I just wish she wouldn’t lash out when cornered. I need to talk to her. None of this is her fault and I shouldn’t have been harsh on her.”
“You’re just upset that the woman you’ve fallen in love with lied to you.”
“It’s more than…” Devonshire stopped so suddenly he nearly fell over. He spun around. “What did you just say?”
“You’re in love with her.” Chester didn’t even blink. “Any fool can see that. Why do you think Kimberly left early? She could see that your heart was with someone else.”
Devonshire was floored. He had only come to the realization the day before that he had fallen for the woman. He rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. “I didn’t realize I was that obvious.”
“Well, you were to me. Christina Farcet even told me to make sure she got an invitation to the wedding.”
“I don’t even know if that’s going to happen. I did upset her, Chester. I was too harsh on her. And she does have a scandal attached to her family name.”
“That’s as may be.” Chester’s eyes twinkled. “But I’m sure love conquers all.”
Devonshire rolled his eyes with a groan. “This isn’t a romantic novel, Chester. This is real life.”
And it wasn’t helping him, either. Devonshire made to take another pass across the floor when the door opened and Jacqueline poked her head around.
“Uncle Devon?”
“Jacqueline?” Then Devonshire saw that his niece had been crying, that she was pale. He hurried over. “What’s wrong? Are you unwell?”
“Ginny…” Jacqueline sniffed and let out a small sob. “Ginny’s gone.”
Devonshire felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. He knelt before Jacqueline. “What do you mean, gone?”
“She left during the night. Mrs Morley had to wake us up and get us ready this morning.”
Devonshire looked back at Chester, who had pushed himself to standing. He looked just as stunned as Devonshire felt. Devonshire turned back to his niece. “Where’s Joan?”
“She’s with Mrs Morley,” Jacqueline said. “She hasn’t stopped crying since we found that Ginny had gone.”
“I didn’t hear anything during the night.” Chester frowned.
“Neither did I,” Devonshire added grimly.
Then again, he slept in a room at the back of the house and, even then, he slept like the dead. If Virginia had been dancing around the house clashing pans together, Devonshire wouldn’t have heard a thing.
Devonshire made a mental note to talk to his footmen. There was no chance Virginia had left without help.
“She left me a letter.” Jacqueline wiped at her nose with her wrist and held up the letter she had been holding in her hand. “She said that she had lied about who she was and tried to run away from what would have ruined her. She wanted to make a fresh start and now she had to leave. She then said she loves us but she can’t stay.”
All the while, Jacqueline had been shaking. Then she burst into tears and flung her arms around Devonshire’s neck. His heart broke. His nieces were suffering because of this. If only he hadn’t tried to confront Virginia about her lies. Then she would be here still and they could be together.
Even if it meant Virginia kept living a lie.
Chapter 9
Running Away Again
“G inny!” Perry Carlson stormed into the kitchen and scowled at Virginia as she checked the plates and gathered them into her arms. “Where is that order for Lord Fitzgibbon?”
“It’s coming.” Virginia gasped as she tried not to drop the hot plates, the heat burning through her sleeves onto her arms.
Carlson growled and clapped his hands hard. “You need to work faster than this!” he bellowed.
Virginia fixed him with a glare as she carefully carried the plates past him. “If I wasn’t working alone, it wouldn’t be so slow,” she snapped.
It had been three weeks since she had walked into the tavern and asked if there was any work. Three weeks of dealing with a bully of an employer and her patience was wearing very thin. Virginia was surprised she hadn’t snapped already.
Carlson’s face went even redder. He grabbed her hair and twisted it, almost pulling it out of her scalp. Virginia grimaced but held firm. She managed not to drop the plates.
“And you think I’m not going to kick you out into the streets if you give me anymore of your mouth?” He shook her sharply. “Try it.”
Virginia wanted to lash out. She wanted to throw the plates at him and walk out. But there was nowhere else for her to go. Virginia didn’t have the same determination she had previously. The co
nfrontation with Devonshire and the subsequent time working with Carlson had broken her.
There was nothing left for her and Virginia knew there was nothing if she walked out. She gritted her teeth as she forced out an apology.
Carlson grunted and let her go abruptly. Virginia took a moment before she pushed through into the busy tavern. The place was very popular and thrived, with everyone from the lowliest of people to the high-ranking nobility. Nobody cared what rank you were in here and they happily intermingled.
It was a rough place and Virginia had learnt a lot. While the lower classes were rowdy, they were tolerable and Virginia could handle them. Some of them were even respectful. It was the upper classes that drove her mad. They tried it on with her, attempting to seduce her with their wealth and their charm. Virginia had had enough of it and wished she could throw wine into their faces. But then that would mean another beating from Carlson.
Virginia wished she hadn’t picked this place but there hadn’t been any other option. Unless she was to go back to her father. That was not happening.
She reached the table that had ordered the food, where a man in his late thirties was sitting, lounging in his chair like he owned the place. Virginia gritted her teeth. This man again. He kept coming in and ordering the same thing. And he wanted Virginia to serve him every time. Virginia hated it. He made her feel dirty just by looking at her.
“There we are.” The man—Lord Something, Virginia hadn’t bothered to learn his name—purred at her as Virginia put the plates down. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten me.”
“Not forgotten, I assure you.” Virginia tried to put a smile on but failed. She wasn’t in a smiling mood. She turned to leave and felt the back of her skirt being grabbed. Then she was tugged backwards and tumbled onto the man’s lap. The lord trapped her with his arms around her waist.
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