by Ayles, Abby
Unfortunately he didn’t give the governess’s reason for leaving and it only made Hannah question and wonder more.
“When she left us, the girls were beside themselves. I did my best to help them and keep them entertained but there is just something different about time with a woman. They need that influence. I suppose what I am getting at,” he said, brushing a hand through his cropped black hair, “is that their little act today was more out of fear.”
“Fear, Lord Grimshaw?”
“Yes, I am sure they fear attaching themselves to a lady only to have her leave them again. That is why I made sure to interview the governesses myself, no matter how unorthodox. It is also why I picked you. You seemed like someone who would be willing to be their pillar.”
He looked deep into Hannah’s eyes and she feared he had reached her very soul.
“I know it is a lot to ask, but I need you to be that woman for my girls. Can you overlook their actions and see their hurt behind it? Will you truly forgive them and be that feminine figure that they need in their lives?”
Hannah couldn’t speak for a moment. She was overcome with emotions at his earnest pleading as well as the penetrating stare of his brown eyes.
She took a sip of tea, if nothing more than to break the intense connection between them. It also gave her the strength to answer.
“I am honored that you would put so much trust in me. I promise you, Lord Grimshaw, I will do everything in my power not to let you or the girls down.”
Lord Grimshaw seemed to visibly relax at her words. Hannah felt a strange comfort herself to know that she had relieved him of some burden he must have been silently carrying at least these few months since the last governess left.
“Now if you would please excuse me, I have some work to do in the west wing.”
Hannah stood up in unison with him.
“And what shall I do for the rest of the day since you have seemed to relieve me of my pupils?”
“Whatever you want. Of course, please stay to the estate grounds,” he added as an afterthought. “But other than that you are free to explore and settle yourself in. Naturally, you are still most welcome to join me for dinner even with the girls absent,” he added, before bowing and leaving the room.
Hannah didn’t answer him. With his words she felt the claustrophobic grip of his controlling rules again. She wasn’t allowed to leave the estate.
He may have merely requested her presence at dinner and not ordered it, but it still brought back terrible memories of her past post. She would not be joining him for dinner without the presence of the girls’ innocent eyes on them.
Instead she would take the opportunity to explore the house more, then take a quiet meal in her room before preparing how to go about the next day’s classes.
The following morning Hannah was ready to get to work. She wasn’t used to having idle hands. She had spent the remainder of yesterday afternoon in her room and took her evening meal there as well.
It made her quite restless to have nothing to do but look over the things she brought. She did take a short walk around the manor but didn’t feel very comfortable doing so.
In her last house she had been so busy seeing to the needs of her pupil and avoiding the baron that she had never left the few rooms that necessity dictated she be in.
Hannah was happy to see that she got to the girls’ school room before them the following day. It would give her time to organize it to her liking.
Already she had assessed the girls’ weaknesses and strengths and had organized lessons for the next few months.
Whether it was because of the movement of heavy books and furniture or the fact that the days were beginning to warm up in earnest, either way Hannah was feeling quite warm in her linen gown and cotton cap.
She would have loved to take it off, for she truly detested the item, as well as the fake spectacles that pinched at her nose and gave her a constant headache.
She could do nothing for it however. Of course she felt no need to hide herself from the children or their nurse, but there was always the possibility of Lord Grimshaw bursting in again.
Already his overbearing status and demanding rules made her wary. She would not give him even the slightest reason as the baron had claimed she did for him.
“Good morning, girls,” Hannah said as her wards were shuffled into the room by their nurse.
They both stepped in, curtsied with eyes on the ground and mumbled their salutations. Hannah suspected they were prepared for a severe reprimand or perhaps sour disposition in the least after yesterday’s events.
“I thought we might start the morning with a story if that is alright with you,” Hannah said.
Both girls simply nodded timidly, with Rebecca looking to her older sister for a cue.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already checked and made sure that Mr. Whiskers is happily secured in his cage,” Hannah added, hoping her little joke would brighten the girls’ mood.
It didn’t however.
“Come now,” Hannah said, crouching down before them. “Why such sad faces?”
Hannah was doing her best to be soft-spoken and kind to the girls. It was much like encouraging a skittish cat to a bowl of milk.
“Will you be leaving us now, like Miss Watts did?” Rebecca finally asked softly. “Because of our nasty trick, that is?”
“Oh no, my dear,” Hannah responded, taking the little girl’s hand. “It will take much more than Mr. Whiskers to scare me off.”
“She didn’t leave because of Mr. Whiskers,” Caroline said. “She left because she found a beau. Mr. Collins who also goes to our parish,” she explained.
“I see. I had no idea. And I suppose you cared for her very much before she left?”
Both girls nodded in unison. Rebecca’s big brown eyes were filling with tears.
Hannah was sure the girls were still hurting deeply at the loss of their governess.
No doubt they had hoped to start things on a bad foot so that Hannah would be cruel to them. It would be a lot easier to let a mean governess go than one they had grown to love like their last one.
Hannah’s heart ached for them. She would not be cruel to them however. Instead she would show them the abundance of motherly love that they were missing and also show them that no matter what she would be consistent in their life.
“Well, I can assure you I have no plans to leave anytime soon. I rather hoped you two would be okay with that? I think we could all have great fun together.”
Rebecca rubbed an eye with her still cherubic hand to brush away a betraying tear and softened into a hopeful smile.
Hannah was relieved that at least one of the girls was willing to open their hearts to her.
“In fact, I must confess I was inspired by Mr. Whiskers. I have brought with me a relatively new set of stories. They are written by a lovely lady named Beatrix Potter. Do you know them?”
Both girls shook their heads, Rebecca intrigued and Caroline still determined to be distant.
“Oh splendid!” Hannah said, rising to stand.
She kept her hand in Rebecca’s and ushered them over to sit by the hearth. She lifted up the pillow and inspected the seat dramatically before sitting down. It got a small giggle out of the youngest.
“Now her first story is about a very naughty bunny named Peter Rabbit, but I thought we might start with a story you would find more interesting called The Tailor of Gloucester.”
Hannah settled into the chair and flipped through her cloth-bound collection of stories until she landed on the third one. She showed the introductory picture to both girls. It was a small mouse seated on a spool of thread reading a paper.
“In this story a tailor is desperately struggling to get his work done on time. Luckily he has some very kind mice that live in the dresser and help him with his work.”
By the time Hannah finished her story, both girls were in rapture of the story and the little characters. Even Caroline who had tried so hard t
o stay distant couldn’t help but feel the excitement of the enchanted tale.
“Perhaps if I leave my sampler in Mr. Whiskers’ cage, he will finish it for me,” Caroline mused when the story was over.
“He would just shred it and make a bed out of it like all the other fabric we give him,” Rebecca responded.
“I am fine with that too. Then I wouldn’t have to work on it anymore.”
“I think it is wonderful that you have already started a sampler, Caroline,” Hannah responded. “You must be very skilled to already have one started so young. You must show it to me after our penmanship.”
Caroline held her head a little higher at the compliment. She had only started the sampler right before Miss Watts’ departure and had refused to continue the work after she left, but now hearing that she was quite advanced for her age, she had the sudden desire to pick it up again.
Chapter Six
As it was Saturday, Hannah finally got her first relief from teaching the girls. It was not as wanted as she had expected.
Within the baron’s home Hannah counted down the days until she would get her day off from educating the pupil who was just as much a handful as his father.
After teaching the girls for almost a week, Hannah could easily say she had enjoyed every moment of it and had no desire to depart from them.
Much to Hannah’s surprise she also found herself enjoying her evening supper at the earl’s table. Both of them seemed to focus more on the girls than anything else.
She couldn’t help but admire the man for his dedication to his daughters and real interest in their lives.
Though she was looking forward to a chance to catch up on some grading over the last week and having a small break from work, she was also apprehensive of the day.
Hannah didn’t want to stay cooped up in the house, but also felt concerns about traveling to the nearby town.
Lord Grimshaw’s overbearing rules seemed to pound in the back of her mind. She refused to ask his permission or even his accompaniment as she went to town to pick up a few items she was in need of. At the same time she did slightly fear his wrath at knowingly breaking his demands.
She couldn’t afford to be dismissed from a job yet again and without a good reference. More than that she couldn’t bear to leave the girls after making so much headway with them this last week. She was sure that to do so would be a greater detriment to their already delicate demeanors.
Instead Hannah sought out the advice of Mrs. Brennon. Perhaps the lady would accompany her to town, thereby stepping around the earl’s requirements.
“I wonder if I might have a moment of your time, Mrs. Brennon,” Hannah said after softly knocking on the housekeeper’s office door.
“Yes of course,” Mrs. Brennon replied, coming to stand from behind her desk.
“I don’t want to disturb you if you are otherwise engaged,” Hannah said, motioning to the paperwork before the housekeeper.
“Nonsense, I was just thinking it might be a good time to take a break.”
She pulled a cord on the wall that also contained a series of bells of her own summons from the main house.
Instantly a young kitchen maid came in the room and curtsied.
“Will you bring some tea for Miss Jacobson and myself,” Mrs. Brennon asked the girl politely.
She nodded and quickly left the room. The middle-aged woman motioned for Hannah to join her in two chairs with a small table between them. Other than the sound of rustling skirts and the clinking of Mrs. Brennon’s keys at her waist, the downstairs of the manor was a peaceful place.
“Are you settling in well?” Mrs. Brennon asked after they both sat.
“Yes, the room is magnificent. The house is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.”
“Have you been around the gardens at all? They are all abloom this time of year.”
“I have gone out a few times with the girls over the past few days. The skill of the gardeners is breathtaking.”
“I will have to pass your compliments onto Hanson, our head landscaper. He will be happy to hear of your enjoyment.”
“I do have a concern, however, that I hoped you might help me unravel.”
“Of course,” Mrs. Brennon said as the tea was set before them and served.
“I need to go to town to get some items. Unfortunately the earl has expressed that I shan’t go without his accompanying me.”
The housekeeper nodded her head in understanding.
“I would hate to be such a burden on him. I wondered if perhaps you need to go to town sometime in the future and I could accompany you. If Lord Grimshaw fears for my safety outside the estate surely your company or perhaps Mary’s would be enough to satisfy him.”
“I can assure you that his rules have nothing to do with danger at Concordshire. It is a most peaceful place and there is certainly nothing like the ruffians of London to worry about,” she added with distaste.
Hannah gathered that Mrs. Brennon didn’t care for the city.
“Then why have such a silly rule?” Hannah asked with a lump in her throat.
She had hoped that he would not be as controlling as the baron but could see no other reason why he would put such demands on her as to have control over her at all times.
“Did the earl tell you the nature of the last governess’s departure?”
“I only know that she met a gentleman and was married.”
“Yes, a kind man from the local parish. He was a student of the vicar and has since left to take on his own parish. It was very hard on the girls.”
“Lord Grimshaw told me as much and I could easily tell from them.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Brennon agreed meditatively. “I believe he is hesitant to let another governess go the same way. He would do anything to shield those girls from heartbreak. I can’t blame him for that.”
“Nor I,” Hannah had to agree. “But certainly I cannot be held accountable for someone else’s choice. I can promise you I have no desire to find a husband or marry,” Hannah continued, tugging on her plain brown muslin dress.
“Give him time and I am sure he will soften. Until then I would suggest adhering to his requirements. He is very protective of his children and would not take lightly to any act that he would consider a threat to their happiness.”
“I am sorry but I cannot bring myself to ask him to accompany me to town.”
“I assure you that despite his large stature he is a very gentle man. You would find his company most agreeable.”
“I don’t doubt that, but it wouldn’t be appropriate and I can’t do it,” Hannah said vehemently.
“Well, I know that Mary goes to town on Saturdays as well. I am sure she would be more than happy to pick up whatever you might need, or mail any letters you might have.”
Hannah sat as she considered Mrs. Brennon’s words. She had rather hoped the lady would have just agreed that going with another member of the staff was good enough.
She couldn’t risk the earl’s wrath and subsequent dismissal. Mrs. Brennon might have thought he was somehow gentle below that dark exterior. Certainly she had seen such with his daughters, but she didn’t for a second consider that to extend to herself.
If her only two choices were to be subject to a private audience with the earl or being confined to the manor as a prison, she would have to take the latter.
She wouldn’t lose this job for the sake of the girls and her own livelihood, but that wouldn’t for a second lead her to giving up her morals. She had fought off the baron; she was sure she could withstand the Earl of Grimshaw as well.
Hannah left Mrs. Brennon’s office not with the end result she desired but at least a resolution to her problems. She would seek Mary out. Hopefully she hadn’t already left for town.
Much to her satisfaction, she found Mary seated in the staff common area and she was happy to pick up the needed items on behalf of Hannah.
Hannah was making her way down the hall back to her quarters. She
rather thought since she wasn’t able to take the trip to town she would select a book from her room and spend some time in the garden.
“Well, look who has found her way downstairs,” a man’s voice called from behind her.
She whipped around to find Mr. Poole, the footman, leaning against a door frame she had just passed. She rather thought to just keep walking on and ignore him altogether.
“How are you finding Brighton Abby, Miss Jacobson?” he asked, rubbing his hands on a cloth and taking a step towards her.
Though she had at first had uneasy thoughts of the gentleman she thought it innocent enough conversation, so she turned fully to answer him.
“Very well, thank you, Mr. Poole. Everyone has been most welcoming to me.”
“I’m sure they have,” he said, eyeing the edge of her cap.
She had a sudden urge to pull it down tighter around her hair and pull up her fichu all at the same time.
He continued to slowly walk forward until he was far too close to her. She meant to take a step back but he instantly put a hand on her shoulder.
“Excuse me, Mr. Poole,” she said, trying to shake off his grip unsuccessfully. “I really must be going.”
“What’s the hurry?” he asked as a thumb rubbed against the fabric of her dress.
She tried again to step away from him but instead he used the movement to push her against the hall wall. Tucking the cloth in his back pocket he placed his other hand against the wall, completely blocking her in.
“I can’t help but wonder what you are hiding under all that fabric, Miss Jacobson,” he said, looking her over with hungry eyes.
Her heart was pounding in her chest and she wanted to scream.
His hand moved from her shoulder and she felt his fingers run along the edge of her white fichu. She felt him tug at it.
With a gasp she reached up to stop him, but instead he grabbed her wrist and held it tight. He continued to tug at the white fabric until one side was completely out.