by Ayles, Abby
Hannah had to shield herself against the bright light as they exited the manor house. It seemed to be so beautiful and alive outside that she wondered for a second if it could be Easter Morning.
The carriage ride into the town was one to remember for her. On her way to Brighton Abby it had been much too dark to see the fields of green or trees fat with spring leaves. Now there seemed to be every shade of green surrounding her.
Along the road’s edge sprang little wildflowers. Hannah wondered if she might take the girls to pick some in the afternoon.
As the town came into view Hannah couldn’t help but feel a little excitement. She was finally seeing it for the first time.
It resembled more of a quaint village than a town, with only one main street that led to a large square. In the middle of the square was a communal well and behind that stood the stone church.
It was by far the finest building in the village. It was made even more beautiful by the plump purple wisteria that climbed up its side.
Hannah couldn’t help but breathe in the fresh new life that seemed to rain down on her with the rays of sunshine as she exited the earl’s fine carriage.
Already there was a steady stream of villagers in their Sunday best greeting the vicar at the door and making their way into the church.
Upon their exit the carriage driver continued on, no doubt to a stable to settle the two white horses that galloped with great majesty.
The earl led the way as Hannah followed behind with one girl in each hand. Rebecca was clinging to her in a loving way. Caroline on the other hand hadn’t quite warmed up to Hannah yet, though she did stay dutifully by her governess’s side.
Rebecca was young enough to love almost anyone unconditionally. Caroline on the other hand still remembered well the bitter sting of one abandonment after another and Hannah was sure that it would be a much more delicate process for her to open her heart again.
Hannah should have not cared a whit for such a thing. Certainly her teaching at Hendrick’s was to do her job most professionally and without emotional attachment. Such things were only a hindrance and inappropriate in the eyes of her childhood instructors. Hannah found, quite oppositely, that it was the emotional connections that truly helped her wards to grow into well-rounded human beings.
Hannah studied the rest of the congregation as they entered the chapel. Aside from her small party, it seemed that most were just humble farmers. She did recognize a few members of staff from Brighton Abby however. Her heart ran cold at the realization. Why it hadn’t crossed her mind before she didn’t know.
Certainly if the earl attended services in Concordshire then so did the rest of the household. If there was a parish supported by the earl on his property then he would certainly attend there. Along with the townsfolk and nearby farmers there would also be a healthy dose of Brighton Abby staff members in today’s congregation. That unfortunately would include Mr. David Poole.
“Good morning, Lord Grimshaw,” a feeble voice crooned with a bow.
Looking upon the vicar, Hannah had to guess he was close to the end of his life. No doubt it was the reason for the younger man at the parish at the time of their last governess’s service.
Though she was told now both Miss Watts and her new preacher husband were removed from this place elsewhere.
“Good morning, Dr. O’Driscoll,” Grimshaw responded in his deep commanding voice. “Please let me introduce our new governess,” he added with a sweeping hand back for Hannah to come forward. “Miss Hannah Jacobson.”
Hannah curtsied respectfully. He seemed to eye her with a raised brow. Perhaps Dr. O’Driscoll was just as wary of her due to past governesses brought to his service.
“And where do you hail from, Miss Jacobson?” he asked in his quaky voice while folding his hands in front of his plain black preacher’s garb.
“I was born and raised in London.”
“I would assume so, since Lord Grimshaw only seeks the best governesses and naturally they will come from the fine city. But where in London, my dear?”
Already she could see that she was about to be sized up on account of her heritage. She had none to speak of and though this man was of the cloth she suspected by his downcast eyes he planned to judge her by it.
“Most of my childhood was spent in Hendrick’s Preparatory School for Young Misses. My aunt and uncle were kind enough to sponsor me thus,” Hannah said in hopes of dodging the question.
“Ah, I know the school well. It is one of the few fine establishments left,” he said now by way of informing the earl. “So often now these schools have gone soft on their wards and forgotten the necessity of a proper upbringing in humility and the good word.”
Hannah did her best to hide the overcast shadow on her face at his words. They had certainly endeavored to teach these two things by way of regular beatings, humiliation, and starvation.
It was clear that the reverend was of the same mind; spare kindness and quicken the rod.
“I can promise you they were most thorough in both aspects,” Hannah said with a sour taste in her mouth.
Dr. O’Driscoll gave a nod of approval and a gruff grunt.
In that moment Hannah realized that the earl was studying her most pointedly. He seemed to be searching for a way into her own mind. She looked away quickly, unable to hold such a penetrating stare.
They made their way into the cool chapel along the flagstone walk, past the pews already filled with Brighton Abby’s household and farmers.
Hannah could see that at the front of the chapel were seats much more sparsely filled. The dress of the people in these pews was more refined as well. She supposed these were the few townsfolk that had a slightly better standard of living than those who sat farther behind.
Here the ladies’ dresses were of finer quality and prettier colors compared to the demure counterparts behind. Their noses were also distinctly higher than those behind them.
The earl ushered them to the front pew and then stepped aside to allow the three ladies in his company to take their seats first.
Hannah had a strange sense of protection as the earl took his spot at the end of the pew. She hadn’t seen Mr. Poole among the congregation as of yet but it still brought her comfort to be enclosed with no chance of someone coming to her without first having to go through Lord Grimshaw.
The sermon itself was rather dull as she expected after meeting Dr. O’Driscoll. He seemed to have a great passion for reproving sinners, and he seemed to find all women fitted in this category.
With such views on the female sex, Hannah couldn’t help but wonder how he must have felt when his pupil had announced a desire to marry Miss Watts.
It was an excruciatingly long sermon for Hannah that rather reminded her of the time she spent in Hendrick’s. She couldn’t help but be proud of the two girls at her side who both sat with hands delicately folded in their white lace gloves, their gazes held steady on the face of the preacher.
It was only after the sermon when the earl’s party rose to leave that Hannah was particularly aware of all the eyes on them.
The earl for his part paid no heed and instead thanked the vicar for his words and then continued down the way, sharing words here and there with several men.
“How long do you think this one will last?” Hannah heard a lady whisper behind her hand to another.
“Well at least she isn’t as fine to look at as the last. Perhaps that will be the earl’s saving grace. Poor dear, he was so heartbroken after his wife. Then to have the last governess abandon him.”
“It is a wonder his daughters aren’t wildlings,” the first agreed. “I heard that he refuses to take them to town for the benefit of the tutors. He insists that they stay to the country seat. One could say he is just lucky his daughters are relatively behaved.”
Both ladies looked in Hannah’s direction and she held their gaze. She would not hide the fact that she had heard them nor shy away from it.
One of the ladies h
ad the decency to blush at being caught but that didn’t stop them from turning and continuing their hushed talk as they made their way out of the sanctuary.
Chapter Nine
“Are you the new governess?” A soft lady’s voice shook Hannah from her eavesdropping.
Hannah tuned to see a kindly older woman in a clean but worn grey linen dress.
“Yes, I am Hannah Jacobson,” Hannah introduced herself to the lady, feeling warmed by the first kind smile since entering the church.
“And come all the way from London, I hear?”
Hannah couldn’t help but look down at the lady, she was only a head taller than Caroline. It also didn’t help that she had a severe bend to her spine.
Despite her uncomfortable position she seemed a very cheerful sort. Her hair was white and her chin matched in white whiskers, with her small eyes set so far back in her plump round face that it almost looked like currents pushed into a loaf of bread.
They were dark little eyes surrounded by waves of wrinkled skin that told a lifetime story. When she smiled Hannah couldn’t help but notice that a few of her teeth were missing as well.
“Yes, ma’am,” Hannah responded.
“Oh,” she waved Hannah off with a blush, “don’t you be goin’ calling me such. I ain’t no such thing.”
“Then what shall I call you?” Hannah asked, elated to make a friend in this conjuration of naysayers and gossipmongers.
“Why most just call me Widow McCarthy, though I never cared for it. What’s the use of being reminded that you’re all alone with every word come out of some’uns mouth?”
Hannah had to smile at her logic.
“Surely you’re not all alone though?” Hannah asked, looking around the room for someone that perhaps took care of the aged lady.
“Oh, there is my son, Matty. Though he is far too busy to spend time with a’old timer like me’self.”
Hannah looked around the room in earnest. Surely this sweet lady was not left to return home alone.
“Forgive me,” a man’s voice said from behind her and Hannah whipped around. “I believe my mother is bothering you.”
Hannah studied the frame of the gentleman. He looked to be in his mid-twenties and rather handsome at that.
“No, not at all. We were just having a lovely conversation,” Hannah turned back to Mrs. McCarthy. “She has been a most gracious welcome party for my first Sunday service.”
“Are you her son then?” Hannah inquired. “Mrs. McCarthy did mention one. I believe Matty?”
He cleared his throat, “Matthew McCarthy, at your service, Miss?”
“Miss Hannah Jacobson.”
“Mr. McCarthy,” a gruff voice boomed from next to Hannah.
She hadn’t realized it but Lord Grimshaw had finished his words and was now apparently entering their conversation.
“I see you wasted no time in making the acquaintance of my governess?”
“Actually I was just here to collect my mother. Mother?” he said, motioning for the elderly lady to follow after him.
Hannah sensed something unspoken and not understood by her between the two gentlemen. They seemed to hold each other’s gaze for several seconds.
“Well it was very nice meeting you, Mrs. McCarthy,” Hannah said, doing her best to hide her confusion on the tension between the two men.
“Now you come and visit me anytime. I would be happy for the company,” Mrs. McCarthy said, patting Hannah’s hand as she shuffled towards her son. “I am all alone in my little cottage and would be happy for it. Just go to the local shop and ask Matty here and he will show ye the way.”
“Thank you, Mrs. McCarthy. That is most kind of you.”
“Miss Jacobson, we really must be going,” Lord Grimshaw said in a demanding voice.
“Yes, of course,” Hannah said, only hesitating for a moment as she watched the McCarthys walk away.
It wasn’t Matthew that she was so interested in but the sweet little lady. Hannah was sure that she would find a moment in the next week to go and visit with the lady.
“I believe you are forgetting my conditions,” Lord Grimshaw said rather gruffly after they were all again seated in the carriage waiting out front for them.
“I’m not sure what you mean?” Hannah retorted, not sure if she was more surprised by his words or the accusation behind them.
“Then I suppose that will be something we can discuss tonight after dinner,” he said, penetrating her with his dark brown eyes.
She was utterly surprised by his words, but more so by the stern nature of his face. She could swear on the ride in he was all aglow with warmth and his eyes shone a sweet honey glee. Now his face was darkened with its usual solemnity and his eyes were as dark as a deep pool.
“I assure you there will be nothing needing discussion. I was merely speaking with a kind old lady.”
“And her young eligible son,” Grimshaw added.
Hannah opened her mouth to retort but realized there were two pairs of big doe eyes intently watching the two of them.
She was sure this was not an appropriate topic for a carriage ride in front of Grimshaw’s two little girls. She was not willing to let him bully her into admitting she was attempting to flirt with Mr. McCarthy when she certainly wasn’t, nor did she want to disrespect the man by arguing with him in front of his children.
“Then I suppose there is a misunderstanding between us and a proper conversation might be well advised.”
Grimshaw was more than sour that he came upon Miss Jacobson all smiles for Matthew McCarthy at her first church service no less. He wasn’t sure what irritated him more, that she seemed to waste no time in finding a suitable beau in town, or that she had shown her first unencumbered smile to another.
Now when he suggested they discuss the matter and resolve it promptly she had the audacity to pretend to have no idea to his meaning. Now she was claiming that a sit-down was her idea all along.
Grimshaw wasn’t used to having the tables turned on him, but he had a feeling with Miss Jacobson in his employment he would now always have to be on his toes to counter her cunning abilities.
Dinner in the company of the earl and his daughters was a strained occurrence that Sunday evening. It was as if the weight of the unspoken words for both Grimshaw and Hannah were pressing down on them.
Though Rebecca was far too young to notice the change in mood and happily chatted on, Caroline on the other hand was very aware of it.
Constantly the girl darted her eyes nervously between her father and governess. Hannah did her best to give the child a reassuring smile whenever possible.
Caroline may have understood that something was amiss, but she couldn’t know what exactly. Hannah highly doubted that the earl had made his daughters privy to the knowledge of the ridiculous rules he had yoked upon her.
To make matters all the worse, it appeared that Mr. Poole would be waiting on them at dinner that night. Apparently one of the normal servers had fallen ill and Mr. Poole had happily stepped in to take his place.
Hannah didn’t have to guess why. He made it a point to stand against the wall directly behind her. Though there were several feet between them she could still feel his icy breath on her neck.
He would make sure to torment her in any way he could, it would seem.
Twice he came to fill up Hannah’s cup with more sherry though it wasn’t even half emptied. She did her best to ignore his eyes drawing to her chest as he poured the decanter.
Now that the meal was over, Hannah would have rather liked to go to her room, perhaps take a hot bath if at all possible, to wash off Mr. Poole’s glowering stares.
But this would not be possible for her. She was to meet the earl in his office promptly for a pointless reprimand.
More than the audacity of the matter was the fact that the earl was going to accuse her of being lose with a man she had only just met in town, when he clearly couldn’t even see the lewd looks she got all through the meal from his
own footman.
Standing outside the earl’s door Hannah took a steadying breath for courage and lifted her chin ever so slightly.
She had once been the meek type as she had been trained in her younger years. That had rewarded her with the Baron Edgley debacle. She promised herself that mistake would never be made again.
She was sure that the moment she stepped into that office, she would be confronted by Lord Grimshaw’s overbearing stature and booming words. He would try to bully her, but she would not allow it.
She knocked good and hard to make her intentions known and as soon as she was permitted entrance she threw back the door and strutted in head held high.
“Lord Grimshaw, before you speak,” Hannah said, coming to stand right in front of the desk he was seated at. “I must inform you that you have been grossly mistaken in your accusations.”
Grimshaw blinked once before relaxing back into his high back chair, interlacing his fingers and smiling slightly.
“Well then,” he said smugly, “please do inform me.”
“I had only met a kindly widow woman, who seemed very lonely I might add and in great need of Christian kindness and conversation when her son came to collect her. I had not spoken more than introductions to the man before you bellowed into the conversation.”
She let a long breath out, not realizing she had been holding it throughout her practiced speech.
“I see,” he said after letting her say her piece with all the calm decorum of a man of his rank. “And the fact that this kindly widow woman happened to be the mother of the most eligible bachelor of Concordshire is of little consequence?”
“As I said I would know no such thing as we scarcely exchanged names.”
“Quite a serendipitous coincidence however that he would be the man to whom I saw you speaking.”
Hannah opened her mouth to counter but he held his hand up to silence her.
“The point is, I was blindsided by the first governess. I am not so now. I am well aware that ladies of your nature only seek to use my employment and hospitality as a means to procure a, shall we say, different arrangement. For the sake of my children, I will not allow such cunning motives while you are employed under my roof.”