A Very Unusual Governess

by Sylvia Andrew

  Edward watched her broodingly as she walked angrily over the grass to where Pip was standing. He had done it again! Why did he always have to spoil things? He couldn’t possibly have told her what Arandez had done, but with anyone else he would have managed to refuse more gracefully. As for that brother of hers…The trouble was, he had never come across anyone quite like Octavia Petrie before, and he wasn’t sure how to deal with her. A lady of the highest society, yet she was as honest and straightforward as Pip, as gentle and caring as Lisette, a woman of courage and humour, and with a passion that could set him on fire in a way that Louise would never even begin to match. What was he to do about her?

  ‘Marry her,’ a voice inside him said. ‘That’s the only answer. Marry her before someone else does.’

  Edward had started across the grass to join Octavia and Pip, but he now stopped short. Marry her? Give up his bachelor life? Join the ranks of those married men he had pitied in the past? Never! Look at the state she had got him into now, and he wasn’t even engaged to her! Oh, no! Marriage was a trap he would never fall into. What a damned foolish idea!

  Chapter Fifteen

  The conversation during the return trip from Richmond was purely for Pip’s benefit. Left to herself, Octavia would not have said a word to Edward Barraclough. She was angry and disappointed. One minute he was lifting her spirits by swearing, apparently sincerely, that he did not despise her, and two minutes later he was refusing to trust her with information about Arandez, and furthermore accusing her of promoting Harry’s claims to Lisette’s fortune! What was wrong with him? It was almost as if he deliberately picked a quarrel whenever they seemed to be getting closer. Octavia had no idea whether this was instinctive or deliberate, but to her mind it demonstrated even more clearly his reluctance to become involved. When they reached St James’s Square she kissed Pip affectionately, and bade Mr Barraclough a very cool farewell.

  Once in her room, she put Edward Barraclough firmly out of her mind and turned her attention to his niece. From what she had heard of the past year in Lisette’s life, it wasn’t surprising that she was sad. Time would heal the pain of her parents’ death, but it was obvious that Lisette would never be happy and at peace with herself until she knew what she really felt for Ricardo Arandez. Edward Barraclough had dismissed the idea that she had ever been in love with Arandez, and Octavia was now inclined to agree with him. Lisette had felt affection for a young man she had known since she was a child, and she had trusted him. Why else had she been so ready to believe his story about the letter? However, during the past six months away from Antigua Lisette had done some growing up. Her interest in Harry proved she was no longer in love with Arandez, if indeed she ever had been.

  But, as long as Lisette still half-believed what Arandez had told her, she would never truly be free to think of anyone else. Octavia wished she knew what had caused John Barraclough’s sudden refusal to let his daughter marry him. Did Lisette herself know why? John Barraclough must have given his daughter some reason for breaking off the relationship so abruptly.

  So, when she called to congratulate Julia on the success of her ball, she took the opportunity to invite Lisette to come for a drive in the park. Miss Cherrifield had taken Pip with her to visit some of her former pupils, so the way was free for a confidential chat.

  ‘I’ve been thinking about what you told me about Ricardo Arandez, Lisette,’ she began as they drove along in the spring sunshine. ‘What sort of person was he?’

  ‘I’m not sure any more. When I was young I liked him a lot, though he was much older than I was. He always said he wanted to marry me, and I quite liked the idea, especially as it meant I would still be near my own home. His family lives on the next estate, you see. Mama and Papa seemed pleased, too, so I was very surprised when they changed their mind.’

  ‘Do you know why that was?’

  ‘Not really. But later I thought it must be because of some disagreement about boundaries. Edward thought the Arandez family had taken some land that belonged to us. Papa wouldn’t talk about it, but that was the only reason I could find.’

  ‘Were you unhappy? Did you badly want to marry Ricardo?’

  ‘I thought I did at first, but not afterwards.’

  ‘Why was that?’

  ‘When Mama and Papa were killed and he told me that Papa had wanted me to marry him straight away, I wasn’t sure I wanted to. So I told him I needed time.’

  ‘My poor girl, of course you needed time! Your parents’ accident must have been a terrible shock! Surely he understood that?’

  ‘No. He said that Papa’s last wishes ought to be a “sacred duty”. He got angry when I still wouldn’t do as he wished, and called me a stupid little girl. But then Edward and Uncle Henry saw him and sent him away. When they said I wasn’t to see him again, I was almost relieved. But then, after Edward had left for England, Ricardo came back again and wanted me to go away with him. He was more like he had been in the past. He said he was sorry he had frightened me, it was because he loved me so much, and had promised Papa he would always look after me.’

  ‘But you had your uncles to look after you! They were your guardians.’

  ‘That’s what I told him. I said I was quite sure Papa wouldn’t have wanted me to run away with anyone. Then he showed me Papa’s letter. We were just leaving when Uncle Henry saw us and called his men. That was the last time I saw Ricardo. I can’t seem to forget it. The men were dragging him away and he was shouting that I must wait for him, that he loved me and would come for me. I…I think sooner or later he will.’

  They were silent for a moment. Then Octavia said, ‘And what will you say if he does?’

  ‘I don’t know! I once thought I was in love with him, but I’m not sure any more that he was telling the truth about Papa. And…and I met your brother and I found that I liked him much better! Much better! Lady Octavia, I just don’t know what I would say!’

  ‘I suppose in the end it comes down to one simple question, Lisette. If you think you’re still in love with him, then you must persuade him to be honourable and wait till you have your guardians’ proper consent. No running away again. After all, if it was just a matter of a boundary dispute, they may well come round if they see you’re serious. But, if you are not in love with Mr Arandez, then you will have to tell him so. It’s as simple as that.’

  Lisette sighed. ‘It does sound simple when you say it. I’ll try to do it. Thank you for talking to me, Lady Octavia!’

  After chatting with Lisette on less fraught matters for a while, Octavia thought she could safely take her back to South Audley Street. She was surprised at Edward Barraclough. The quarrel over the boundary must have been very bitter indeed to cause so much trouble in the family. But when she thought more about it, she decided that the delay it had caused hadn’t actually done Lisette any harm. Without that dispute, Lisette might well have married Arandez and only afterwards discovered that what she had felt was affection for a childhood hero, not love for the grown man. She could have been very unhappy. As it was, she had a chance now to find out what she really wanted of life.

  On the evening of Gussie’s rout party her husband came in late to the salon just as Gussie was about to give him up and start dinner without him. He was accompanied by a tall, very presentable young man with blond hair and clear blue eyes. Introductions were of necessity rather hasty, but the Duke smiled blithely at his wife and in his rumbling voice presented his protégé as ‘Billie Farquhar’s great-nephew, m’dear, Richard Aransay.’

  ‘You’re very welcome, sir,’ said Gussie. ‘You must forgive our lack of ceremony this evening. The house has been made ready for later, and we are dining in the morning room. Perhaps you would take my sister, Lady Octavia Petrie, in to dine? And this is my brother, Lieutenant Petrie. I expect you two young men about town will find a lot to say to each other! Shall we go?’

  Octavia found Mr Aransay an entertaining dinner companion. She gathered that he had just spent several weeks wit
h his great-uncle, and his irreverent account of the activities of that eccentric peer reminded her strongly of Tom Payne. For a while her anxieties about Lisette, her sense of injury at Edward Barraclough’s lack of trust, were forgotten as she laughed at Mr Aransay’s stories, supplemented by those of the Duke, who had his own tales to tell of Lord Farquhar. The time passed very agreeably, and it was a surprise when Gussie rose from the table and announced that their other guests would soon be arriving. It was time to get ready to receive them.

  The reception rooms of Monteith House were impressive, and tonight they were beautifully laid out for Gussie’s guests. A table of refreshments surrounding a large bowl of fruit punch had been put out in the ornate dining room, and liveried footmen circled the rooms with trays of champagne and wine. There was no dancing, but a group of musicians provided a pleasing background of music. The salon was gleaming in the light of several hundred candles in its huge chandeliers, reflected over and over in the mirrors that lined the walls. Soon the rooms were filled with the hum of conversation interspersed with laughter, a sure sign of the evening’s success.

  The Duke had taken Mr Aransay off after dinner, presumably to exchange some further reminiscences, so Harry, who had been told by Octavia that Lisette would be present, was free to go through the rooms busily greeting old friends and members of the family, and remaining constantly on the watch for the arrival of the Barracloughs. As was Octavia. This time there would be no informal, accidental meetings, such as the one at Wychford. This evening Harry would be properly introduced to Lisette’s family as Lieutenant the Honourable Harry Petrie, son of the Earl of Warnham, and, with one notable exception, she was fairly certain they would regard him with complaisance.

  The Henry Barracloughs arrived with Lisette, who was looking exquisite in jonquil yellow. When Octavia introduced her brother, Julia almost simpered at him.

  ‘We’ve heard about you, of course, Lieutenant Petrie. Your sister has told us you’ve recently left the Army. The Guards, I believe?’

  Harry tore his eyes off Lisette and turned with one of his most charming smiles. ‘Yes, Mrs Barraclough. My father wishes to see more of me. I hear you are from Antigua? I believe it’s a beautiful island…’

  Octavia waited till she saw that Harry had the situation well in hand, busily charming Lisette’s guardians, then moved away. She wandered through the rooms, finally acknowledging to herself that she was waiting for Edward Barraclough to appear, though what she would say to him when he did she had no idea!

  ‘Exquisite! Truly exquisite!’ Octavia turned round. Richard Aransay was behind her, his eyes fixed on Lisette.

  ‘Indeed she is. And one of the Season’s greatest successes.’

  ‘I see your brother is with her at the moment?’

  ‘Lisette has many admirers, sir. Would you like me to introduce you?’

  Richard Aransay smiled. Octavia wondered why it made her uneasy. ‘I hardly think that is necessary, Lady Octavia. Lisetta and I know one another quite well. You might say very well.’

  ‘I beg your pardon, Mr Aransay?’

  ‘Forgive me, ma’am, my name is Arandez. Richard Arandez. I’m afraid my host’s vagueness misled you when he introduced me tonight.’

  Octavia was looking at him in shock. ‘You are Richard Arandez? Ricardo Arandez?’

  ‘I see you’ve heard of me. Has Lisetta been telling you about us? I hear she thinks a great deal of you.’

  ‘Mr Arandez, I’m sorry, but I don’t think you should be here! The Barracloughs—’

  ‘Have for some reason best known to themselves warned me off Lisetta. Is that what you wanted to say? But I am here by invitation, Lady Octavia. Since when have the Barracloughs decided who should be invited, or not invited, to Monteith House? My great-uncle was a very old friend of the present Duke’s father.’

  Octavia gave him a straight look. ‘Did you know Lisette would be here tonight, sir?’

  ‘Let us say that I hoped so. I have to talk to her.’ He glanced at Lisette, flanked on either side by Harry and her Aunt Julia. Henry Barraclough was close by. ‘But not at the moment. Is there somewhere where you and I can have a talk?’

  Octavia eyed him for a moment, then, without speaking, she led the way through the press of people to the winter garden, which opened out from the last of the suite of rooms. ‘I think this is private enough, sir. But I warn you, I’m not exactly prejudiced in your favour.’

  ‘Of course you aren’t! The Barracloughs have almost certainly poisoned your mind against me. I hear you’re quite close to them. But do you think you’re being fair, Lady Octavia? I love Lisetta. For many years I watched her growing up and, encouraged by her parents I may say, I looked forward to the day when she would be old enough to marry me. Her parents’ death was a tragedy for me as well as those poor children. I not only lost two of my dearest friends, but the promise of future happiness with the girl I loved.’

  Octavia was impressed in spite of herself, but she asked bluntly, ‘Why don’t Lisette’s uncles like you?’

  ‘They see me as a threat to their control of the Barraclough fortune.’

  ‘I believe there was more to it than that, sir.’

  Arandez stiffened and he frowned. ‘I…I’m sorry. I don’t understand,’ he said somewhat warily.

  Octavia went on, ‘Wasn’t there a quarrel? A dispute about some boundary?’

  The frown lifted. He shrugged his shoulders and with a rueful smile said, ‘Ah, yes! That boundary. It caused a great deal of trouble. Much more than it was worth. Lisetta’s father realised it was not a problem in the end.’ He gave Octavia a direct look out of clear blue eyes. ‘Now that you’ve met me, Lady Octavia, do you think I’m the villain the Barracloughs claim? Lisetta and I love each other. She will never be happy without me, and I…I want more than anything in the world to have the right to look after her, as her father wished. If only I could talk to her!’

  Octavia was torn. She had some sympathy for Richard Arandez. He seemed sincere enough. Again she thought of how much he reminded her of Tom Payne, and Tom had been as open as the day. On the other hand, Edward Barraclough had made it more than clear that he wished Lisette to have no contact of any kind with Arandez. What should she do? Ricardo Arandez was an apparently perfectly respectable young man, sponsored in Society by her sister’s husband. He would be accepted everywhere, and in the end he and Lisette were bound to meet somewhere—if not here, then certainly somewhere else. Surely it was better that they meet here tonight where she herself could keep a careful eye on them? She was risking Edward Barraclough’s severe displeasure, but she was, after all, used to that!

  ‘Very well, sir,’ she said. ‘I shall take you to Lisette. But I need hardly remind you she is one of my sister’s guests tonight. She mustn’t be upset, or put under any pressure. As far as London society is concerned, Lisette has no obligation to anyone other than her guardians. Do you understand what I mean?’

  ‘Thank you! And, yes, I promise to be discreet. But I assure you, she will be delighted to see me! There will be no pressure, Lady Octavia, only relief.’

  Octavia preceded him out of the winter garden full of misgiving, not at all sure she was doing the right thing. As they went through to the salon, she turned to Arandez and said, ‘I shall stay with you, Mr Arandez. Lisette is very dear to me.’

  ‘Of course, ma’am,’ he said with a confident grin. ‘But you will soon see how very dear she is to me, too!’

  Henry and Julia Barraclough had left Lisette in Harry’s care and were being ushered towards the dining room by the Duke, presumably for some refreshments. Lisette looked happy enough, though she was rather pale. The salon was quite warm, and several other admirers surrounded her, all pressing for her attention. Octavia quickened her pace to join her. Lisette was basically shy, and her success, far from going to her head, was causing her some distress.

  When she saw Richard Arandez with Octavia she went even paler. She said uncertainly, ‘Ricardo? What a surprise
! I…I didn’t know you were in London!’

  ‘Lisetta!’ He bent towards her as if to kiss her cheek, but she drew back nervously.

  ‘Not…not here!’ She gave him her hand, then turned to Harry, who was standing behind her. ‘Lieutenant Petrie! Let me introduce an old friend—Ricardo Arandez.’

  Harry shook his head. ‘Miss Barraclough obviously knows you, Aransay, but why does she give you a Spanish name? I thought you were a Scotsman!’

  ‘I come from Antigua,’ said Arandez briefly. ‘Lisetta and I are very old friends, indeed, more than that—’ Lisette went even paler and drew in her breath.

  Octavia stepped in before he could go any further. ‘Mr Arandez!’ she said with a smile. ‘You’ll find you have quite a deal of explaining to do, I’m afraid. My sister’s husband is notoriously absentminded. You’re probably known all over London as Richard Aransay from Scotland!’ She paused, then added with a significance meant for him alone, ‘I did warn you.’

  He nodded and said easily, ‘Lisetta and I were children together, Lieutenant, but we haven’t seen each other for some time. May I take her away from you for a minute or two? I have news of her friends on Antigua.’

  Harry gave Lisette a look of inquiry. She said hesitantly, ‘I…I think I should like to talk to Mr Arandez, Lieutenant Petrie. For a short while. Will you excuse me?’

  ‘Harry, you may take me to the dining room,’ Octavia said before her brother could object. ‘I’m so thirsty, and I know Gussie ordered some deliciously refreshing drinks. Let’s go to find them. We won’t be long, Lisette.’

  Octavia led Harry away. ‘What does all this mean, Tavy? Why are you encouraging that fellow? You know I like Lisette!’

  ‘Don’t worry, brother. There’s no real competition there. My guess is that Lisette has grown up a little since she last saw Mr Arandez. Just give her time to find it out for herself. How did you get on with the Barracloughs?’