A Very Unusual Governess

by Sylvia Andrew

  ‘I must say, I don’t know what you have against Mrs Barraclough. She was very pleasant to me. A bit too gushy, perhaps, but quite easy to talk to.’

  ‘Face it, Harry! You’re quite a catch!’ said Octavia, thinking she sounded every bit as cynical as Edward Barraclough.

  ‘What about Lisette’s Uncle Edward?’ asked Harry echoing her thoughts. ‘Has he forgiven you yet?’

  ‘I’m not sure what the situation is at the moment. I suspect we shall fall out again quite badly as soon as he sees Ricardo Arandez with Lisette. He disapproves of Mr Arandez even more than he does of you!’

  ‘Good! But why should he fall out with you? It’s not your fault that Arandez is here.’

  ‘Try telling that to Mr Barraclough! In fact, you can tell him now—he has just come into the room. I don’t think he can have seen Arandez yet, though. He doesn’t look angry enough.’

  Harry looked towards the door. ‘So that’s Barraclough! He’s a good-looking chap, Tavy. Powerful, too. I shouldn’t like to fall foul of him!’

  Edward Barraclough made his way over to them, hesitated fractionally while he eyed Harry, then bowed and said, ‘Good evening, Lady Octavia.’

  Octavia returned his bow and said in a neutral voice, ‘Mr Barraclough. My brother, Lieutenant Harry Petrie.’

  ‘Ah! Lieutenant!’

  ‘Not for much longer, I’m afraid, sir. I’ve already sent in my papers.’

  ‘Ah, yes.’ There was a short silence during which the two men examined each other. Then Edward said, ‘You know my niece, I believe.’

  ‘I was introduced to her tonight, sir. In the company of your brother and his wife.’

  Edward gave him a grim smile. ‘Come, Lieutenant! You’re surely not trying to tell me it was for the first time!’

  ‘No, sir. I’ve met Lisette twice before at Wychford. And if you will permit me, I should like to meet her many more times still!’

  Octavia drew in her breath, but Harry’s audacity had done him no harm. Edward laughed and said more naturally, ‘We’ll have to see about that! You have a good advocate in your sister, at all events.’

  ‘Tavy is the best of sisters, sir.’

  ‘Tavy? What a pity to reduce a beautiful name like “Octavia” to “Tavy”!’ He turned round and surveyed the room. ‘But where is my niece at present?’

  ‘Did…did you not see her as you came through? I…I think she is in the saloon, sir,’ said Octavia swallowing hard. ‘W…with an old friend.’

  ‘Would you show me, ma’am? Excuse us, Lieutenant Petrie.’

  Octavia cast a last despairing glance at Harry and took Edward’s proffered arm. As she led him back towards the saloon she took a deep breath and began, ‘I could have prevaricated, Mr Barraclough. But I choose not to. I hope you will give me credit for that at least. Your niece is with Mr Ricardo Arandez.’

  Edward stopped. He said very quietly, ‘What did you say?’

  Octavia swallowed again and repeated, ‘Your niece is with Ricardo Arandez.’

  They had reached the wide doors to the saloon. Lisette was with Arandez in an alcove formed by one of the tall window embrasures. Arandez was leaning towards her, talking urgently. She was listening, but not particularly attentively, her eye wandering over the crowd, apparently in search of someone else.

  Edward Barraclough drew in his breath with an audible hiss. ‘Is this your doing?’ he asked, his lips barely moving.

  Octavia hesitated. ‘Not exactly,’ she said. ‘My brother-in-law—’

  As if the mention of his name had conjured him up, the Duke of Monteith clapped Edward on the shoulder. ‘Barraclough!’ he exclaimed. ‘The very chap! I’ve got a young fella here from your part of the world. Jamaica, what? Come and meet him. You come too, Octavia!”

  He steered Edward over to the alcove and gave a loud laugh. ‘He doesn’t waste time, I see! Already got the prettiest girl in the room with him! What a lad! Your niece, ain’t she?’

  ‘I thought my niece was with her aunt,’ Edward said ominously.

  The Duke brayed with laughter. ‘Got to make allowances, Barraclough!’ he roared. ‘A pretty gel and a handsome fella—o’course they’ll meet! She’s perfectly safe, though. Good chap, Aransay. Know his uncle. Splendid fella!’

  ‘You must excuse me, Duke! I need no introduction to Mr Arandez. But I should like to see my niece restored to her aunt and uncle.’ They had reached the alcove. Ignoring Arandez, Edward simply said, ‘Lisette?’

  The Duke looked briefly surprised, then gave another laugh. ‘Never knew you were such a stickler, Barraclough! Never mind, Aransay! I’ll take y’to meet Puffy Rogers. Great chap, Puffy. Lost fifteen thousand last night. Didn’t turn a hair. Come on!’ He set off towards the card room.

  Arandez looked uncertain, but Lisette said, ‘Yes, do go, Ricardo! I want to find Lieutenant Petrie. I promised to introduce him to Edward. Edward, you stay here!’ She disappeared in the direction of the dining room before anyone could stop her.

  Edward said pleasantly, ‘You’d better follow Monteith to the card room, Arandez. I have no desire to make a scene, but I’m not sure I can keep my hands off you for very much longer. Furthermore you’d better stay away from Lisette in future. As we both know, I could make London very uncomfortable for you if I chose.’

  For a moment Arandez looked as if he might argue, but then he shrugged his shoulders and went. Edward turned to Octavia. ‘You arranged this,’ he said flatly.

  ‘I didn’t, but I would have, if I had known that Mr Arandez was going to be here tonight,’ Octavia said defiantly.

  ‘You don’t fool me, Octavia! You arranged it with your brother-in-law, though you knew very well that I would stop it if I had known. How the devil did you get Lisette away from Julia and Henry?’

  ‘I didn’t have to. They had left her in Harry’s hands.’

  ‘I don’t believe it! Julia wouldn’t do such a thing! Especially not with Arandez in the house.’

  ‘Mrs Barraclough didn’t know Mr Arandez was here. But Harry is a very eligible parti, Mr Barraclough, and your sister-in-law sees no reason to discourage him! So she left them together. I was the one who brought Arandez over here to them. He wanted to talk to Lisette, so I…I let him.’

  Edward’s face darkened. ‘If anything happens to Lisette because of what you’ve done,’ he said harshly, ‘I’ll make you wish you had never been born!’

  Octavia felt a pang of fear, but she faced him bravely. ‘Don’t be so blindly pig-headed! It is exactly as I said. Lisette has grown up a lot since she left Antigua. A few minutes in Arandez’s company have been enough to convince her that she has outgrown him! Instead of berating me, look at her now! Does she look like a girl in danger of falling into his power again?’

  Edward looked over to the other side of the room where Lisette was coming towards them, escorted by Harry. They were both laughing as they approached. He hadn’t seen his niece so carefree in a long time.

  ‘Edward! Lieutenant Petrie tells me he’s already met you! And I was so looking forward to introducing him myself.’ Her voice faded. ‘Why are you looking so angry? Aunt Julia likes him. She left us together…’

  ‘What were you saying to Arandez?’

  Lisette’s face cleared and she came close and took his hand. ‘You needn’t worry any more about Ricardo, Edward. I shan’t do anything foolish. I found out tonight that I’m quite cured. As soon as I can, I shall tell him so.’

  Edward frowned even more heavily. ‘You are not to talk to him at all, Lisette! Don’t go near him!’

  Octavia cleared her throat, and he turned to glare at her. Undeterred, she said quietly, ‘Don’t you think you’re being a little draconian, sir? Since Mr Arandez is my brother-in-law’s protégé, he is bound to be seen everywhere. It would be difficult for Lisette to ignore him completely.’

  Edward set his jaw and turned to Harry. ‘Lietenant Petrie, I must have a word with your sister. Do you think you could look after my niece for a few m
inutes?’

  Harry looked doubtful. ‘It depends on Tavy, sir. Does she wish to hear what you have to say? It doesn’t sound as if it’s about the weather.’

  ‘The temptation might be considerable, but I promise not to strangle her, if that’s what you’re worried about.’

  Octavia said, ‘Take Lisette, Harry. And you needn’t look so anxious, either of you! I’m not afraid of Mr Barraclough.’

  Harry’s face lit up. ‘In that case, there’s nothing I’d like better! Miss Barraclough, shall we go to find something to eat and drink?’

  After they had gone Edward said, ‘You should be.’

  ‘Afraid? Of you? Never!’

  A small smile flickered in his eyes, then disappeared. Then his expression changed and he said heavily, ‘The fact that Arandez has appeared, and in such distinguished company, means that the situation is different. You seem so determined to refuse to do anything I ask that you force me to tell you more about him.’

  ‘I would like you to.’

  ‘Is there somewhere where we can talk?’

  ‘My brother-in-law’s library? We’ll be undisturbed there.’

  ‘You’re not afraid of the gossips if we’re seen? I seem to remember you were morbidly anxious about them a short while ago.’

  ‘That is a trivial matter compared with this business of Lisette. Will you follow me?’

  Chapter Sixteen

  Once in the library—a room which was hardly ever used and certainly never by the Duke—Octavia turned and faced him, a challenge in her eye.

  ‘Now, Mr Barraclough. I’m listening. But I warn you, I shall continue to do what I think best, whatever your prejudices about Mr Arandez. Indeed, I’m not sure why you are so worried. Lisette has told you she no longer thinks she is in love with him, just as I said she would. Once she has met him again to make that clear to him, I doubt you will be troubled any further by the man.’

  ‘Prejudices!’ He walked about the room, his every movement expressing anger and frustration. Finally he came to a stop in front of her and said abruptly, ‘I simply don’t know how to tell you this. Not even Julia knows the whole truth. But I can see that, unless I do, you will go your own headstrong way to disaster, and take Lisette with you.’

  ‘Oh, come! Surely no dispute over boundaries can be as serious as this!’

  ‘Is that what you think it is?’

  ‘It’s what Lisette thinks.’

  ‘She must never know anything different. I want your word on that.’

  Octavia hesitated, then said, ‘Very well.’

  He looked at her for a moment, as if he was still not sure. Then he made up his mind and said, ‘Two years ago Ricardo Arandez abused and raped a girl of sixteen on the island of Jamaica. The girl died.’

  Octavia stared at him, horrified, then sat down. ‘I don’t believe it!’ she said.

  ‘I assure you it’s true. He has always been known for his harsh treatment of the slaves on the Arandez plantation, but on Antigua cruelty to slaves is not regarded as a crime. It’s one reason why I left the place and became a banker. But this was different. This girl was not a slave. He ought to have been punished and disgraced, of course, but the girl’s family was far from wealthy and Arandez’s father was able to pay them off.’ He watched her for a moment while she took it all in. Then he said, ‘Now do you see why I want Lisette to have nothing to do with him?’

  ‘Yes, I…I…Are you sure?’

  ‘Of course I’m sure,’ he said impatiently. ‘Do you think I’d make a statement such as that unless I was absolutely certain? I saw the girl’s parents myself. I spoke to some of the authorities on the island.’

  ‘But he looks so…so decent!’

  ‘It’s his chief asset.’

  ‘Oh, God! And I encouraged Lisette to talk to him…’ Octavia put her face in her hands.

  ‘Quite!’ He regarded her for a moment, then said, ‘I would have spared you this, but—’

  Octavia lifted her head and looked at him steadily. ‘I wouldn’t have listened to you otherwise. You are right to be so angry. I…I beg your pardon.’

  His frown faded and a rueful smile appeared. Taking her hands in his, he drew her up from the chair and said, ‘You’ve done it again, Octavia. It’s very strange. I do get angry with you, you infuriate me. But I can never sustain it. Why the devil is it so?’

  Octavia was finding it difficult to breathe. ‘I…I don’t know,’ she croaked.

  His eyes on her mouth, he said, ‘I still fantasise about you, you know. I still have sudden memories of that tower room…’

  ‘So do I,’ she whispered.

  He pulled her slowly towards him. ‘Octavia!’ he murmured, and bent his head to kiss her.

  For a moment they were lost, locked in each other’s arms, back in that room in the tower, passion mounting between them…But then they slowly came back to earth, unable this time to forget for long who and where they were. Octavia stared at him.

  ‘What is it?’ she asked, bewildered. ‘It’s still there, that magic. I’ve tried so hard to forget. You say you don’t despise me, but—’

  ‘Don’t!’ he said harshly. ‘You mustn’t say such things, not even think them. I don’t despise you, Octavia. It’s myself I despise for being so weak.’

  ‘But it isn’t weakness to love someone.’

  His arms tightened round her. For a moment it looked as if he would kiss her again. Then almost violently he said, ‘It is for me!’ and turned away from her. ‘No, Octavia! I’ve felt more for you than for any other woman. Some would call it love, perhaps. But it isn’t enough. I have no wish to marry. I doubt I ever shall. I’ve no desire to tie myself down, to drown in a sea of domesticity, not even with you. And I respect you too much to offer anything else.’

  He was as determined as ever. It was the end of hope. For a moment Octavia wanted to argue, to shout, to tell him what a fool he was to reject all that they could offer each other for so trivial a reason. But pride stopped her. She would beg for no man’s love. Calling on all her training, all her pride, she managed to say coldly,

  ‘It’s as well you do. I would find any such offer very difficult to forgive.’ She paused, then went on, ‘As for marriage…You’ve been very frank, Mr Barraclough, so let me be equally frank. Since you don’t intend to ask me, you’ll never find out whether I would have accepted you or not. But, like you, I have always avoided marriage, and it would now take a great deal for me to give up my own independence, more perhaps than you have to offer. I am sure this feeling we have, however powerful, is transitory. It will die when we see less of each other—as we undoubtedly shall.’

  ‘Octavia!’

  She went on as if he had not spoken. ‘It’s time to go back to the salon and join Lisette and the others. Thank you for trusting me with the facts about Arandez. I shall do what I can to protect Lisette until something can be done about him. Do you wish me to say anything to my sister or brother-in-law?’

  Her voice was polite, but still very cold. He frowned, and looked for a moment as if he wanted to say more, then gave up and followed her lead. ‘I think not,’ he replied. ‘You can’t tell them everything, so better not to say anything at all. I’ll find a way of dealing with Arandez.’

  Octavia nodded and they went out. She had to work hard to appear normal as they joined the crowds. She was still shattered at what she had heard about Arandez, at how easily she could have encouraged Lisette into danger. And a cold weight lay on her heart. However strongly Edward Barraclough might be attracted to her, it was now more than clear that Gussie had been right. He would never commit himself to marriage. Her only recourse was to rid herself of her own absurd weakness.

  Edward’s face was grim as they searched the rooms for Lisette and Harry, but could find neither. His frown grew even heavier. ‘I thought I could trust that brother of yours to look after her properly,’ he said impatiently. ‘Where the devil are they?’

  Octavia caught a glimpse of jonquil yellow amon
g the leaves of the winter garden. She closed her eyes. A scene between her brother and Edward Barraclough on top of everything else would be too much to bear. She said wearily, ‘I think they’re down this way.’

  Edward looked and swore. ‘That damned puppy! I should never have left Lisette with him! Come!’ He set off at such a pace that Octavia almost had to run as he shouldered his way through the crowd.

  But Harry and Lisette were not enjoying a quiet tête-â-tête in the winter garden. Arandez was with them, and they were just in time to hear Harry say in a voice which was quiet but full of warning, ‘I’ve told you, Arandez! Let Miss Barraclough go!’

  ‘Damn you, she’s betrothed to me!’ snarled Arandez.

  ‘I’m not, Ricardo! I told you! Why won’t you listen to me? I’m sorry, but I don’t want to marry you. Leave me alone!’ Lisette sounded distraught.

  Arandez jerked her to him. ‘Never!’

  There was a sudden howl of pain as Harry chopped Arandez on the arm with the side of his hand, then pushed him aside. He moved Lisette out of the way, then told her gently to go back to her aunt while he dealt with her tormentor.

  ‘I’ll take care of him, Petrie,’ said Edward as he moved forward. ‘Oblige me by looking after Lisette and your sister. Take them out of here.’

  ‘Come this way, Lisette,’ said Octavia. ‘We needn’t go back through the crowds. You can recover in my room. Are you coming with us, Harry?’

  Harry’s face was flushed with anger. ‘I think I’ll stay, if you don’t mind,’ he said abruptly. ‘Just in case the fellow tries any more tricks. But take Lisette to safety.’

  Octavia didn’t stop to question. She simply nodded and took Lisette away.

  Some time later she heard a tap at her door. Harry was there.

  ‘I’ve come to see how Miss Barraclough is,’ he said.

  ‘She’s having a rest. I was just going to come down to look for her aunt. I think she should go home. Where is Arandez?’