John followed her with his eyes as she headed for an archway. He saw the tall, burly man, frowning at him as she arrived at the arch. He was broad chested and was so tall he appeared to tower over Jessica.
‘Are you all right, Miss Jessica?’ Andrew Gough asked as she approached him in the Archway. ‘Are you having some bother with the quality?’
‘No, Andrew. The Duke and I were catching up on old times and he made the mistake of asking about my time at Dean.’ She said as she ferreted in the box for the last flower. ‘Oh! I should have brought a chair!’ she said suddenly and looked at the horseshoe over the archway. She reached up, but couldn’t even get close to the arch. ‘I’ll have to fetch some steps.’ She murmured.
‘Allow me, Miss Jessica.’ Andrew took the flower and even he couldn’t reach.
‘Thank you for trying, Andrew.’
‘Not to worry, Miss. Do you think you can balance on my shoulder?’ he asked coyly.
‘I’ll try.’ Jessica said gamely and watched Andrew stand behind her. Andrew bent down and held his hands out.
‘Just let me grab your wrists and I’ll lift you on my shoulder.’ Jessica nodded and squealed as Andrew put his shoulder under her buttocks and lifted her easily. Suddenly she was perched on his shoulder, his head right beside her hip. ‘There. Can you tuck your feet against my stomach?’ which she did and Andrew released her hands and wrapped his left arm around her legs to steady her balance. Now can you reach?’
‘You do realize that somebody will have to be available to lift the children?’ she said gaily, even as her cheeks flushed scarlet at the intimacy of the lift.
‘I’ll make George available, he likes children and will have lots of fun if he’s not polishing tack!’ Andrew said as Jessica attached the flower to the horseshoe, before Andrew gently set her back on the path.
Across the lawn, John watched, feeling the bile of jealousy rise in his throat. He felt like going over to them and spoiling the amusement, but realized it was just too petty for a Duke to ride rough shod over a member of staff from another household. He could inadvertently get the man dismissed and John had to remember Jessica was a member of staff too. Feeling the full weight of his title, John turned and slowly walked away.
Jessica saw him out of the corner of her eye. As she turned her head Andrew looked too. ‘Who is he?’ Andrew asked softly.
‘That’s the Duke of Warwick.’ Jessica said wistfully. ‘He danced with me at my very first ball. Twice!’
‘You’ve been to a ball?’ Andrew asked in surprise.
‘Well, my mother is the daughter of an earl. My parents made sure we all had seasons, but I’m afraid Misses aren’t really in demand and most of us end up either governesses or nannies and such like.’
‘Would you like to see Thunder in all his glory?’ Andrew asked brightly, to steer her away from the Duke and indicated she should go through the arch in front of him.
Chapter Eight
John Farrington went back to his suite, only to find Anthony sitting with a broad sheet. ‘Good morning, Your Grace.’ He said politely as he stood and offered the paper. ‘Would you like a look at the Times?’
‘No thank you, Dean. I was wondering what diversions Lady Evelyn had arranged for today.
‘Well, according to your man Masters, there is archery on the far paddock, which I believe is just the other side of the lawn, this morning and riding this afternoon.’ He smiled gamely. ‘Of course if you don’t fancy archery, the children will be engaged in a treasure hunt this morning and Pall Mall this afternoon.’
‘Well. I suppose we’ll see just how many of the people here actually like their children.’ John muttered under his breath as he slumped down in a chair.
‘Can I get you anything, Your Grace?’ Masters asked softly.
‘Just some tea, thank you.’ John waved his valet away. ‘I’ve just been talking with your sister-in-law.’ He said to Anthony. ‘Was it really so bad that she needed to carry a weapon?’
‘Is she still carrying her dagger?’ Anthony asked incredulously and when the Duke nodded he carried on. ‘I’m not surprised. It was very dangerous for her in my father’s household.’
Masters arrived with tea and they waited for him to pour and then go.
‘She mentioned somebody called Richmond?’ the Duke asked as the door closed.
Anthony nodded again. ‘Yes, my father’s faithful retainer. Although I called him the family mastiff more than once.’
The Duke sipped his tea. ‘Why did your brother ruin her?’
‘Because he could.’ Anthony said distantly. ‘He was a blackguard and would have done anything to avoid my father’s wrath, even though my father was a weak and dissolute old man.’ He sighed. ‘Richmond would have been merciless if David had been caught in the bushes with Lady Saddleworth. All David did was start the rumour himself to avoid any gossip that might have arisen if Jessie had said the wrong thing.’
‘Didn’t David realise that he was destroying her life?’ The Duke asked in astonishment.
‘He was very surprised by her family’s vehemence. He understood that they would be upset and we fully expected them to try to sweep it under the carpet, but the whole thing was rushed so quickly and I was horrified at the way her father treated her in church. I tried to console her in the carriage afterwards, but she wouldn’t let me.’ He smiled softly. ‘If you have an interest in Jessie, let me give you some advice. Softly, softly, catchee, monkee!’ He looked at John squarely in the eyes. ‘If you break her heart, I’ll meet you in Hyde Park with pistols! She is not just some little maid to play with; she’s a Lady in the truest sense of the word.’
‘I have been warned. But I assure you, my intentions are honourable. If I hadn’t been mourning the loss of my wife, David wouldn’t have been able to beat me to the altar.’ John sighed like a lovesick puppy. ‘I saw her on her debut ball, she was stunning and my stupid sister spoiled it.’ He started to laugh. ‘She called her a mere Miss!’ Both men laughed heartily. ‘Lady Gordon cut my sister at supper and Verity has never recovered from it.’
‘Well, it would make Jessie’s year if she married you and could give her own mother the direct cut!’ Anthony laughed out.
‘Don’t they write?’
Anthony shook his head. ‘No. After the way her father spoke to her in the church, she told him she would burn any letters and that he could be proud of a job well done!’ He looked at John, smiling still. ‘She has an iron backbone and would make you a fine Duchess!’
‘She would make you a fine Countess, I think.’ John said thoughtfully.
‘I will offer for her, if you don’t. But remember, it’s me you’ll have to ask!’
‘May I have her hand in marriage?’
‘I’ll need to talk to Jessica about it. If I get the chance over this week, I’ll have a chat with her; otherwise I’ll see you back in London.’
John checked his watch. ‘I think I’ll go down and watch the treasure hunt.’ He said smiling.
~*~*~*~
Jessica separated the children into groups, each group headed by an older child.
‘Now. Try not to run around the house like dervishes; Plunkett doesn’t like a lot of noise in the hall.’ She smiled brightly. ‘So your first clue is in the Nursery somewhere.’ And as arranged, Peter Clifton smiled and steered the youngest member of his group, Elizabeth Farrington, to the pretty flower on the toy shelf.
‘There it is.’ He said quietly to her.
‘I can’t reach it.’ Elizabeth whispered as she reached for the shelf. ‘Can you fetch it down?’
Peter lifted the flower and showed her the riddle. ‘Somewhere the time is shown, but where we rarely visit alone.’ He said softly to the group.
‘That’s a clock.’ Lady Patricia Greyston said as Peter put the flower back on the shelf.
‘But where?’ Elizabeth asked.
‘In a room where we rarely go.’ Lord Richard Lancaster said and smiled. ‘I’ll tell you where I
don’t go very often and that’s the Formal Drawing Room.’ He laughed gaily. ‘My mother was horrified the first and only time I went in there, I spilt my tea, and was sick on the nanny.’
‘It could be a bedroom, like Mummy’s room.’ Patricia ventured.
‘No, I’d think it was downstairs somewhere, especially with a clock.’ Peter said and took Elizabeth’s hand. ‘Let’s go and look in the formal parlour first.’
Jessica smiled as Peter’s group hurried to the door and suddenly the other children went and looked at the flower. She followed them down to the drawing room, finding John Farrington sat in the chair he’d occupied earlier in the morning.
‘Your Grace.’ She said softly and gave a curtsey, before going to the fireplace and watching the children try to decipher her riddle.
‘Let me see!’ the Countess of Warminster, Lady Verity Greaves demanded vociferously, ‘my Daddy’s a Marquis.’
Elizabeth Farrington looked at her with all the arrogance of her position and said just as loudly, ‘My Daddy’s a Duke, so stuff that in your hat!’
‘Children!’ Jessica said loudly. ‘Let’s not pull rank here. It doesn’t matter who your Daddy is, if you can’t read the clue.’ She turned to Peter who had the flower in his hand. ‘Read out the clue Peter.’
Peter pulled himself to his full height and cleared his throat. ‘It says. “A place where adults like to eat, but you can never get a seat!’
‘That’s a strange rhyme.’ Richard said coldly as Peter replaced the flower.
‘Is it a bed?’ Patricia ventured and looked at Jessica.
‘Why would it be a bed, you ninny?!’ Richard demanded and looked over his shoulder quickly as the door opened.
‘Because my mother always has breakfast in bed, but I’m not allowed to.’ She replied.
Jessica sniggered and settled the argument quickly. ‘There are no upstairs clues after the one in the nursery.’ She watched the other group look at the clue and then placed it back on the mantle.
‘It’s the Dining Room.’ Elizabeth said quietly and yanked on Peter’s coat. ‘It’s the Dining Room.’ She whispered as he leaned down to her.
‘I agree.’ He said and held out his hand and they hurried out of the room while Richard and Patricia were still arguing.
‘Your team mates have gone.’ Jessica pointed out as Peter opened the door after bowing to the Duke. Richard and Patricia followed with alacrity, not forgetting to bow and curtsey for the noble in their midst.
The Duke rose slowly, smiled at Jessica and followed his daughter out. Jessica remained until the last group had seen the flower and then she placed it in the box on the table and followed her clues to the stables.
The prize was a ride on the two Shetland Ponies in the paddock and when Jessica arrived, Elizabeth was plaguing her father for one.
‘Oh, but Daddy. It’s the cutest little horse I’ve ever seen!’ she pouted.
‘And where do you expect to keep it?’ he asked evenly.
‘It can stay in my room!’ she blustered making Jessica smother a laugh.
‘It can’t share your room, Elizabeth! It’s a pony not a pet!’
‘You’re mean to me.’ She grumbled and pouted again. Jessica had watched as the Duke ignored her tantrum and she turned her attention to Lord Richard Lancaster and Lady Patricia Greyston being led around the paddock by two grooms. Peter and the older boys of course, were trying out Thunder in the next paddock.
Jessica stood back and let the children enjoy themselves, she watched, but didn’t interfere and Andrew appeared beside her.
‘Thank you, Andrew.’ She said softly as she immersed herself in the children’s chatter and smiles.
‘My pleasure, Miss Jessica.’ He murmured back and they exchanged a smile. ‘Will you come on Sunday?’
‘Yes. Unless something catastrophic happens between now and then.’
‘I understand.’ He said gently. ‘Children are usually quite robust, but you never know.’
‘You there!’ was suddenly hailed across from the yard. ‘Groom! If you’ve time to stand and chatter with the Governess, then you can saddle my horse!’ Viscount Boston bellowed.
‘Would you excuse me Miss Jessica? I have to deal with the quality.’ He said and smiled softly as he bowed to her and walked away.
‘Stop chatting that silly chit up and get my horse, you lazy bastard!’
‘Boston!’ The Duke of Warwick’s voice cut across the paddock like a whiplash. ‘Moderate your language in front of my daughter!’
Viscount Boston looked indignantly at the gaggle of children, recognised the Duke and muttered an apology as his face paled. Jessica ignored him and sauntered to the rail of the paddock to watch the next children, Lady Elizabeth Farrington and The Right Honourable Susanna Clifton were just taking their tour around the paddock.
The Duke came to stand beside her and watched his daughter chatting with the pony, as if it was an old friend. ‘It was an inventive prize. Unfortunately we will all be pestered for one for months now.’ He spoke quietly to Jessica.
‘It wasn’t actually my idea.’ Jessica said quietly. ‘It was the Head Grooms.’ She laughed softly. ‘Andrew had seen them at a local fair and the Viscount was all for it when he saw them. I think poor Susanna will be riding them for a few years.’
‘Maybe the Viscount will sell me one for Elizabeth.’ John sighed. ‘It would be nice to surprise her in Warwickshire the next time we go.’
‘I’ll just go and ask Andrew to come and he can tell you all about them.’ Jessica said helpfully and pushed away from the rail. She turned to walk past John and was stopped by one of the nannies. She answered the query calmly and walked on and as she passed the next paddock, she turned to watch the older boys on Thunder. She waved to Peter and turned again for the stables just as Viscount Boston rode his horse at the canter out of the stables yard. He appeared so abruptly that Jessica didn’t stand a prayer and suddenly she was flying through the air as the Viscount’s huge black stallion literally barged her aside. She squealed as the horse shouldered her aside and she flew into the railing of another paddock, where some of the coach horses were grazing.
The Right Honourable James Clifton yelled her name. ‘Jessie!’ and because he was a young boy, it sounded like a girl screaming. He saw the big stallion emerge from the yard and called her name even as she bounced off the horse’s shoulder.
John had been watching Elizabeth enjoying herself and wasn’t aware of anything until James screamed out her name. He turned his head at the scream and saw Jessica flying off the shoulder of the big horse. He was running before she hit the ground, the children started screaming and crying in panic and John met Andrew coming the other way.
Viscount Boston was sitting on his horse, looking down at Jessica. ‘Stupid little bitch!’ he spat. ‘If you lamed my horse I’ll have your hide!’
Both Andrew and John arrived at the same time. John could see that she was unconscious and she was almost wrapped around the post, with her gown in disarray. Andrew crouched beside her and looked up at the Viscount, who was still complaining, with an expression of cold fury on his face.
‘I’ll deal with him.’ John said softly. ‘Boston!’ he looked up at the noble on the horse. ‘Would you step down, please?’
‘Of course, Your Grace.’ Viscount Boston said and petulantly stepped down from the stallion and sighed with impatience. ‘I do hope this won’t take too long. I’m missing my ride.’ As he stood and looked down again at the unconscious woman John hit him squarely on the jaw. Viscount Boston stumbled and sat down on the muddy lane, smearing mud all over the seat of his britches. ‘What the hell did you do that for?’ he demanded.
‘Because that could have been a child and I’m sure Lady Carruthers would be grateful for somebody to treat her kindly for once.’ The Duke said sternly. ‘I’m sure the Earl of Dean would have no problem calling you out if you are rude to his sister-in-law again!’
‘L...Lady Carruthers?’ Visc
ount Boston stuttered. ‘I didn’t know she was here. I thought that was the Governess.’
‘Lady Carruthers is the Governess, your moron!’ the Duke spat vehemently. He turned his back on Boston abruptly and looked over Andrew’s shoulder. Andrew meanwhile, had sent a lad for the smelling salts that he kept in his office. John was worried by the pallor of Jessica’s face. It was almost grey. ‘Shouldn’t we move her into the yard?’ he asked cautiously.
‘No, Your Grace.’ Andrew said firmly. ‘If she has any broken bones we could do more damage, so until we know, I daren’t move her.’ The Duke looked up at the distressed children. He went to Mrs. Beaton. ‘Perhaps the children should be taken back to the house, now.’ He said calmly as he watched Elizabeth helped down from the pony.
‘What happened, Daddy?’ she asked, peering around his legs inquisitively.
‘Get them back to the house.’ He said firmly and turned his back on his daughter’s nanny. He saw the lad arriving back and went back to Jessica. Andrew had draped a horse blanket over her, but she was still unconscious. Andrew carefully pulled the stopper from the little brown, octagonal bottle and held it under Jessica’s nose. She coughed and spluttered and turned her head away from the aroma, but Andrew followed her nose with the bottle and she jerk her face away again and suddenly lifted her hand to swat at the bottle as she opened her eyes.
‘Miss Jessica?’ Andrew said softly. ‘How do you feel?’
‘Dizzy.’ She mumbled and frowned at John Farrington. ‘Am I dreaming?’ she asked and smiled so beautifully that John’s heart turned over.
‘Do you have any pain?’ Andrew prompted again.
‘Just in my heart.’ she mumbled as her eyes closed again. She went to pull the blanket over her shoulder and moaned making her eyes open again. ‘My head hurts.’ She said.
The Duke and The Governess Page 11