Читать книгу More Than a Governess - Sarah Mallory - Страница 11

Juliana had wondered how Cousin Pettigrew would take the news that she had obtained a post and was relieved that he appeared quite sanguine. Once she had explained that she had overheard the Major’s comments in the hallway of Bouverie Street, Mr Pettigrew seemed to believe that he had somehow engineered the whole thing himself, and had solved the problem of providing for his cousins at very little expense. He was therefore able to wave them off with perfect good humour. Mrs Churwell shed a tear at the thought of them all going so far away, and even pressed one last slice of fruitcake upon Thomas. He devoured it on the short journey to Burlington Street, explaining to his sisters that he would not wish to carry it with him into the Major’s house, in case his staff thought it a slight upon their hospitality.

There was no sign of the Major when they arrived and they were greeted by the housekeeper who led them upstairs. She introduced herself as Mrs Hartley.

‘The master sends his apologies that business takes him out this morning, but he has asked me to ensure you have everything you need, miss.’ She opened the door of a large apartment on the second floor. ‘The master thought this might suit you, Miss Wrenn—there’s a bed made up in the corner for your sister, and another in the adjoining dressing room for the young gentleman. It is for less than a week, but the Major thought you might prefer to be together, being in a strange house.’

‘Yes, thank you.’ Juliana looked around her in surprise. She had expected to be tucked away in an attic room, yet this apartment bore all the trappings of a guest chamber. ‘The Major is most kind.’

‘That he is, miss. Now, your trunks are on their way up, so I shall leave you to unpack.’ She gestured towards the round table by the window. ‘I shall send up a light luncheon for you shortly, and Nurse will bring the Misses Collingham to the schoolroom for you at two o’clock.’

When the housekeeper had gone, Thomas let out a low whistle.

‘Lord, sis, this is much grander than I thought it would be.’ He opened the door to the dressing room and peered in. ‘My own room, too!’

‘Yes, well, enjoy it while it lasts,’ said Juliana, taking off her bonnet. ‘I expect there was no room for us with the servants and he was obliged to put us in this guest room. But do not expect such luxury when we are travelling, or when we reach the Major’s Lancashire estate—remember I am a paid employee.’

‘And what are we?’ piped up Amy, bouncing on the edge of her bed.

‘You are to be travelling companions for his nieces.’ She sat down beside Amy and pulled the little girl on to her lap. ‘He has two little girls: one is twelve years old, the other eight, just a little younger than you, Amy.’

‘Huh, I hope you don’t expect me to play with girls!’ declared Thomas, pulling a face.

‘I expect you to behave like a gentleman, sir. The Major also has a son, some years older than the girls. I haven’t met him yet, and he is not one of the schoolroom party, so perhaps we will not see much of him.’

Thomas shrugged. ‘I don’t see how we can avoid it, if we are all travelling together—’

He broke off as a large corded travelling trunk was brought in by two liveried footmen and, under Juliana’s instruction, the two children spent the remaining time until luncheon unpacking their clothes and putting them into the chests of drawers and the big linen press that Mrs Hartley had told them they could use.

At two o’clock Juliana made her way to the schoolroom, Thomas and Amy hard on her heels. As she reached the door, Gwendoline’s voice could be heard quite clearly coming from the other side.

‘But we do not want her, Nurse! Why should we have a governess now, what can she teach us while we are travelling? Why, if she tries to make me read in the carriage, I shall be sick! It would be much better to wait until we get to Lancashire—Papa can hire a proper governess for us there.’

Juliana grasped the door handle and rattled it before opening the door. She moved into the room, smiling as if she had heard nothing of Gwendoline’s tirade.

The young Misses Collingham were standing on each side of their nurse, an elderly, rosy-cheeked woman with curly wisps of snow-white hair peeping out around the edges of her cap. Juliana thought she looked a good-humoured creature, but just now her face displayed a mixture of mortification and embarrassment as she realised her charge’s outburst must have been overheard.

Juliana gave her a brief smile and turned her attention to the children. They, meanwhile, had realised that Juliana had not come alone, and were staring open-mouthed at Thomas and Amy.

‘I dare say your papa forgot to tell you that I would be bringing two travelling companions for our journey.’ She led her siblings forward and performed the introductions. Gwendoline and Thomas greeted each other with frosty politeness, while the two younger children merely stared solemnly at one another. An awkward silence ensued and Juliana was about to break it when Amy spoke up.

‘I have a doll, too,’ she said, staring at the handsomely dressed little lady that Wilhelmina was clutching before her. ‘She’s sitting on my bed at the moment. She is called Sarah. What do you call yours?’

Wilhelmina hugged her doll even closer. ‘Her name is Lady Arabella,’ she said.

Amy stared at the wooden figure in its brocade gown. ‘She’s very beautiful.’

Wilhelmina held it out. ‘Would you like to hold her?’

Amy glanced at Juliana, who nodded, then stepped forward to take the doll and the two girls moved off together, talking in low tones.

‘Well now,’ murmured Nurse with a smile.

‘A good start,’ agreed Juliana. ‘Thomas, perhaps you would help me by making a list of the books on the shelf over there. I am sure Nurse will help you to find a pen and paper. Miss Gwendoline, shall we sit down, and you can tell me just what you have learned with your last governess.’

Shortly before the dinner hour, Juliana was summoned to Major Collingham’s study. At the door she paused to shake out the skirts of her grey silk gown, the only mourning gown she owned, then she knocked and went in. Major Collingham was seated at his desk, but he rose as she entered. He did not smile as she approached, confirming her belief that his request had not been one of courtesy, more a command. He was dressed for dinner in a plain dark coat and biscuit-coloured knee-breeches, the snowy whiteness of his shirt and necktie contrasting sharply with the black cloth of his coat and his equally black hair. He motioned her to a chair.

‘I am sorry I was not here to receive you. I trust you have everything you need?’

‘Yes, Major, thank you. Our rooms are very comfortable, and more luxurious than I had expected.’

‘It was more convenient to put you and your family together. After all, it is only for a few days.’

‘Have no fear, Major, I shall not forget my position here.’

‘Is that comment designed to put me in my place?’

Her eyes flew to his face.

‘Not at all, sir, I—’

‘If I sounded impolite, I apologise,’ he said bluntly. ‘I am not in the habit of making pretty speeches. I understand that you have made your brother and sister known to my girls.’

‘Yes. The older ones are still painfully polite, but Miss Wilhelmina and Amy are already firm friends.’

‘Good. You may, of course, include your brother and sister in your lessons, if you wish.’

‘Thank you, Major. I would rather they were occupied and under my eye.’

He nodded. ‘Brasher tells me you signed the contract. Did you read it first?’

‘Of course.’

‘And?’

‘The terms are very generous. It is good of you to allow either party to terminate the agreement upon two weeks notice, should it prove necessary.’

‘That was Brasher’s doing. I never contemplate failure, Miss Wrenn.’

Her chin went up.

‘No more do I, sir.’ She hesitated, recalling Gwendoline’s hostility towards her. ‘However, if it should prove impossible for me to win the children’s regard, I should not wish to inflict myself upon them for the full four months.’

‘Then you may be sure that you would not be paid for the full four months.’

A scorching glance accompanied these words, and Juliana had no doubt the Major had used such a look to make young soldiers quail. She had to remind herself that she was no raw recruit to be intimidated.

‘I would expect to be paid for work carried out, Major. Mr Brasher assures me that you treat your employees fairly, and I am told you are an honest man.’

‘Oh, so you have been making enquiries about me?’

‘Of course, since I am entrusting the care of myself and my family to you.’

A faint gleam of approval lit his eyes.

‘Then welcome to my household, Miss Wrenn.’ He got up and went to a side-table where a selection of decanters and glasses rested on a silver tray. ‘Will you take a little wine with me, madam, to seal our bargain?’

‘Yes sir, thank you, for there is something that I wish to discuss with you.’

He threw her a frowning glance, but said nothing until he had given her a full glass.

She sipped her wine. It was smooth and fruity, nothing like the weak potions served in Mr Pettigrew’s house. It confirmed her opinion that Cousin Alfred watered down his wines to make them go further.

‘What is it you wanted to discuss with me, Miss Wrenn?’

He had returned to the side-table to fill a glass for himself.

‘Oh, I beg your pardon. Yes, I know I said I wanted to be paid with a lump sum at the end of our agreement, but my visit to the schoolroom today has revealed a sad lack of books and games for the children. Oh, there are plenty of religious and educational tracts, but I need to make a few purchases if I am to keep the children amused, especially on a long journey.’

‘Very well, madam. See Brasher tomorrow morning and tell him how much you need. You may also have my carriage for your shopping expedition. Brasher will arrange it, if you tell him what time you wish to go out.’

‘Thank you.’ Her eyes were straying around the room, and they alighted upon a small painting on the wall: three children at play in a garden. ‘Oh, is that your family, sir?’

‘Yes. My mother had it done for me, when I was in the army. I think it was to remind me that I had a family.’

She rose and went over to the picture. It hung on the wall above a console table, upon which rested a glass case of miniatures. She leaned forward to study the figures more closely.

‘They were much younger, then, of course,’ said the Major, ‘but I think it is a good likeness.’

‘Yes, indeed. They are all handsome children, sir.’

He came to stand behind her.

‘Giles takes after his mother. As does Wilhelmina.’

‘They are fairer, certainly, while Gwendoline has your own dark colouring—oh!’ She turned back, but he was so close that she found herself trapped between his body and the table. She stared at his neckcloth, at the cleft in his strong chin, then raised her eyes to his mouth and found herself wondering what it would be like to be kissed by him. Her heart leapt to her throat as the Major reached out and took her arms. What was it Lawrence had said about him, a devil in the bedroom? She felt scandalised, elated and frightened all in a moment.

He said quietly, ‘You are almost sitting on the glass case, Miss Wrenn.’

He gently moved her aside, then let her go and returned to the desk. She could feel her cheeks burning. How had she been so foolish. Had he noticed? Did he think she was trying to…it was too embarrassing even to think of it!

‘Now,’ he said. ‘Is there anything else?’

‘No, sir, I believe—’

She broke off as the door opened and she heard a deep, cheerful voice saying,

‘No need to announce me, Fraser, I’ll find him—and lay another cover for dinner, there’s a good fellow!’

Unable to curb her curiosity, Juliana turned to see who dared to walk in upon Major Collingham with such insouciance. She saw a gentleman dressed in the first style of elegance, his short fair hair brushed forward to frame a handsome, good-humoured countenance supported—or more properly confined—by a collar whose points came up to his cheeks. A tight-fitting blue coat and white embroidered waistcoat encased his body, while inexpressibles of the palest cream and gleaming Hessians completed the picture of a top-of-the-trees man-about-town. If the gentleman heard the Major’s curt demand to know what the devil was going on he gave no sign, but stopped just inside the door and made an elegant bow.

‘Well, now, Fraser did not tell me you had company, Damon. How very remiss of him.’

The Major was regarding the newcomer with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. ‘Would it have stopped you charging in, had you known?’

The gentleman gave a grin. ‘I dare say I’d have allowed him to announce me.’

Major Collingham sighed. ‘Your manners really are appalling, Richard. Miss Wrenn, may I present to you Sir Richard Mondwyck?’

Juliana stepped forward, her cheeks still warm from her recent embarrassment.

‘Yes. That is, we—we have met.’

‘By Jove, yes, I thought you looked familiar! I knew her father,’ he explained to the Major. ‘Clever fellow, Jonas Wrenn. Could always rely on him to decipher the more difficult codes I put to him.’ Sir Richard took her hand. ‘I was very sorry to hear of his death, Miss Wrenn. I was in France at the time or I should have attended his funeral. He was a very good man.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ She gently withdrew her fingers from his grip and Sir Richard moved across to the side-table to pour himself a glass of wine.

‘Well, now, Miss Wrenn—what are you doing here with this reprobate?’

‘Miss Wrenn is in my employ,’ the Major responded curtly. ‘She has agreed to act as governess for a few months, until I have settled the girls into Blackthorpe.’

‘My father was not a rich man, sir,’ she answered the question in Sir Richard’s look. ‘So now I must earn my living.’

She ended brightly, smiling, and Sir Richard merely nodded, understanding in his eyes.

‘As must I, Miss Wrenn,’ he replied in the same light vein.

‘Fortunately, there are wealthy men such as Damon here who have need of our services occasionally.’

Major Collingham’s lip curled. ‘Thank you, Richard. Now, before my patience is quite worn out, perhaps you will tell me what you are doing here?’

‘I wanted a little company, so I invited myself to dinner, Damon.’

‘Really? Louisa will be overjoyed.’

Sir Richard almost choked on his wine. ‘No! Is your sister in town? Well, I didn’t know, but no matter. I shall be delighted to see her again. This really is a superb burgundy, Damon—shall I refill your glass? And we are all standing around like perfect strangers! Miss Wrenn, will you not be seated, ma’am?’

‘Thank you, but I think Major Collingham and I have finished our business, and I must get back to my charges. If that is all, Major?’

‘It is for now. You will oblige me by bringing the girls to the drawing room after dinner, Miss Wrenn.’

‘As you wish, sir.’

Sir Richard opened the door for her and Juliana gave him a fleeting smile as she went out. She was feeling a little light-headed as she made her way back to the schoolroom. She attributed this to the wine, but could not deny her pleasure at seeing Sir Richard again. He had been an infrequent visitor to her father’s house, always on business, but on the rare occasions they had met he had treated her with respect and she felt now that his acknowledgement of her had added to her standing with her new employer. All at once she found herself looking forward to going downstairs after dinner.