A Most Unusual Governess (5 page)

Even so, she did not know how she could have let her tongue run away with her like that. It was not the way to go about things, not if she wanted to help the children, and not if she wanted to teach him something about life, which was what Lady Templeton had hired her to do. And what she found she wanted to do.

A rebellious part of her thought that, for two pins, she would be happy to give in her notice, to be away from Lord Randall and away from all the disturbing feelings he aroused.. But even as she

thought it she knew it wasn t true. She had become too attached to the children to want to leave

them. And besides, if she left Watermead Grange, where else did she have to go?

* * * *

'A penny for them, James,' said Maud de Bracy later that evening, as Lord Randall stood broodingly by the mantelpiece once dinner was over.

She and Percy were enjoying their stay at Watermead Grange and had spent a pleasant day idling about the house and grounds. But now Maud was in the mood for conversation with her handsome host, and she made an effort to engage his attention.

'Hm?' James asked, turning his coal black eyes towards her.

Those eyes are what women pine for, she thought, as she looked into their depths. But he's completely unaware of their fascination.

You've been distracted all evening,' she told him.

Yes, James, it's true,' said Percy. He fumbled tunelessly on the piano. We've had hardly a word out of you all evening. Is anything wrong?'

'Nothing.'

He crossed over to the small table at the side of the room where the drinks were laid out and helped himself to a brandy. After which he stood looking out of the window. Dusk had fallen, casting a soft grey light over the terrace and the lawns beyond. But he did not see the view. Instead, he saw a scene that had played itself out before his eyes earlier that evening, after his encounter with Miss Davenport. He had been striding angrily back towards the house when he had caught sight of William, and the sight of William as he had never seen him before had rooted him to the spot. Because William had not been walking along listlessly as he usually did; William had been racing along at top speed. Having abandoned their game of hide and seek the children had moved on to a game of tag, and as James swirled the brandy in his glass he recalled how William had raced through the woodland, laughing and breathless, before veering to the left and climbing up the trunk of a nearby tree, crying out in triumph, 'Home!' William, who had always seemed so vacant; William, who said, Yes, my lord,' and, 'No, my lord,' in the politest way possible, but who never really seemed to be really there. And that was the boy who had raced through the woodland with an expression of delight on his face; who had outstripped his more spirited brother; and who had been completely, utterly alive.

Could it be that I have been wrong about the children? he asked himself. Could my ideas be misguided, no matter how well-intentioned?

He swirled the brandy round his glass. As he did so his thoughts drifted back to his confrontation with Miss Davenport earlier that morning. He remembered her telling him that the children must be given more freedom if their spirits were not to be crushed; that they must be allowed to play. He had not known what she meant at the time, but he knew now. It seemed she was an even better governess than he had supposed.

It must have taken courage for her to stand up to him like that, he thought. And to defend her beliefs. He remembered the spark in her eye when she had openly defied him... the shape of her mouth, the arch of her neck...

He turned his thoughts away. He had no intention of allowing himself to be attracted to her. Those feelings would complicate things.

Complicate, but not change them. Because no matter how attractive he found her he did not intend to let a governess tell him what he could and could not do.

Except —

'James! James!' Maud's insistent voice broke in on his thoughts. T)o come over here and stop Percy murdering the piano!'

With a sigh he turned away from the window, and reluctantly gave his attention to his guests.

Sarah was in her small private sitting room a few days later, preparing a nature lesson for Lucy. The sitting-room was connected to her bedroom by a door, and the two rooms formed the small suite she had been given on her arrival at the Grange. It was furnished in similar style to the bedroom, with oddly assorted furniture of good quality, for it was Lord Randall's custom to have good pieces of furniture moved into the upper servants' quarters when he replaced them with something better. There was a padded armchair, a slipper chair, a shield-backed chair and a chaise longue. There was also a small desk. Sarah was sitting at the desk, and had been sitting there for almost half an hour, but she was still no nearer to thinking up a lesson for Lucy. She had wanted the little girl to make a collection of plants, but there were a number of specimens around the Grange that Sarah did not recognise herself. She would have to think of something else. Unless... Unless there were any botany books in the library which may help her find out what she wanted to know.

She set down her quill, but at that moment a knock came at the door and a minute later Nelly, one of the housemaids, entered the room.

There's a letter for you, miss,' said Nelly, bobbing a curtsey. It got mixed up with the master's letters. You should have had it this morning, miss. But better late than never, they do say.'

Yes, Nelly. Thank you,' said Sarah, taking the precious letter. And then, as Nelly seemed inclined to linger, she said, 'Thank you, Nelly. That will be all.'

The girl bobbed a curtsey and left the room.

Sarah looked at the letter. She recognised the handwriting at once. It was from her younger brother, Nicholas. Abandoning her work she took the letter over to the window seat and, settling herself comfortably against the cushions, she began to read.

The letter was full of news, and as Sarah read it she felt she was almost with Nicholas in her uncle's home in Bath. Nicholas had bought a new phaeton, she discovered - she suppressed a sisterly pang as she hoped he would not drive it too fast - and had taken Geoffrey, their younger
brother, for a jaunt around Bath. Geoffrey was doing well at university, and had passed all his summer exams. Uncle Hugh was as drunk as ever, and Aunt Claire was gossiping her time away.

Imagine Geoffrey doing so well at university! thought Sarah, as she finally folded the letter and put it away in her desk with the others. He had never been interested in studying as a boy, but to her surprise he had taken to Cambridge like a duck to water. She gave a sigh as she thought how proud her parents would have been. They would have loved to have seen Nicholas as a man about town, and would have been delighted with Geoffrey's achievements.

But there was no use repining. She reminded herself that she had work still to do, and went
down to the library in search of books on botany.

* * * *

The barn's been mended, mlord, as you wanted,' said Ben
Higgins, the estate carpenter, ‘
but the bridge is going to be a bigger job. The wood's all rotten, beggin' your pardon, mlord, and the timber 11 need replacing if it's to be made all right and tight again.'

Very well,' said Lord Randall. He was looking out towards the small lake that was spanned at its narrow end by the ornamental bridge.
‘B
ut I want it doing before the end of the month. It must be finished before my guests arrive.'

Yes, mlord.'

'Oh, and tell Jenkins I want to see him first thing in the morning,' went on Lord Randall, referring to the stonemason. There are a number of things that need his attention. And tell him to bring his tools.'

Yes, mlord. Veiy good, mlord.'

'All right, Higgins. You can go now; that will be all.'

Very good, mlord,' said Ben.

Lord Randall finished sorting out a pile of papers which were arranged with military precision on the top of his desk, then gave a last glance around the room. Everything that had needed doing had been done - at least for today. The rest could wait until the morning.

Then, as was his custom when he had no visitors - for Maud and Percy had left for Sussex - he went to the library, where he intended to while away the remainder of the evening.

The sun, less intense that it had been over the last few days, was by this time low in the sky. It slanted in through the mullioned windows, casting a rosy glow over the break-fronted bookcases and the spines of the well-worn leather books. It caught the gold lettering which spelt out the names of the authors and the titles of the books, making it gleam. And it also caught something else. It caught the strands of Miss Davenport's auburn hair.

Lord Randall checked on seeing her. The feelings he had experienced only a few short days before, feelings no man as proud as he was should ever experience for a governess, made him unwilling to find himself alone with her. But at the same time he knew it was the perfect opportunity for him to tell her that he had decided the children should, after all, be allowed to play. He had given the matter a lot of thought and having seeing how confident William had become, and how much happier Lucy and Peter seemed, he had realised that he was wrong and she was right. And difficult though it was, he knew he must admit it.

Looking at her as she stood examining the books in the westering sunlight, he found that, unaccountably, he was looking forward to their meeting.

At that moment she looked up and saw him.

'Lord Randall!

She clutched at the book which, in her first moment of surprise, she had almost let fall. She was not normally a clumsy person, but she felt a sudden change in the atmosphere and temporarily lost control of herself.

He took a step towards her, catching the book. She took it quickly; but not quickly enough to prevent his hand from brushing hers. A tingling sensation passed up her arm and down her spine. She felt suddenly awkward, and she wanted to explain her presence in the library. 1 came in to get some books on botany,' she said. 1 didn't realise you would be wanting the library this evening.'

She waited apprehensively for his reply. She felt on edge with him; breathless; not knowing what direction their meeting would take. She remembered their last encounter clearly, and although she knew that she had been right about the children and he had been wrong, she knew she shouldn't have spoken to him as she had done. She also knew that, despite his anger, he had been very lenient with her: many other employers would have dismissed her on the spot.

With these feelings uppermost in her mind she felt that it was unfortunate he had just walked into the library. Gathering up the books she had chosen she made to walk past him, but he did not move out of her way.

Those look interesting,' he said, looking at the books she was carrying. 1 didn't know you were fond of botany.'

Was she mistaken, Sarah wondered, or was there a hint of a smile around his full lips?

Unable to stop it, her mouth broke into a smile all of its own. 'I'm not.' She tried unsuccessfully to suppress a gurgle of laughter.

To her surprise - and intense relief - her laughter did not incense him. In fact, his own smile broadened.

Then why the books?' he asked.

'I'm preparing one of Lucy's lessons.'

'At this late hour?' He was surprised.

'It's cooler to work in the evenings,' she explained. 'Besides, it isn't as if I have anything better to do.'

'Oh, yes, you have,' he said, surprising himself almost as much as he surprised her. You can stay a while and talk to me. If, that is,' he said, again with a smile, *you think that is better than preparing one of Lucy's lessons!'

Sarah smiled.

He took the heavy books from her and put them in a pile on top of the finely-carved lectern. He motioned her towards one of the Hepplewhite chairs drawn up beside a large writing-table, and when she had seated herself he sat opposite her, his firm legs stretched out in front of him.

The situation was proving easier than she had expected. When she was not bristling with anger - and when he was not angry either - they seemed to share a rapport, and she hoped this rapport would make it much easier for her to talk to him in the future. She did not know what to make of Lord Randall's change of manner, but she felt that now, whilst his softer mood lasted, it would be a good idea for her to make amends for her earlier angry outburst.

'I have something to say to you,' she began hesitantly. 1 —'

'No,' he said, interrupting her. 'Not before I have said something to you.'

He paused, seeming not to know how to continue.

There's really no need —' began Sarah, when he didn't speak.

Yes, there is. There's every need. You see —' He broke off and stood up, striding over to the mantelpiece. I'm not often wrong,' he said at last, *but I was wrong the other day —'

'No,' said Sarah firmly. 1 was the one who was in the wrong. I should never have spoken to you like that.'

'No, you shouldn't,' he agreed. It was very wrong of you. In fact,' he added with a wicked smile, 'it was very impertinent!'

Sarah smiled, realising that he was teasing her.