The American Bride (4 page)

Cara curtsied and made her addresses. "I'm still a bit overwhelmed by my surroundings."

"It is a bit startling at first," Mrs. Clayton replied kindly. "I understand you are from the Americas so I can imagine everything is quite different."

"Yes, ma'am. I suppose I'll get used to it but for now I doubt if I will be able to find my way anywhere. I'm not used to such an enormous household and I must admit I'm a bit intimidated."

Mrs. Clayton immediately took to the girl who was so ready to admit her own nervousness. The other governesses had been very proud of their positions and kept themselves apart from the rest of the staff. The last governess had given herself airs and graces where none existed. She was glad to see the last of her, Mrs. Clayton thought, pursing her lips in disapproval as she recalled the unsavory circumstances preceding her dismissal. The girl before her might be young but she did neither look to be flighty nor the kind to assume unwarranted conceits.

"Just what will be expected of me, Mrs. Clayton?"

At the raised eyebrows, Cara attempted to cover her ignorance. "Lord Wilton sketched out my responsibilities, but you see, Mrs. Clayton, I have never been a governess to an English family and I would like to be prepared so that I don't make too many mistakes. I would very much appreciate any advice you can offer me," Cara finished gracefully.

Thus appealed to, Mrs. Clayton was won over totally. She liked the girl's no-nonsense quality and determined to help all she could in what she considered a difficult situation. She gave a more detailed version of Cara's duties and then took her on a tour of the children's wing.

"Each of the children has rooms adjoining their respective body servants. Master Richard has this room," she continued, pointing to a room across the carpeted hallway. "Master Richard is nine. The boy is quiet, almost withdrawn." Mrs. Clayton sighed, obvious disapproval in her voice. It was apparent she would have preferred a young hellion, which was more typical of the males of the upper classes.

"Mistress Belin has this one." There was a definite wariness in Mrs. Clayton's tone as she mentioned the child. "Miss Belin is six. I'm sure after you have met the children you will be able to adapt your programs to each of their needs. I doubt if Richard will give you any trouble."

Cara gathered from the unspoken words, that Belin would give her a great deal of trouble.

Across from the children's apartments, Cara was shown the schoolroom. Facing the inner courtyard, the sun barely filtered through the tiny windows, which were curtained in a somber grey. The room was meticulously clean, Spartan in aspect, with none of the softer decorative touches that Cara had seen thus far. She winced thinking of the days she would spend penned in with the children.

Cara was thoughtful as they retraced the corridor toward her own room. Mrs. Clayton opened a door in the hallway and Cara caught her breath in pleasure when she entered.

At one end of the room there was a large stone fireplace. Cheerful blue figured tiles surrounded the opening and lay on the hearth where it jutted into the room. A luxurious Oriental carpet covered the floor in a floral pattern of soft blues and beige. The furniture was hidden beneath Holland covers but looked comfortable rather than decorative. The best feature of the room was the wall of beveled windows, which framed a vista of the woods beyond the gardens.

"What a delightful room," Cara sighed in pleasure

"It is charming," the housekeeper remarked. "It used to be the nursery but you may have it as your sitting room as it is little used now."

"But why ever not? It's the perfect place for the children to work and play," Cara exclaimed with pleasure.

"Well as you can see," Mrs. Clayton indicated a door on the opposite wall, "It connects with your room. The other governesses did not enjoy the close proximity to the children."

"If I am to have full control over the children's activities I would find it quite depressing to spend my time in the schoolroom. I will need this room to be prepared immediately." Oblivious of the housekeeper, Cara whisked back the covers on the furniture to peer at the objects underneath. "And a large supply of wood for the fireplace. The children ought to enjoy working in front of a roaring fire." Then noticing the housekeeper's startled expression at Cara's autocratic manner, she softened her voice to a more wheedling tone. "Please, Mrs. Clayton, tell me that you approve."

Unable to resist the impish grin of the little American, the older woman smiled in her turn. "I think it's a splendid idea."

Cara waited while Mrs. Clayton summoned servants to freshen the room and assist in unpacking her trunk. Thanks to Lord Wilton's efficient housekeeper, Cara was soon surrounded by a great bustle of activity. Now that her rooms were being set in order Cara was anxious to get to know her charges.

"Where are the children, Mrs. Clayton?" Cara asked.

"Outside, I suspect," the housekeeper exclaimed throwing up her hands. "Or just roaming around inside the Hall. When there is no governess, the children are pretty much left on their own. They come in when they're hungry but otherwise no one pays them a great deal of attention as long as they stay out of trouble."

"And Lord Wilton permits this?" Cara asked in disbelief.

"Lord Wilton is not what one would call a doting guardian." The disapproval was heavy in Mrs. Clayton's manner. "He is not over used to children. He leaves it to the governess to keep them in order."

"I see," Cara said. Mentally she marked another flaw in the character of her husband. She acknowledged that so far there appeared to be little to admire in the man. "Well, until they turn up I suppose it would be all right if I wander around outside?" Cara asked. "It would be nice to begin getting my bearings in this place if I am to function at all well."

"I'll send along a light lunch," Mrs. Clayton offered. "What with traveling up from London and now so many new things to assimilate, I suspect you must be a might peckish."

With her clothes hung up in the wardrobe Cara felt more at home. For the moment her curiosity over the children outweighed her nervousness at her ability to play the part of a governess. She had had few opportunities to be around small children and was not convinced that she would be able to handle them correctly. Thankfully she was blessed with an abundance of common sense and a sound education. Assuming that they did not take an immediate dislike to her, she was sure they would scrape along well together. Determined to curb her impatience and explore her surroundings, she finished her lunch, tucking some cookies into her pocket to eat during her walk.

Mrs. Clayton had shown Cara the staircase beside her room that would lead her downstairs and outside. Following these directions, Cara discovered that the outside door led to the inside corner of the U. On her right lay the formal gardens and to her left lay the wilder woods and the outbuildings. After strolling through part of the vast gardens, she managed to locate the stables and was impressed with the size and quality of the operation.

Entering the yard, Cara located Glum, the venerable headgroom, and introduced herself as the new governess. Although reticent at first, Glum opened up under the obvious interest of the young American. His burly chest expanded under her praise for the cleanliness of the stables and the yard. Soon Cara was puffing to keep up with his short legs as they propelled him through his domain. Glum's gnarled hands stroked each horse and his weathered face puckered in pleasure as he extolled the lineage and attributes of each of the animals.

"Oh, what a beauty," Cara exclaimed, her eyes running over a dainty gray. "It's been months since I've ridden anything. And I must admit that I've rarely seen as fine a set of cattle as Lord Wilton has stabled."

"His lordship's grandfather was responsible for beginning the stud but Lord Wilton has added considerable to the bloodstock, Miss," Glum explained. "This little filly is one of the gentlest of the new lot. But she's got good heart and a stamina I'd put up against some of the top goers."

"Can she jump?"

"It's like watching the fairies at work, Miss. Her feet touch down with such grace she'd ne'er jostle a babe in arms," Glum chuckled.

"That, I'd like to see," Cara laughed in response.

"When you're settled in and ready, just come and see Glum. I'll seat you on nothing that will put your knowledge to shame."

Inside the Hall, Cara discovered that the work had already been completed in the night nursery. The room fairly sparkled. A fire had been laid in the fireplace and the furniture looked inviting and cozy. Entering her own room she was introduced to the children's maids, Agnes and Janey. They were cheerful country girls, inclined to snicker nervously but eager to impart their views on the household.

"Mrs. Clayton said as how we could do for you as well as the children, Miss," the dark buxom Janey offered.

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness," Cara replied cautiously, not wanting to get off on the wrong footing with the girls. "I've never had anyone to wait on me before. I'll feel like real gentry."

As Cara raised her nose in the air she smiled broadly at the girls which sent them into a fit of the giggles.

"Wait until you've seen some of the ladies what came up from London with Lord Wilton," Agnes gushed. "Oh the dresses are ever so fine and all their great jewels and glittery things."

"A houseparty?" Cara asked.

"Twelve of 'em, Miss," the irrepressible Agnes offered. "I peeked over the balcony just afore lunch. All prinked up and the ladies making eyes at his lordship. Not that he'd notice since Lady Valencia Greeley was hangin' on his arm, just like she couldn't make it all the way into the salon."

"Lady Valencia is elderly?" Cara asked hopefully.

This question set the girls off again into laughter.

"Not by half, she ain't," Janey volunteered. "A right tarted up beauty, if you ask me. Lots of town airs. Ever so sweet when any of the gents are around but a sly puss when they're not."

"Her abigail is done up by the end of the day what with her ladyship changing her clothes four times a day and wantin' this and that fetched 'til the poor gel is plumb wore out." Agnes lowered her voice to a confidential tone. "I was passin' her rooms after she'd gone off to lunch and the place was tossed all to pieces. Must have tried on ten dresses and each one of them thrown down in a heap. And she paints," she added, delicious horror in her voice.

"Lord Wilton don't seem to mind," Janey sniffed.

"I thought his lordship was married," Cara stated weakly.

"'At may be so, Miss," Agnes burst in. "But word in the Hall is that it was all arranged by his father. I hear she's a proper quiz. Comes from America which is full of rough brutish men and frumpy women."

Seeing Cara's startled expression, Agnes remembered the new governess was an American and clapped a hand over her mouth, rolling her eyes in embarrassment. Janey clutched her apron like a lifeline, her face mirroring the younger girl's discomfort.

"I'm ever so s-sorry, Miss," Agnes stuttered.

"Never mind," Cara replied. "I suspect most of the people in England think the same thing." Then changing the subject she asked about the children.

"They're better off orphaned, if you don't mind my saying," Janey announced in disapproving tones. "Their mother was a flighty piece of goods, no better than she should be. Some said if the carriage accident hadn't took 'em that their father would have been involved in an awful scandal. All set up for a duel, he was. Over some bit of muslin."

"It's lucky for the children that they've come to be with Lord Wilton,"

Agnes enthused. "He'll see to the right of things. A proper gentleman, his lordship is."

"He's not setting much of an example for the children if he's carrying on with Lady Valencia." Cara could not keep the note of censure out of her voice.

"Well, gentlemen must have their pleasures, Miss." Agnes, who Cara suspected was no more then fifteen, sounded for all the world like a weary matron. "He's a good man, is Lord Wilton."

"Got the Devil's own temper," claimed Janey. "Comes from gettin' his own way as a lad. But for all that, he's a fair man. He didn't used to spend much time in the country. He had his opera dancers and such in town. Lately he's been on the estate more and takes an interest in the doings. Fixed up all the tenants' cottages the last time. Better than most, I could mention."

By this time Cara had learned enough about Wilton to put her decidedly out of sorts. She had enjoyed the chatter of the girls but wanted nothing now except a wash and her dinner. She thanked the girls for their company, explaining that she would be delighted with a tray in the new schoolroom.

"Then after the children's dinner I would like you to bring them along to the nursery." At the girls' blank expressions she questioned, "Will they be going downstairs to Lord Wilton?"

"Oh no, Miss," chirped Agnes. "The children won't be seeing his lordship. He only sees them if they need seeing."

"I understand," Cara said although she really didn't. "Then bring them along and tell Mrs. Clayton I would like a pot of hot chocolate and some cakes if she can manage."

By the time that Cara had finished her own dinner she wondered just what sort of mysterious situation existed at Weathersfield. Everyone seemed to evade her questions about the children. References were made to them but she sensed a reticence that gave her pause. She already had enough to cope with Wilton but now she foresaw additional problems ahead. Four governesses did not bode well for her own success in the position.

Cara's head throbbed with an incipient headache. Tiredly she rested against the soft cushions of the sofa waiting for the arrival of the children. It had been an extremely long day. The excitement of her departure from her grandmother's had worn off after the exhausting carriage ride and then her disastrous interview with Wilton. She was unwilling to admit that her dejection had any relationship to some of the things she had heard about her husband. Despite the fact that Cara claimed total antipathy toward Julian, she was surprised at her reaction to his apparent unfaithfulness. His affair must be fairly blatant if it was common gossip among the servants. She had never considered the fact that he had not been eager for the marriage. Perhaps he too had fought against the arrangement. He might be in love with Lady Greeley and had wanted to keep himself free to marry the woman. Then, of course, his father like Cara's had forced him into an unwilling alliance.