A Most Unusual Governess (2 page)

'I thought of it, yes, but I am not accomplished enough. There are so many young women seeking work these days that only the best can hope to secure a position. I am an indifferent pianist, I cannot paint, I speak French very badly and I never could master the harp.'

Lady Templeton laughed.

'Nor I!' she said. 'I happen to know of a position where playing the harp is unimportant, likewise French and drawing and everything else that is usually deemed necessary. What is needed is a young woman who likes children and who has a strong spirit. Someone who can help my great niece to enjoy herself again.'

'Do you mean the little girl in the hall?' asked Sarah, hesitating on her way to the door.

Yes, I do. She has had a sad year. Her parents were killed in an accident and she now lives with her uncle, my nephew. He is a good man at heart but he has never had anything to do with young children before. He barely knows his nephews and niece as he has spent most of his time in recent years fighting Napoleon on the continent. He only returned to England when his brother died and he inherited the estate.'

'I am not quite sure what you are asking me to do,' asked Sarah. 'Are you asking me to teach your great niece or are you asking me to teach your nephew?'

'I think I am asking you to do both! I want you to teach my niece how to enjoy herself again, and I think you are the person to do it. I saw you with her in the hall a few minutes ago and although at first I was horrified when you asked her to spit on your handkerchief, the sound of her laughter

was music to my ears. She has not laughed once since her parents died. If I were younger I would keep her with me, but I have trouble with my knees and I cannot run around with her, but you can. You are young and cheerful and energetic. I will have no qualms about suggesting she goes back to her uncle at the end of the month if you will agree to be her governess. That is, if you can take up the appointment by the end of the month?'

*Yes, I can.'

'Good. Then we will see if you can teach my nephew that there is more to raising children than making sure they work hard, and perhaps whilst you are about it you could teach him how to smile again as well. All the other governesses have quailed at the idea of telling him anything, but you, Miss Davenport, have backbone,' said Lady Templeton with satisfaction.

'And an empty purse,' said Sarah.

'A very strong inducement to taking the position,' said Lady Templeton with a twinkle in her eye.

As was Lucy, thought Sarah, for she already liked the little girl.

Very well, I accept,' she said. But I cannot promise that your nephew will keep me if I speak out of turn. He might dismiss me.'

'He will not be hiring you,' said Lady Templeton with a significant glance. 1 will.'

Which means that you are the only person who can dismiss me?' asked Sarah.

'Yes, Miss Davenport, it does!'

* * * *

Sarah looked around the schoolroom as she sat at her desk marking an assortment of exercises. Little had she guessed, when she had gone to Templeton House not three weeks before, that instead of taking up a position as a companion she would take up a position as a governess.

Her first few weeks at Watermead Grange, Lord Randall's estate in the county of Kent, had passed both quickly and enjoyably. Despite Lady Templeton's warnings that Lord Randall was not an easy man to work for, and despite her declaration that he had scared away all the previous governesses - including poor Miss Gale, who had left after only two days! - Sarah had settled in well; although, as Lord Randall was absent, this was perhaps not as encouraging as it seemed. The true test would come when he returned.

The schoolroom was large and airy. It was situated at the top of the house, with a window to the west. It was clean, and was well furnished with everything she could need, including desks, chairs, globes and maps. Lord Randall may be a difficult man to work for, but at least he provided well.

The children had turned out to be delightful. As well as Lucy there were also Lucy's two older brothers, William and Peter, whom Sarah looked after in the evenings when their tutors had left the Grange. True, William had been pale and withdrawn when she had first arrived, whilst Peter had been restless with suppressed energy. But a few weeks of running around after lessons had finished, and of playing ordinary childhood games, had soon changed the children for the better and Sarah was pleased to see just how happy and confident they had become.

She was just about to dip her quill into the ink pot on her desk when she heard the sound of someone running up the corridor. A moment later Edna, one of the housemaids, burst into the room.

'Beggin' your pardon, miss, for bursting in like this, but
I’ve
so much to do,' said Edna, who was red in the face and obviously flustered. The missus says... Mrs Smith... That is to say, the housekeeper, miss... She sent me to tell you... '

Tell me what?' asked Sarah, mystified, as Edna caught her breath.

It's the master, miss. Lord Randall. Hell be home by the end of the week!'

Welcome home, my lord,' said Hodgess, the butler, as Lord Randall strode into the house with all the unthinking arrogance of a rich and powerful man.

Thank you, Hodgess.' Lord Randall looked round him as though he was pleased to be home.

He was still recognisably the man in the portrait hanging in Lady Templeton's drawing-room. Although the portrait had been painted in 1804, the intervening ten years had changed him very little. He had the same proud features, the same black hair and the same black eyes, only now they had the look of seasoned maturity instead of the look of untried youth.

His figure, too, had changed very little. Whilst many of his fellows had gone to seed, Lord Randall had retained the firm and powerful body of his early years. The time he had spent serving with Wellington in the war against Napoleon had defined his muscles, hardening them, and giving him the sleek and powerful look of a jungle cat.

'You had a good journey, I hope?' murmured Hodgess deferentially, taking Lord Randall's tall hat.

*Yes, thank you.' Lord Randall's glance around the hall had now become more focused, and he was taking in every inch of the magnificent entrance. 1 see the worn baluster has been replaced,' he said, his eyes coming to rest on the sweeping staircase.

Yes, my lord,' said Hodgess. 'As you instructed.'

'And the panelling in the library?'

Yes, my lord.'

'Good. The light's fading now but I'll inspect it in the morning, before I ride round the estate. Tell Dawson I'll want him tomorrow, and most probably on Friday as well. I want to get the estate business out of the way as quickly as possible, before the preparations for the house party begin.'

Very good, my lord.'

Hodgess, together with the rest of the staff, had been thrown into a flurry of activity when the message had arrived that not only would Lord Randall shortly be paying a visit to the estate, but that he would also be organising a house party. Which meant that his visit would be much longer than usual.

'And by the way, Hodgess, said Lord Randall as he picked up the mail which had been laid in readiness for him on a silver salver - including, on the bottom of the pile, a letter from his aunt - there will be two guests arriving later this evening: my cousin, Mr Shuttleworth, and his travelling companion, Mrs de Bracy. They're attending a wedding in Sussex and will be breaking their journey here. They will stay tonight and tomorrow night, and will leave on Friday.'

Very good, my lord,' said Hodgess - the phrase which accounted for most of his dealings with his lord and master! - 1 will see that Mrs Smith is informed.'

'Mrs de Bracy will have the Elizabethan suite,' went on Lord Randall, 'and Mr Shuttleworth will have one of the rooms in the bachelor wing. See to it, Hodgess, if you please.'

'At once my lord,' said Hodgess. He made a low bow and withdrew.

Lord Randall glanced once more around the hall then, still sorting through his mail, he began to climb the stairs.

* * * *

Sarah was in her room, reading. She was stretched out on the window seat with the mullioned window wide open next to her so that she could make the most of the cool evening air. Her room, a large and spacious apartment, was at the back of the house. For all that, it was very pleasant, and overlooked the rose gardens. It was far better than anything she had been expecting, and its loveliness had taken her by surprise. She had soon learnt from the servants, however, that although Lord Randall was a hard taskmaster he always treated his staff well. There were no damp attics or rat-infested servants' quarters at Watermead Grange as there were in many other great houses; everything was neat, clean and well ordered.

Sarah finished her chapter and closed her book. She put it back on the table next to the four poster bed, which was hung with green silk drapes. Beyond it was a carved oak wardrobe, an inlaid writing desk, a large oak chest and a washstand, as well as two chairs which flanked the fireplace.

The evening was so fine that she decided to take a walk around the garden. She went out onto the landing and down the stairs, but just as she reached the first turning she heard someone coming up from below and a moment later a tall, dark man came into view. His face was arresting.

The high cheekbone
s, straight nose and decided chin
gave it strength, whilst his eyes, black like his hair, gave it character.

He glanced up from his letters and a look of irritation crossed his face as he took her in, his eyes lingering on her shabby muslin gown.

1 don't allow housemaids to use the front stairs,' he said briefly. The back stairs are for your use.'

It was all she needed to dispel the good impression created by his undeniably handsome looks.

'I am not a housemaid,' she replied coolly. 1 am Miss Davenport, the new governess.'

'I haven't appointed a governess,' he said. 'Return to your own part of the house at once, and tell Mrs Smith that I don't expect to see any of the housemaids out of uniform again.'

He then ignored her completely and put his foot on the next stair as he prepared to walk past her.

'I was appointed by Lady Templeton,' she said, standing her ground instead of moving out of his way. 1 took up my appointment three weeks ago and I have been teaching Lucy since I arrived.'

'Lady Templeton doesn't have the authority to appoint my staff,' he remarked.

'Nevertheless, she appointed me.'

He looked at her directly and paused.

'Did she indeed?' he asked.

Yes, she did.'

Well, I suppose it will save me the trouble of finding someone,' he said grudgingly. You are qualified for the position, I suppose?'

'Lady Templeton thought so.'

You are a musician, I suppose? You are able to play the piano and the harp? You can speak several languages, at least French and Italian, and you are able to teach my niece to paint and sketch, and instruct her in the use of maps and globes?'

'No,' said Sarah.

'No?' He seemed surprised by her frankness, but said, In that case, you do not meet my requirements.'

'I should imagine that very few people do,' Sarah returned.

'Do you indeed. Then it would surprise you to learn that every governess at Watermead Grange has been able to do all those things, if not more,' he said. 'Miss Gale also spoke Russian and German.'

Then it's a pity she left after two days,' Sarah returned calmly.

He looked at her curiously, as if he did not know what to make of her, and then said, Yes, it is. Let us hope you fare better than she did. You will join me in my study at eight o'clock tomorrow morning and show me some of Lucilla's work. If I am satisfied with her Latin then —'

'Lucy is too young to be doing Latin,' said Sarah firmly. 'She needs —'

'I have had a long journey, Miss Davenport,' he interrupted her irritably, 'and I don't intend to waste the rest of my evening arguing with a governess. Lucy will do whatever I think fit, and so will you, starting with our meeting in the study tomorrow, when you will have to convince me to let you stay.'

And so saying he walked past her, overtopping her by a good eight inches as he reached the same stair, before mounting to the landing and disappearing from view.

Well, I was warned, thought Sarah.

"He is arrogant, high-handed and overbearing," Lady Templeton had said, and she had spoken nothing but the truth. But he was also, Sarah realised, the most attractive man she had ever seen.

But despite his manifold attractions, Sarah did not intend to be used as a doormat. If Lord

Randall thought he could walk all over her, then Lord Randall must think again!

* * * *

There you are, James!' said Maud de Bracy later that evening, as Lord Randall finally walked into the drawing-room. 1 was beginning to think you had forgotten me!'

'And me,' added Percy Shuttleworth, from his place on the piano stool.

Percy had a habit of fiddling with the keys of the pianoforte whenever he was bored, and his tuneless ditties had made more than one host wish they had never purchased an instrument.