Breaking the Governess’s Rules (26 page)

‘She carried
a
child.’

‘It was mine. Mine!’

‘Was?’ The corner of Venetia’s mouth twitched.

‘The child is dead. Born too soon, she never even breathed.’

‘Surely you cannot have feeling for something that never lived, that you never knew.’ She put her hand to her throat.

‘You knew Louisa was expecting and you never even bothered to discover what happened.’

‘You must believe me, Jonny, I acted for the best. It was better for everyone that you thought her dead. And the child’s death was providence, a punishment for the mother’s sin if you like.’

Jonathon stared at his stepmother in astonishment mingled with disgust. ‘What sort of creature are you?’

‘What was she to you until you knew of her death?’ His stepmother snapped her fingers. ‘A misalliance that you would grow out of, that you were tiring of. That one little lie turned you from being a rather dissolute young man to a model gentleman. This estate has gone from strength to strength. You had the perfect hostess in Clarissa, a woman who was born to the role.’

Jonathon flexed his fingers, itching to shake her, but he had never laid a hand on a woman in anger. Never would. With effort he regained control of his temper. ‘Did you ever regret what you did to Louisa?’

His stepmother’s ear bobs swayed slightly as she caught Jonathon’s hands between her ice-cold fingers.

‘I have never lost a moment’s sleep. I saw you lying there, all distressed, calling for a woman who would never come, when a good … no … an excellent woman stood by your bedside, waiting with bated breath for you to live. Clarissa possessed every attribute you needed, if only you could be made to forget flame-coloured hair and an ingratiating manner.’ She lifted her chin and her
eyes glittered like a snake’s. ‘I would do it again in an instant. You should be thanking me for releasing you from purgatory.’

Jonathon pulled his hands from her grasp. Cold fury swept through him. This woman had abused his trust in the worst possible way. She had harmed Louisa, had indirectly caused the death of his baby and she had no remorse. Even now, she was attempting to justify it. ‘You are insane.’

‘You can believe what you like, but my conscience is clear.’ His stepmother met his gaze with a proud tilt to her chin, but there was something about the way that the corner of her mouth twitched.

‘Get out! Go before I do something we both regret, but you richly deserve!’

‘If I go, you will never see Margaret again. And I will marry her to whomever I see fit.’

‘I think not. Margaret stays with me.’ A white-hot rage filled Jonathon, but he damped it down. His revenge would be served ice cold. ‘I am her guardian. Margaret is the only reason I allowed you and your stinking lies in this house.’

‘You tricked me! I would have never come here!’ His stepmother’s face crumpled and she fumbled for a handkerchief. ‘I love my daughter. I want to see her.’

‘That is your problem.’ Jonathon regarded her and forced all pity from his heart. Waited.

Venetia replaced the handkerchief in her reticule, went over to the door and closed it with a click.

‘Is she here? Is that witch here in this house, listening to every word? Did she seduce you?’ She paused and looked him up and down. ‘Not yet, I think. Men are
such fools when they think with their nether regions. One can make them do anything.’

‘Is that what you did, Venetia?’ Jonathon enquired, fixing her with his eyes. All these years and he had never guessed what a twisted person this woman was.

‘What has that woman been saying?’ His stepmother stopped in the centre of the room and held out her hands. ‘Do you not think, Jonathon, that if I had felt there was a spark of honest and genuine feeling in that chit that I would have moved heaven and earth to bring her to you?’

Jonathon’s stomach revolted at his stepmother’s self-serving words. ‘Stop lying.’

His stepmother’s eyes widened. ‘I saved you the trouble of ending the affair. You should be grateful. In the end, you had the perfect wife, a woman far more suited to withstand the rigours of being a baroness. You were happy with Clarissa and now you have a wonderful little boy. You should have left Louisa in the past where she belongs.’

‘Whose idea was it? Yours? Clarissa’s? Her mother’s?’

‘I have no regrets, Jonny. The idea was mine and, what is more, I’d do it again in an instant.’

Jonathon flexed his hands, longing to throttle the woman. She knew nothing of his hopes and dreams. He had thought her wonderful once, but now he could see that she only ever thought of herself. The only thing he had to be thankful for was that Louisa would never have to confront this woman. Louisa would not have to hear self-serving filth. ‘This interview is over. We have nothing more to say to each other. Ever.’

‘Jonathon!’ His stepmother lifted her hands in supplication. ‘I have only ever had your best interests at heart. You have no idea of the sacrifices I have made on your behalf.’

‘I believe I understand well enough, madam.’

‘You understand what?’

‘Your self-serving lies. It was none of your business whom I married or how I lived my life.’

‘I have no regrets.’ Venetia gave a half-smile. ‘Louisa’s death was the making of you, Jonathon. Think about that.’

‘No, her life is.’

Louisa trudged along the path towards the ruined Roman bath. The entire world sparkled with the remaining raindrops reflecting the sun. Jonathon had shown common sense and restraint last night. The last thing her heart needed was a dead-end affair with Jonathon. And he had never pretended that he wanted anything more.

The opportunity of accompanying the Blandishes and Lord Furniss on the proposed expedition to the Roman ruins was the perfect chance to clear her brain.

‘Miss Sibson, we must speak,’ Lord Furniss said, taking her arm as they went around the ruins. ‘I have a confession to make.’

‘Do you?’ Louisa kept her voice light, but her stomach churned.

‘The other evening you prevented me from speaking …’

‘I had no wish to fall out of civility with you.’ Louisa regarded where Miss Blandish was laughing with her
sister as they clambered over rocks. ‘I value your friendship too highly.’

‘You are truly a pearl amongst women, Miss Sibson, and perceptive beyond measure.’ He gave a short laugh as his countenance flushed bright pink. ‘I shall be on my knees—’

‘Lord Furniss, please do not.’ Louisa withdrew her arm from his grip and examined the stone from a disused altar. She forced her breathing to be steady. ‘Why are you doing this, Lord Furniss?’

‘Because this is the first time we have had an opportunity to speak privately.’ He gave an overly pleased smile. ‘Thanks to you, my heart has found its true life-mate, whatever my mother may think about Miss Blandish.’

‘Your mother knows about Miss Blandish?’ Louisa said, as relief ran through her. He was enamoured of Miss Blandish.

‘Before I left Newcastle, I penned a quick note about the house party. I had her response this morning. She casts aspersions on that innocent’s character!’ Lord Furniss tucked his chin into his neck. ‘To my certain knowledge, my mother has never encountered Miss Blandish. And thanks to your perception, I remain a free man to pursue her.’

Louisa placed her hand on his arm. ‘I appreciate your understanding but I have done nothing.’

‘Miss Blandish confided that you put forward my suit last night. I could not have hoped for a better friend. She is an angel. I know she wants a Season but I intend to be her faithful squire.’

At his eager face, Louisa’s heart squeezed. Lord
Furniss deserved some measure of happiness. Perhaps she had misjudged Miss Daphne and her matchmaking tendencies. But simply because she’d had a success with Miss Blandish and Lord Furniss, it did not mean there was to be a match between her and Jonathon. The past stood firmly in their way.

‘Miss Sibson! Oh, Miss Sibson!’ Annie Sims hurried towards the group. ‘Please wait!’

‘Is there a problem?’ Louisa motioned for the group to continue on. Miss Elliot appeared to understand and began to talk very loudly to Nella Blandish about the Romans, speculating why they might have built a wall in Northumberland and when.

‘I need your help with a problem.’ Annie drew a piece of paper from her pocket. ‘I have heard from Trevor.’

Louisa stared at her in astonishment. ‘You have heard from him.’

The woman dropped a quick curtsy. ‘I left him a note, you see. I could not leave without saying anything. And he guessed that I might return to me family. He wants me back. I jumped to the wrong conclusion. He wants a chance to explain. Is that too much to ask? But I don’t see I could have made a mistake, like.’

Louisa closed her eyes. That man had written to Annie. He must have worked out that Annie had taken the snuffbox. ‘Do your parents know?’

‘How could I tell them? They hate him! They’d only turn me against him. And what if I did make a mistake? What if I turned my back on love?’

‘You brought the snuffbox back. He might consider it his property. That could be the reason he contacted you,’ Louisa said calmly. ‘He lied to you before.’

The woman’s eyes widened. ‘I hadn’t thought about that. He did not even mention the snuffbox, you know. Maybe he doesn’t know that I took it.’

Louisa concentrated on the tree behind Annie. Surely the woman was not that naïve. Of course this man knew. ‘Does he say where he is?’

‘He writes that everything is not as it seemed and … wants to come. My ma and da will skin me alive if he does. Promise me you won’t say nothing to Lord Chesterholm. He was good about the reward. But … Trevor might not know who the snuffbox belonged to. He might have bought it off a man at the post inn. I did not give him a chance to explain. That was wrong of me.’ Annie gave a heartfelt sigh. ‘He promised me so many things and, oh, the way he made me feel. I have to give him a chance, don’t I, miss?’

Louisa put her hand on Annie’s shoulder. ‘He is a married man with children. He abandoned you in a fleainfested boarding-house. The man used you and abused your trust.’

‘He misses me.’ Annie gave a half-shrug. ‘But I knows what you mean about his wife and children. He don’t have time for them. He loves only me. Me! And he wants me back.’

‘You need to think very carefully, Annie. Lord Chesterholm …’

‘You have a kind face, miss.’ The woman gave another small curtsy. ‘But you don’t understand. My man loves me.’

‘Annie, tell your parents. They do love you.’

The woman sucked in her breath. ‘I will think about it, like, miss. But me da is up Wark way, seeing about
some horses for Lord Thorngrafton. Now that there was a right scandal. The nephew ran off with his lordship’s young wife.’

‘Annie, will you let me know if your Trevor shows? Before you do anything?’ Louisa asked.

‘I’ll think on it, miss.’

It was not until Annie hurried away that Louisa realised that she had never actually seen the letter. Whatever happened when she returned to Chesterholm, Louisa resolved, she would explain to Jonathon about the encounter and her unease.

Louisa concentrated on the Roman ruins. From the log book and the ropes on the ground, it was clear that Jonathon was taking the time and trouble to excavate properly, rather than behaving like many amateurs who went out for an afternoon’s digging with a spade. Miss Mattie would have approved.

On the way back from the diggings, Louisa spied a young woman running towards them. Her bonnet was askew and she had picked up her skirts to run. Jonathon’s dogs ran behind her, barking. Louisa bit her knuckle, torn between the panic that Margaret’s arrival meant meeting Venetia Ponsby-Smythe again and the sheer pleasure of seeing her former charge again.

‘Margaret. You have arrived.’ Louisa caught Margaret’s hands. The young woman spun round and round, making Louisa quite dizzy as the two dogs lay down panting at her feet.

Louisa rapidly made the introductions to the others in the party. Miss Blandish and Margaret eyed each other, but then Nella made one of her more outrageous remarks
and both women laughed. With that brief gesture, Louisa knew it was only a matter of time before the trio became friends.

‘How did you know where to find me? Or indeed that I was here?’ Louisa asked, as the group began strolling back towards the house.

‘I asked Roberts who was here and he gave me your name. Then I had to run and run and see if it was indeed true. Mama was not even out of the carriage and I was gone before she could say anything.’ The young woman clasped her hands under her chin. Her grey eyes shone. While she would never be an English rose, Margaret Ponsby-Smythe possessed a certain liveliness and vitality. ‘Oh, I always knew you weren’t dead, despite what Mama and Clarissa said. Jonathon simply would not listen. I was cross with him for ages and ages. I told him that you left after he did, that Mama had seen you and I watched on the stairs. But by then … well, Clarissa had her claws in and I’m sure you know the rest.’

Louisa kept her face bland, but her insides churned. She had thought it was going to be straightforward, but all the feelings from four years ago were there, as well as the knowledge that, had she been more forceful, the whole mess need not have happened.

‘I am pleased to see you as well, Margaret. It has been a long time.’

Margaret linked her arm with Louisa’s. ‘Was my brother surprised? I would give anything to have seen his face. He must have thought you were a ghost.’

‘Astonished.’ Louisa gave a brief and edited version of the concert. She regarded the group, who were busy
looking at the remains. ‘And your mother, is she with your brother?’

Margaret scraped her toe along the dirt. ‘I suppose so. Mama gets worse and worse. Nothing ever pleases her.’

Louisa dropped Margaret’s arm. She had to go and confront Venetia Ponsby-Smythe. And she had to do it now, before anyone else was around. It was her problem to solve, not anyone else’s and certainly not Jonathon’s.

‘Where are you going?’ the young woman called after her. ‘You have gone as white as a ghost.’

‘There is something I forgot. Miss Blandish will entertain you.’ Louisa picked up her skirts and ran. This time, she would prove that she could weather any storm and demonstrate that she had not only survived, but thrived. This time, she would finally be rid of the past and turn her face towards the future.