The Redemption of the Puzzling Governess: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance

by Fanny Finch

  And in many ways, that only made the Earl more eager. He could not help his excitement in the thought of surprising her with this news and this bit of strangeness that he was planning to deliver to her.

  But was it really all that strange? Was strange to be determined by society as what was acceptable and what was deemed reprehensible? He thought not.

  “We do not need to go back indoors,” he said. “But shall we speak here or at the lake of which you told me so fondly?”

  Her face brightened then. And the Earl knew that she could handle his question. Miss Caulfield would be entirely surprised, but he was confident that she would also be entirely agreeable.

  “The lake is rather beautiful and I imagine you will agree. As the weather is quite lovely today, I think it is a splendid idea for us to make our way down,” she remarked.

  With that, they began the journey to the lake and the Earl followed Miss Caulfield. She walked ahead, not in a way that compromised him as a leader, but in the way of a guide.

  He watched her form as she walked, how the humility in it, and the blush of confidence that spilled forward and gave her strength.

  By the time they reached the lake, the Earl was nearly in a panic. He thought about his words. He had already considered them, but now that the time had come, he was entirely unprepared.

  But Miss Caulfield nodded to him and he followed her gaze to the parting in the thin batch of trees they were walking through and he saw the lake at the end.

  Breaking through the branches, they were spouted into a beautiful plot of land with a magnificent body of water that looked clean and inviting. Geese floated on the surface and he saw another bird dipping its head in the water to catch a fish.

  It was the perfect spot.

  “Miss Caulfield, this truly is lovely,” he stated.

  She nodded and went to sit on the grass beside the water. The Earl followed and sat beside her. As she gazed at the view, he gazed at her. She was more beautiful than anything else in all of creation. He did not even notice or care about the chaperoning maid at a discreet distance. He felt the two of them were alone in the world.

  “What is it you wished to speak about?” Miss Caulfield asked him then.

  The Earl did not take his eyes from her as he began and watching her only gave him further strength.

  “Miss Caulfield, you understand that I have come here to express my trust in you, to express that I care deeply for you,” he began.

  “Yes, my lord,” she replied with a blush and a shy glance away from him.

  “And you must know that I wish for you to return to my home at once. That I cannot bear to be parted from you any longer,” he continued.

  “My lord, I should wish the very same thing. To be back in your home, to be in your presence, to be Miss Grace’s governess once more. It would be a dream fulfilled,” she remarked, looking dreamy.

  The Earl knew a look passed over his face. She was not grasping his words.

  “I fear there is one wish among those that I cannot fulfill,” he told her.

  Miss Caulfield looked at him sadly. He relished it almost, knowing that he was about to ask her for something far greater than what she was expecting.

  “You see, Miss Caulfield, I can hardly ask that you come back to be the governess of my daughter. It simply would not be proper,” he told her.

  Miss Caulfield looked disappointed. “I understand. With what you have learned of me, with my failure to protect another child, you cannot have me as a governess. But would you accept me as a maid?” she inquired, a wistful look of hope now expressing itself.

  “No,” he said. “I shall not have you as a maid.”

  And with that, she had given up hope. He saw it in the slope of her shoulders, the weary look of her forehead.

  “I should have you as nothing less than my wife. Nothing less than a mother to Grace. Nothing less than a partner for the rest of my life,” the Earl finally said, enjoying the words as they came.

  The young woman he had come to love so dearly looked up at him with intense disbelief.

  “You cannot possibly mean…”

  “I do. I mean it in every way. I wish for nothing less than you to become the Countess of Dulshire. I wish for nothing less than you to be my wife for the rest of our days. I have come to love you entirely. It can no longer be ignored for the sake of propriety,” he told her passionately.

  Miss Caulfield looked delighted but shocked altogether.

  “I-I do not know what to say, my lord,” she laughed, tears of joy filling her eyes. She was overcome, just as he had thought she might be.

  “Might I suggest that you accept?” he commented.

  “I accept,” she replied in a rush.

  The Earl took her hand and kissed it on the back, allowing his lips to rest on the softness of her skin there.

  She inhaled deeply, evidently not expecting this display any more than she had expected the other.

  The Earl felt an intense sense of relief. She had accepted him. They would soon be married. And all that had occurred between them would be but memories that had led them this far.

  Miss Caulfield was no mere governess. She was an intelligent, beautiful, regal young woman. She came from a family that was on the rise in society and, for that reason, society would have no reason to snub the marriage even though he knew they would find an excuse.

  But she would be his now. They would spend their lives together, and that was all that the Earl really cared about. His new young wife.

  “Grace shall be entirely delighted,” he remarked.

  Miss Caulfield’s eyes lit up, thinking about that. It was clear that she was looking forward to gaining more than just a husband. She would gain a daughter as well. A young woman that she was so good to and loved so much.

  Yes, everything was soon to change. And the Earl of Dulshire could not have been more thrilled about it.

  Chapter 41

  The day had arrived. She could hardly believe it, but Delia woke that morning feeling a sense of great pride and joy.

  It was the day she would marry the Earl of Dulshire. It would be the day that she would become the new mother and guardian of Grace. It was the day that she had dreamt of and never imagined to arrive.

  When her mother and father had come to the estate the day before, it was evident that they now sought her affections as they previously had with Thea. They were desiring to be close to one who was titled as their daughters now were. Such a rank in society would be good for them, they imagined.

  Delia understood the ways in which she was being used, but it no longer mattered. It was her own life that she was living and it was a good life. She was loved by the man she had come to adore so deeply and that was more than she ever could have hoped for.

  Knowing that her parents were still the same as they had become was a disappointment, but Delia felt confident that, in time, they would grow aware of their behaviors. They would come to see that there was a flaw in it. And perhaps then they might choose to change.

  Thea, Georgette, and Margaret had come and Delia was delighted to have them all meet Amy. She had expressed that Amy had been her greatest ally in the home during the challenges she had faced. It was also Amy who had led the way for all in the household to come to love Delia.

  The entire staff had grown fond of her in the days since she had departed. They had come to see the error in their judgments and the fact that Delia had never been any of those things which they had accused her of.

  She had been slightly anxious that they might believe they had been entirely correct when she was now marrying the Earl, but it had been rather the reverse. They had all seen how he sought after her and it was quite the opposite of the accusations they had previously made.

  Her relief at their new behaviors and attitudes was long lived and all the women who worked in the home tried to crowd in to see what it was that she had chosen to wear that day. They all wanted a look and to be able to tell the others what they saw.


  Mrs. Andrews had even grown warm and was trying to get a look at the young woman. It was clear that she had been tenderly changed by all that had taken place and Delia was glad for it. She never wanted enemies. She had only come by them as a misunderstanding of who she truly was.

  But now, now there was peace.

  “You look exquisite!” Margaret exclaimed.

  Delia stood in reply and allowed everyone to take in the sight of her.

  It was Grace, who had been in the room, waiting and watching quietly, who stood in reply and began to clap. This caused everyone to laugh and join in, enjoying the childish response and the way that Delia was appearing so regal.

  Grace had been pleasant to be around through the entire process of planning the wedding and now, getting ready for it. She was overjoyed to have learned that Miss Caulfield was going to be her mother. She could hardly believe that she was able to be the daughter of a woman she admired so much. This gave Delia a sense of great joy. She, too, could not wait to be Grace’s mother.

  The white gown was a perfect fit to her figure and Delia was glad to be able to wear something with such intricate details as the beadwork and the embroidered flowers. She was amazed by the gown and thought that the Earl would be as well. At first, she had worried that it bordered on the absurd, being too extravagant.

  But others assured Delia that it was ideal and she decided it would be the one she would wear after all.

  Her shoes were anything but comfortable, however they matched with the gown perfectly and she loved that they had the sweetest buttons on the side.

  With her hair done half up, with curls draping down the back of her neck, Delia knew that she was ready to make her debut as a Countess. She felt the part perfectly and enjoyed the feeling of being beautiful and royal like this.

  “Can you even believe it? You are marrying an Earl today!” Margaret exclaimed.

  “You shall be next. He may not be an Earl, but your gentleman sound perfectly lovely,” Delia replied.

  Margaret blushed. “He is indeed. And I do hope that you will meet him very soon.”

  “I shall make every effort. You know, the Earl and I intend to travel north in just a few months to come and visit all of you. In the meantime, we shall remain here, but not always. We do wish to spend time with you all as well,” Delia remarked.

  “Then you shall meet him soon,” Margaret said with a sigh of relief.

  Delia nodded in reassurance. She hoped that she could bring joy to her friend, a sense of peace and ease. After all, this business of falling in love and getting married was a rather unique one. It was not easy, she had quickly come to learn. But it was worth every moment and every effort taken to find the man that one was to spend her life with.

  Delia had never expected to marry nobility, but she was glad that of all the men in this world, and all the noblemen at that, she had been chosen by the one she desired, the one she loved. He was everything that a husband ought to be and for that reason, she was delighted and overjoyed.

  She had also not ever thought that she might be a mother so early in her marriage. But Grace was a pleasure to be around and she had only grown in her love for the child. Delia was entirely honored that the Earl would trust her to be the mother of his daughter, that he would trust her to act in that capacity.

  When she looked at Grace, dressed in a white pinafore with her blonde curls done so nicely, Delia gave a satisfied sigh of joy. That little girl, who looked nothing at all like her, was going to be her daughter. She was going to be her child.

  The hour had dawned when Delia had to make haste to the church. She was followed by an entire troop of women at her back who sought to be with her during this momentous occasion.

  They loaded into the coaches and made their way, one cab after the other, until they reached the church.

  Delia knew that this church held a special significance to her soon-to-be husband and daughter. She knew that it held the memory of his late wife who was buried on the grounds. And yet, she felt a deep sense of peace.

  The late Countess had brought Grace into the world. There was no reason to feel without ease. She had done something wonderful in her life. And now, Delia was able to enjoy the fruits of that. She was entirely thankful.

  The church bell struck just as Delia arrived and she entered the church to the sound of music playing from the organ.

  As the doors opened, she saw the Earl standing at the end of the aisle of the church, looking strong and confident in his coattails and the way his hair was combed exquisitely. He looked the very portrait of a husband.

  Delia stepped down the aisle which she saw and smelled was lined with hyacinth, an obvious gift from the man she was marrying. He had evidently made every effort to prepare the church in a manner he thought she would appreciate.

  And when she reached the end of the aisle, knowing that his eyes had been on her the entire walk, Delia looked at him with all the affection that she carried in her heart.

  The Reverend, Mr. Rogers, smiled at the two and opened his Bible to begin the ceremony.

  Delia had met him only a handful of times, in the days leading up to the wedding when he gave his wisdom and counsel to the couple.

  It was not long before Delia was entirely captivated by the words he used to begin the ceremony, the short sermon that he preached about the importance of marriage and how the two were to behave within it.

  Delia was glad that he, of all men, was leading the way for them in their beginning. He had also been a great source of information and wisdom in the questions of being a second mother to a child.

  As much as Delia looked forward to raising Grace, she also knew that she would have to preserve the memory of the late Countess who had actually given birth to her. But Mr. Rogers had encouraged her to love Grace without fear of society or the child taking issue with her not being the birth mother. None of it mattered. Only her love for Grace mattered.

  And as they moved forward with the ceremony and all progressed, Delia made the vows that she would forever hold and forever say again and again to her husband.

  The Earl made those same promises, declaring that he would be with her through all. They should never be alone again. Their lives belonged to one another.

  Delia nearly gave a shriek of joy when Mr. Rogers announced that they were officially man and wife. She could hardly believe her ears with the knowledge that she was now married to this man she had loved for such an age.

  The Earl seemed thrilled in reply, but it was evident that he was frustrated by all of the distractions of the day. He continually attempted to find a moment to simply speak with her, to enjoy her and engage her, but they were so constantly interrupted by others wishing to congratulate them and get their attention that all they could do was sigh and wait out the day.

  But after the ceremony came a time for food and mingling with their friends. They were glad to see all who had come and Delia was particularly happy to see that her sisters and Margaret were still getting along so well with Amy. The four had been nearly inseparable the entire day, with Grace firmly in tow.

  But after a time, the day began to wane. The Earl and Delia made their way to the coach, after having been assured by Amy that Grace was perfectly fine to return to the house with the staff.

  The Earl of Dulshire and the Countess of Dulshire were told farewell by all the guests and they departed, making their way to a private house in a town nearby.

  When they arrived, they were greeted by the staff who took all their belongings. The two ate the dinner that had been prepared for them, with all of the things their stomachs could have desired. And after the dinner, they made their way up the stairs.

  The Earl opened the door for Delia and she entered the large and exquisite room. There was beautiful architecture everywhere she looked in the room and Delia could hardly fathom that this was truly the place they were able to stay for the next week.

  “Do you like it?” the Earl asked her.

  “No
t nearly so much as I have come to like you,” she laughed in reply. The Earl walked over to her and put his arms around her so that their faces were only inches from one another.

  And with that, they sealed the commitment to their marriage with a kiss.

  Epilogue

  Four Months Later

  Delia was reclining in the library when the Earl entered. He ought not to have been surprised. After all, where was a woman of leisure to be found if not reading?

  Then again, that was not true of all women. His wife was of a particular kind, and her affection for books was something he had rarely seen from any lady of breeding, let alone a woman who had been raised as she had.