* * *
Dinner was a rather quiet affair. Jamie didn’t seem to want to talk very much, and Oliver was tired. After his meeting with Lord Kenley, then continuing to work on his orders, and waiting for Wright to return with news of a governess, his mind was at its limit.
Now, Oliver was doing what he did most nights, sitting alone and sipping whisky in the sitting room.
“Your Grace.” Oliver heard, and he turned to see Wright coming into the room.
"Ah! You have returned. Please, have a seat and inform me about your evening.”
Oliver watched as Wright came towards him and sat in the chair opposite him.
“Thank you, Your Grace. The search for a governess is underway, and I also saw Mr. Thompson, the steward for Lord Fairson. I informed him of our situation, and he said he would spread the word around.”
“Splendid! Hopefully, that will create some success for us. I know Lord Fairson well, and if his steward is anything like his employer, he will certainly make sure that people know of our open position.”
Wright chuckled. “Yes, Your Grace. I know Mr. Thompson quite well, too, and he is much like Lord Fairson.”
Now it was Oliver’s turn to laugh. “Interesting how that works, isn’t it?”
Wright nodded, and then he said, “I placed my name on the advert, so when an applicant arrives, she can ask for me. That way, you will not be bothered.”
“That is perfect, Wright. Thank you for thinking ahead.”
“Always, Your Grace. Is there anything else you require?”
“No, Wright. You have been a great help today. I hope you have time to relax a bit before you retire for the night.”
“I will, Your Grace,” Wright said with a nod as he stood. “I am tired, but I think I can stay up long enough for a glass of sherry.”
“You deserve it,” Oliver said, tipping his glass towards his most trusted member of his staff. “I will see you in the morning.”
* * *
Priscilla Ainsley was standing at the front of a great manor house. She held an advert for an open governess position in her hands and now she was ready to apply.
Wearing her finest gown, Priscilla felt confident. She knew that the green color looked good against her pale skin, and it made her honey brown eyes look warm and inviting. She approached the footman who was standing to the left of the large, wooden door. She could feel a breeze flowing through her curly, brown hair.
“Excuse me,” she said to him. “Hello. I am Miss Priscilla Ainsley, and I am hoping to speak to Wright about the open governess position.”
The footman smiled at her and nodded. “Please follow me, Miss.”
Priscilla nodded and followed the footman as he opened the expansive door for her and led her inside the house. As she walked through the door, she had to hold back a gasp when she saw the grand entryway.
The floor was made of marble, and it was covered by a lush carpet runner, all of which seemed to look like a maze. As she followed the footman down the hallway, there were a number of doors and other smaller hallways veering off from the main entry hallway. They passed several marble statues, and gorgeous tapestries hung on the walls.
The footman turned down a hallway to the left, and then stopped at the first door to the right, which stood open.
“Please wait here in the sitting room for Wright,” he said.
Priscilla walked into the sitting room and immediately noticed how plush and inviting the furniture was. Typically, she found sitting room furniture to be extremely formal and uncomfortable, but these chairs and sofas looked much different.
She didn’t have much time to look around, as almost as soon as she sat down on the sofa, the door opened again, and a stout, short, balding man came through.
“You are Miss Ainsley, I presume?”
“Yes,” she replied. “Are you Mr. Wright?”
“I am, indeed,” Wright walked over to the sofa opposite Priscilla and sat down.
“I know this isn’t the typical way that one might fill a position,” he continued, “But His Grace, the Duke of Dowding, has asked me to find a governess for his son, the Marquess of Seton. Lord Seton is ten years old, and not quite ready for boarding school, so we are looking for someone to help him prepare.”
“I see, Mr. Wright.”
“What are your qualifications?”
“I must admit, Mr. Wright, that I don’t have a formal education. I am an orphan, and everything I have learned came from the staff of the orphanage. I was told I was very bright, however, and before long, I began teaching the other children. I assure you, that I am just as qualified to be a governess as any other candidate you might meet.”
Wright was silent for a moment, and Priscilla wondered what he was thinking. Finally, he spoke:
“Have you worked as a governess before?”
“No,” Priscilla admitted. “However, living in the orphanage with the younger children and educating them was no different than the job that a governess in a home would do.”
Wright nodded slowly, and then said, “Are you fluent in French? Are you familiar with history, mathematics, and globes?”
“Very much so,” Priscilla replied with a smile. “I am willing to share my knowledge with you if you like, or even take an exam, if that would ease your mind.”
“Oh no, no,” Wright said, waving his hand. “That won’t be necessary. However, since you come from a bit of a different background, I think it would be prudent for you to meet His Grace before I officially bring you onto the staff. Tragically, his wife passed away during childbirth, so instead of meeting with the Duchess, you are to meet with him. Are you available tomorrow afternoon at this same time?”
“I am.”
“Excellent! Please return tomorrow to meet with the Duke, and we can go on from there.”
* * *
Oliver was angry. Jamie had once again pranked the staff, and now the head cook, Mrs. Johnson, was huffing and puffing about not being appreciated…at least according to Wright.
“I have tried to talk to her, Your Grace,” Wright explained. “But she is threatening to resign unless Lord Seton is banned from the kitchen.”
“Please, Wright,” Oliver said with a sigh. “Tell me again exactly what she said.” He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. He really didn’t have enough time in the day to deal with Jamie’s nonsense again.
“As she told me, she made a cake for dessert. Thankfully, she chose to cut it before serving it. One of the pieces was uneven, so she set it aside. Maryellen, her assistant, took the piece and tasted it. Immediately, she could detect that the sugar and salt had been switched.”
“And how do you know that it was Jamie? After all, anyone could have switched the ingredients, yes?”
“Technically, yes, Your Grace. However, Mrs. Johnson said that Lord Seton was peeking around the corner. When he saw Maryellen eat the cake, he began laughing. When Mrs. Johnson turned to face the young Lord, he asked her if it tasted good, and then he ran up the stairs.”
Oliver shook his head. It certainly sounded like Jamie was the guilty party in this case.
“Please bring my son to me, Wright.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Oliver leaned back in his chair and looked around the room while he watched Wright leave. What am I going to do with Jamie?
He glanced up at the clock to see what time it was. He hoped that he would have time to talk to Jamie before the new governess applicant came to meet with him. Though, he had no idea where his son was nor how long it would take for him to come to the office.
Since Oliver’s wife, Leah, had died during childbirth, and he had raised Jamie on his own, it had been difficult juggling his business and home responsibilities. He had an excellent staff, but he did worry that Jamie didn’t have enough of a female influence in his life, especially with every governess eventually giving up and leaving. Oliver believed that what Jamie really needed was a mother-like figure whom he could relate to. Perhaps th
e new governess will fit that role perfectly.
Chapter 3
There was a brief knock on the door to the office, which caused Oliver to look up, and then Wright walked back in.
“Your Grace, I have Lord Seton here for you,” Wright said.
Jamie peered around the door to Oliver’s office slowly, as if he might be worried about what was on the other side.
“Thank you, Wright,” Oliver said to his steward. “Jamie, please come in here and sit down.”
Oliver watched as Jamie again walked into the office and sat down at the table. This was becoming a familiar practice, it seemed, for both of them. Wright nodded at Oliver and walked out.
As the door to the office closed, Oliver turned to his son. He shook his head, and then said, “Jamie, I hear that you have been causing issues in the kitchen?”
Jamie smiled slightly, and again, his son’s smile reminded Oliver of the way Leah used to smile at him from across a room.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Oliver asked him.
“No,” Jamie said. Oliver was a bit taken aback, as he expected that Jamie would make some type of excuse, but he also had to admire his son’s boldness.
“Why did you do it?”
“I did it for the same reason I do anything. I thought it would be funny.”
“Well, it’s not funny, Jamie,” Oliver replied with a stern voice. “In fact, it is very serious. Mrs. Johnson is threatening to resign. What would we do without her as our cook?”
Jamie just shrugged, and started running his finger over the surface of the table, as if he were bored.
“James!” Oliver said loudly. Jamie jumped. “I asked you a question, and I expect an answer.”
Jamie looked at him and said, “I don’t know, Father. Hire a new one?”
Oliver was getting angrier by the moment. He couldn’t believe that Jamie was being disrespectful like this.
“Do you think good cooks are that easy to come by?” Oliver asked in a huff. “I can tell you that they are not, and it took me a long time to find Mrs. Johnson. She has been part of our household since before you were even born, and I have no intention of losing her. So, you are going to walk down to the kitchen this very moment, apologize to her, and then go to the library to wait for me. Is that understood?”
Jamie nodded, still tracing his fingers around the table. Oliver couldn’t help but think that he wasn’t paying attention, at all.
“I am meeting with a potential new governess this afternoon, and if I hire her, that is going to be the end of your pranks. I am your father, and you must obey. The next time, I will get the whip.”
Jamie nodded again before saying, “Am I excused?”
“Yes. And I suggest you immediately go down to the kitchen to apologize. And, I don’t want to hear that you have been in the kitchen again. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“You are dismissed.”
With that, Jamie stood up, and walked to the door. Oliver watched him as he walked out, and then again, he shook his head. Obviously, something had gone wrong with Jamie’s upbringing, and he could only hope that a new governess would straighten him out.
* * *
Priscilla could feel the butterflies in her stomach as she pulled up in front of the huge manor house that belonged to the Duke of Dowding. The coachman had slowed down the coach, and she could hear the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves as they hit the dirt road.
She looked out of the window and was in awe of the size of the house. I can’t believe that I could be living and working here.
The house was truly massive, and as the coach got close to the large front door, Priscilla could see two footmen, presumably waiting on her arrival.
The coach came to a stop, and Priscilla could see one of the footmen approaching them. She also felt the coach lurch to the side as the coachman jumped out of the driver’s seat and onto the ground. She swallowed, trying to control her nerves, as the door opened and the coachman extended his hand to help her out.
“Thank you,” she said, as she stepped out into the light of the afternoon. She smiled at the footman who was now standing before her.
“Welcome, again, to the home of the Duke of Dowding, Miss Ainsley,” he said. “It would be my pleasure if you followed me inside.”
“Of course.” The footman turned and she followed him. The second footman opened the door as they approached, and he said, “Welcome, Miss Ainsley,” with a smile.
Priscilla nodded at him and walked through the door, impressed by the polite staff. She followed the footman along the same path that they had taken the day before, and he led her directly into the sitting room.
“Please have a seat. Would you care for a glass of wine, Miss Ainsley?” A third footman had approached her from the corner of the sitting room. “His Grace will be with you shortly.”
“Yes, please,” Priscilla said, sitting in the nearest chair. As expected, her body felt hugged by the plush fabric, and she wished that she could sit here forever. The level of luxury in this manor was unlike any she had experienced at home. Though she was still nervous, there was a part of her that hoped she got this position just to have the opportunity to live in this type of opulence.
“Your wine, Miss,” the footman said, as he brought the glass on a silver tray.
“Thank you,” she said, as she grasped it, and then took a sip.
“I’m sure His Grace will only be a moment,” the footman said. “He has been notified of your arrival.”
Almost as soon as the footman had finished his sentence, Priscilla heard the door to the room open. She quickly turned, and walking towards her was a tall, handsome gentleman with dark hair, which was wild and curly atop his head. As he approached, she could see that he had bright blue eyes, which looked kind.
“You must be Miss Ainsley,” he said nonchalantly, as he walked across the room. He didn’t let her answer.
“I apologize for my tardiness,” he said. “I’m a busy gentleman, and I have many tasks to fit in during the day.” He immediately seized a glass of wine from the footman’s tray, took a sip, and then sat the glass onto the side table.
“Now, let’s quickly discuss my needs,” he continued. Priscilla felt as if she couldn’t get a word in, and she could already tell that the Duke was a determined, serious gentleman.
“My son, Jamie, is a bright chap, but his efforts are not always focused on where I believe they should be. For example, I want him to learn history, globes, and mathematics, but he is more interested in learning how to best trick the assistant cook to give him an extra piece of cake before dinner.”
“I see, Your Grace,” Priscilla said, finally sensing a break in his speech.
The Duke took another sip of wine, and then said, “Is that something you can help with, Miss Ainsley?”
Priscilla was a bit caught off guard, but replied, “Oh, yes, Your Grace. I can certainly help with that.”
“Excellent! You will have your own private quarters, there is a school room where you and my son may have your lessons, and I will offer a small salary in addition to caring for your needs such as food, shelter, and the like. Is that agreeable?”
Again, Priscilla was a bit overwhelmed by his question, but she answered anyway. “Of course, Your Grace.”
“Wonderful,” the Duke said as he stood. “Please see my steward, Wright, in the morning, and he can get you started.” Without another word, the Duke walked out of the room.
Priscilla didn’t even know what to think. She obviously had gotten the position of governess, but felt as if she had just gone through a hurricane. It had happened so quickly.
Priscilla waited, and the footman approached her once again.
“Are you ready to leave, Miss?” he asked.
“Yes, please.”
“I will show you out, then. Please follow me.”
Priscilla began to follow directly behind the footman. After all, I have to prepare to come back in the morn
ing.
* * *
Oliver approached the library quickly. He had hired a governess, and now wanted to make sure that Jamie had apologized to Mrs. Johnson before he got back to work.
The library was only a short walk from the sitting room, but it was just enough time for him to replay the conversation with Miss Ainsley in his head.
He had been a bit surprised that she had been so beautiful, and he wasn’t used to being around nor interacting with ladies he found to be attractive. In fact, since Leah had died, he had not been with any other lady, and though he had his urges, he couldn’t remember a time since her passing that he had felt such an attraction to someone else.
In fact, he was so surprised to feel a stirring in his trousers, that he knew he had to get out of the room swiftly. So, he spoke fast, hired her, and left, almost as quickly as he had arrived. Her porcelain skin and honey-brown eyes were quite beautiful, and he had always been partial to ladies with curly hair.
He walked towards the library and went through the doorway. There, he saw Jamie sitting on a chair, his head bowed down reading a book.
“I hope that is something educational,” Oliver said to his son. “Put the book down, Jamie, and come here.”
Oliver watched as Jamie gently closed the book and placed it on a table next to his chair. He then rose and walked towards him with no expression.
“Did you apologize to Mrs. Johnson?” Oliver asked.
“Yes, Father.”
“Did she accept your apology?”
“Yes, Father.” Jamie said with a nod.
“Good. Now we can continue to eat in peace without the fear of being poisoned like a character in one of your books.”
Jamie looked up at him, and Oliver smiled. Jamie smiled back. Oliver was amazed at the good mood he was in. This was certainly a rarity.
“Jamie, I hired a new governess today. Her name is Miss Ainsley, and she will start working here tomorrow,” Oliver explained. Jamie’s face fell a bit as he spoke.
Tempting The Ruined Duke (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 30
