by Lisa Campell
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience, Mr. Andrews.”
“You have no idea, Mrs. Perry.” Andrews narrowed his eyes at her. “Why do you think you’ll be a good choice for my daughter? My mother seems to be convinced, but you have to convince me. Do you have experience with children?”
“I don’t have experience,” Emilia hurried on quickly, “but I was taught extensively myself and I love children. I had a lot of younger cousins, nephews and nieces, so I know how to look after a child.”
“Anna’s twelve.”
“That’s a good age.”
Andrews grunted. He didn’t look like he had softened at all. Emilia was inwardly bracing herself for him to throw her out for false misrepresentation. Something tightened in her gut, which made Emilia feel a little more lightheaded. Why was she feeling like this at the thought of being thrown out?
You know why. It’s the thought of him touching you that’s made you weak.
“It’s going to take some time for my daughter to warm to you,” Andrews said quietly. “And she does things that you might find a little too much, so you’re going to have to be sure to keep up with her.”
“Such as?”
“She goes riding every morning, sometimes before the sun has come up. For some reason, she loves to ride early in the day. Some of her previous governess tried to get her to stop as they wanted to sleep.” Andrews gave a half-shrug. “It’s the only thing I’ll let my daughter be spoiled on. If she wants to go riding, she’s going regardless of anyone chaperoning her, and I’m not comfortable about her riding alone.”
A girl who loved riding. A woman after her own heart, although it had been a while since Emilia had been riding herself. She smiled.
“I’m a naturally early riser, Mr. Andrews, and I sleep lightly, so that shouldn’t be a problem. I know how to handle a horse.”
“That’s something.” Some of the tightness seemed to leave Andrew’s shoulders. “I’m not sure if you’ll be able to handle my daughter’s demands when it comes to riding, though.”
“Why don’t you let me find out for myself?”
They stared at each other. Had his eyes suddenly gotten a little darker? Then Andrews blinked and it was gone.
“You’re aware of the number of governesses we’ve gone through since my wife died?” he asked. “That’s not something that would be difficult to ignore.”
“I’ve heard the rumours, Mr. Andrews.”
“And you’re still willing to work for me, knowing that?”
It sounded like he was looking for a reason not to hire her. Was he scared of having a repeat performance? Emilia bit back a smile. She wasn’t going anywhere, not until she had found what she needed.
“I need a job, and I know you’re desperate. It can’t be as bad as my marriage, can it?”
“I don’t know about that.” Andrews grunted. He rubbed at his eyes. “But I will say, if you hear anything, take it with a pinch of salt. If you’re concerned about anything from anyone, you come and talk to me. I don’t want my staff scared of me because of what I might have done.”
“I’ll remember that.” Emilia sat up straighter. “Does this mean I have the job?”
“I’d like to think so.” Andrews sat forward, and Emilia had to stop herself from sighing. God, even the way he moved was beautiful. “I’m willing to give you a two-week trial and see how you do. You’ll be paid for those two weeks and, quite frankly, I’m desperate for someone to look after Anna.”
Thank God. It worked. Emilia almost burst into a beaming smile, but she didn’t want to seem too eager. She took a deep breath and managed a smile that she hoped was a little more serene.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Andrews. I promise that I’ll do my best with your daughter. You won’t regret it.”
Andrew’s expression flickered.
“I hope so.”
Chapter Nine
“Here you go, Mr. Andrews.” Jenkins walked across the bedchamber and held out a glass. “I thought you might want this tonight.”
“You know when I need something, Jenkins.” Thomas grinned as he took the offered glass. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Jenkins regarded him with a slight smile. “You appear to be in a better mood tonight, Sir.”
“I feel in a better mood.”
There was a good reason for it. Anna would now have Emilia Perry as her governess, and from what Thomas had seen and heard, the widow was more than eager to have the position. She had spoken at length of her own education, and she seemed to be widely knowledgeable on various subjects. That would certainly be useful for Anna.
When his mother had said Emilia would be a good choice for Anna, Thomas had scoffed. He had been planning on talking to her before sending her on her way - he was desperate for a governess, but he didn’t think this would work - but then he laid eyes on her, and all blood had rushed to a part of his body that had been dormant for a long time. Beautiful didn’t begin to describe her. Small, slim and elegant in her black attire, with her head held high, even as she looked like she had seen a ghost while she stared at him. Her features were delicate, and those eyes...Thomas had never seen green eyes like that before. They were mesmerizing. It was all Thomas could do not to stare at her while they were talking. There was a cool composure about her that seemed to be more attractive than Thomas thought possible.
What would she be like if she was hot and fiery?
Careful. You hired her for a trial period for your daughter, not for your own pleasures.
Thomas took a deep breath and forced his arousal back. Barefoot and only wearing his trousers, it would be more than obvious to his valet that he was thinking about the beautiful woman who had graced his study several hours before. She seemed to have a lingering effect on him.
Why couldn’t his mother have chosen a plain woman as a governess?
“So, the new governess,” Jenkins commented as he went to the bed and began to fold Thomas’ shirt, “do you think she’s going to last?”
“I think she is.” I hope she does. “From what she’s told me and from what I’ve seen of her, I can’t see her being easily scared away by whatever is plaguing the others.”
“That’s what the last governess said, and she was the quickest to leave.” Jenkins shook his head. “It was like a hurricane when she departed.”
“Not this time, Jenkins. I can feel it.”
“Really?” Jenkins’ voice was mild, but he didn’t turn around. “You could feel it. In what part of your body could you feel it?”
Thomas almost choked on his drink. What had he just said? Coughing, he put the drink on the table and thumped his chest. He stared at his valet.
“I beg your pardon? Did you just...was there any part of that where I wanted you to comment in such a way, Jenkins.”
“Forgive me, Mr. Andrews.” From his tone, Jenkins didn’t sound the least apologetic. “It’s just I saw how you were with Mrs. Perry before she departed earlier.”
“I did nothing untoward.”
“You didn’t need to.”
Thomas gritted his teeth. He hadn’t realized that he had acted in such a way that even Jenkins had noticed that his master was acting strangely. As far as he was aware, he had been the perfect gentleman. Evidently, Jenkins had seen something. He glared at his servant.
“I didn’t realize I had eyes and ears on me at all times. I thought servants were supposed to keep their noses out of things.”
Jenkins’ mouth twitched in a slight smile.
“We have eyes and ears, and we use them.” He turned back and finished folding Thomas’ shirt and waistcoat, laying them in a pile and putting Thomas’ cravat on top. “How else do you think gossip gets around Society? We’re worse than the titled lords and ladies.”
“I suppose.” Thomas took a deep breath. Jenkins’ admission didn’t make him feel any better. “Nothing happened, Jenkins.”
“I know. But like I said, it didn’t need to.” Picking u
p his master’s clothes, Jenkins turned to him. “And I could tell from the way Mrs. Perry behaved that she’s made of sterner stuff. As if something else is driving her.”
“I got that impression as well.” Thomas ran a hand over his hair. His hand was still shaking. “I can’t keep doing this to Anna. She’s getting more and more depressed each time someone comes into her life and leaves just as abruptly. It’s not fair on her to get used to someone and then they’re going.”
“Have you given any thought about why this could be happening, Mr. Andrews?”
“I have, and I still haven’t come up with any answers.” Thomas scowled. “Each suggestion I come up with becomes more and more outlandish, and the governesses aren’t returning my letters to tell me why they left.”
Some of them barely stated a reason for leaving. Others left when Thomas was out of the house, and nobody knew anything until he got back. They didn’t tell the other servants why, so everyone was at a loss. To them, it had just happened out of the blue.
Thomas had never known such bizarreness to happen. People were talking about what could have happened, Thomas had heard the rumours. They were insinuating that Thomas was some sort of deviant that was doing something to them that had them scared. Thomas had never touched them, but there was no point in trying to deny the rumours; his denials would more likely add to the gossip and make it worse.
“Are you sure you’ve never heard anything about this, Jenkins?”
“Oddly enough, no. We had a lot of speculation about it ourselves.”
So, if someone did know, they weren’t telling anyone else. The governesses kept themselves to themselves. Thomas knew about the hierarchy of servants. The valet and the governess were keeping to themselves, it seemed. Thomas wanted everyone to help with everything possible and pull their weight. Snobbish, even at a servant level, would not sit well with him. And Emilia Perry did not look the snobby type. If anything, she seemed incredibly eager to do whatever she could to earn some money.
“How about I do a little investigation for you?” Jenkins suggested.
“Hmm? An investigation?”
“Well, they saw themselves above the other staff, but they would talk to me. A few of them even tried to...well…” Jenkins’ face went red. “I think they had a fancy for me, but I simply treated them as I treated everyone else. Maybe I can reach out and find out what happened to them?”
Thomas stared at his valet. “You would do that?”
“I’m loyal to you, Mr. Andrews, and that’s enough for me.”
That was a surprising request. Thomas knew Jenkins had gone beyond the scope of his employment, but to do this? It felt like way beyond what he was permitted to do with regards to his job. But Thomas was aware that Jenkins was incredibly good at getting information when needed. He had facilitated a few times between Thomas and a few of the younger servants, mostly the footmen who thought it was a good idea to seduce and have a bit of fun with the maids. Thomas didn’t mind if there was some courting, but no taking the ladies to bed when they were supposed to be working. That affected everyone’s work. Thomas never understood why anyone wanted to take someone to bed when they had pressing matters at hand. They could have, at least, waited for night and then locked the door.
Young love. They were always thinking with the wrong part of their body.
Aren’t you thinking with the wrong part of your body regarding a certain new governess?
Thomas swiped that aside and turned away from his valet.
“You do what you think is necessary, Jenkins. That will be all.”
“Yes, Sir. Goodnight.”
“Night.”
Thomas didn’t turn around as he heard Jenkins head to the door and leave. Only once the door clicked closed did Thomas slump. He headed to the bed and fell onto it, staring at the ceiling. He needed to get some sleep. Tomorrow would be possibly the last time he would be going riding with Anna at the crack of dawn. That would become the governess’ job to keep her in line at that time of the morning. And then Thomas might be able to get a decent night’s sleep.
In the morning, it would be different. Because Emilia Perry would be here.
Emilia. God, it was going to be difficult to work when she was in the house. Maybe he should have turned her down. But his mother was right; Thomas was desperate for a governess, and here was a woman in Society offering up her services. She was what he needed. Experience, or lack of, looking after a charge in this situation could be put to one side if Emilia was eager to do it.
Thomas had tried to act the gentleman earlier, even when he took Emilia’s tiny hand in his when they shook hands. She wasn’t exactly small, but when he held her hand, she looked tiny. And when they touched...that simple touch had warmed Thomas from the inside. And from the way her breathing had caught, and her eyes widened just a touch, Emilia had felt it as well. There was a mutual attraction there, although it was clear she was trying to fight it as much as he was.
Oh, God. From the way his gut was tightening and his trousers getting more and more uncomfortable, it was going to be a long, frustrating night.
“Mrs. Perry.”
Emilia took a deep breath and managed a smile at the valet.
“Mr. Jenkins.”
“Just Jenkins will do fine.” Jenkins gave her a pleasant smile, and this one reached his eyes. “I’m to take you up to your bedchamber.”
“Will my trunk be all right?”
“Your trunk will be on the way up shortly.” Jenkins beckoned her to follow him. “Follow me, Mrs. Perry.”
Jenkins led her up the stairs to their left, which seemed to spiral all the way up above them. It made Emilia dizzy before they had even gotten to the next floor. Then they walked along a very long corridor, the windows on the left overlooking the front of the house.
Jenkin reached a door halfway down the hallway and opened it, ushering Emilia inside. It was a bedroom, much bigger than her own at Hill House. The furniture was simple, but it was tasteful, as was the decor. She could get used to this.
“This is your room.” Jenkins pointed at a door to their left by the fireplace. “The old nursery is through there, and Miss Anna’s bedchamber is on the other side of the nursery.”
“Miss Anna still has a nursery?” Emilia frowned. “She’s twelve. Isn’t she a little old for one?”
“It’s a space that Miss Anna calls her own. Whenever she wants time to herself, she goes in there.” Jenkins watched her with a blank expression. “Is there anything else you require?”
“No, thank you.” Emilia turned and gave him a smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“Very well, Mrs. Perry.” Jenkins gave her a nod and stepped back. “Your trunk will be up shortly.”
He left the room and closed the door. Emilia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. She was in the house.
Although she wasn’t too sure about where she was situated. The view from the window by the bed was a lovely scene of the garden at the rear of the house with a small maze curling haphazardly around the side of the house.
Emilia crossed the room and opened the door into the nursery. It was quite a spacious room, almost as big at hers. There were a collection of various toys for an older child dotted around the room, along with a grand piano in the corner and a comfortable-looking couch up by the window. A bookcase was behind the couch, floor-to-ceiling, was full of books. The table next to the couch was piled high with books. Emilia picked up the one from the top and glanced at the title. The Monk by Matthew Lewis. Not exactly what she was expecting for a twelve-year-old to read.
As if you haven’t read something not age-appropriate when you were twelve.
Emilia put the book down and glanced at the rest of the titles. There were a lot of first editions, which was surprising. Andrews must have a lot of trust in his daughter to give her first edition books. But they looked like they were in good condition. They had been read, from what she could tell, but they hadn’t been ruined.
> Anna Andrews was a careful person. She seemed to be a more bookish person, than one who played with her toys. Emilia did see some dust gathering on the top of the doll’s house. A vicarious horse rider and a book lover. A girl after her own heart.
Emilia wondered what Anna was really like. Was she going to be lively and always on the go? Was she going to be sullen and withdrawn? And would Emilia be able to gain her trust? It was going to be difficult if she didn’t get Anna to like her. That would certainly make it easier to snoop around.
Emilia winced. Was she thinking about using a twelve-year-old this way? She needed to stop that right now. She was here to prove the girl’s father was a killer, that was all.
