“I want to live at Bonhomie,” Elizabeth said wistfully.
“Then perhaps we should get you to marry the Duke of Easterly,” Katherine teased.
“Eww,” Elizabeth replied, twisting her nose. “Although he’s quite handsome, he’s far too old for me,” she added precociously.
It was true. Lord Roland was too old for Elizabeth, but come to think of it, Katherine’s perspective on the duke’s age was rather different. From what she could tell, he was no more than 5 and thirty years. Perhaps even younger. Although he was still rather young, there was an air about him of a man who has experienced much, and has taken on the weight of responsibility in his life.
“There was a brother as well,” Elizabeth said, and Katherine felt a little wave of heat come over her.
“Lord Garret de Bowes,” Lady Sybil said with a nod of the head.
“He was very rude,” Elizabeth went on. “He scarcely said a word and rushed off after a very short greeting.”
“He had somewhere to go,” Katherine said, defending him. But why should she do so? How Lord Garret had behaved had been rather rude.
“Still, he seemed stuffy.”
“The younger brother is notorious for being so,” Lady Sybil said.
“Is he?” Katherine asked.
“Oh, yes. Since he was a wee lad. Lord Garret is rather serious-minded.”
Katherine found herself wondering just how much younger Lord Garret was. He was taller than the duke, and there was an added heft to his frame as well, in a sportsmanlike fashion. Perhaps he was as young as 8 and twenty.
“Well, I find it peculiar that everyone seems to know so much about their family,” Katherine went on.
“That’s how things work in this country,” Lord Dennis chimed in. “Everyone knows everything about everyone.”
“Except for Katherine,” Elizabeth teased, “who knows nothing.”
Katherine thought to herself that she didn’t know anything and that was fine by her. Why should there be any need to put one’s nose in another’s business? It seemed uncivil and unnecessary. That being said, there was a question burning in Katherine’s mind that she was quite certain her mother had the answer to.
Why was it that the Duke of Easterly was in that garden with his children and his maid? Essentially, what had happened to the Duchess of Easterly? Katherine wished to bring up this topic but wasn’t sure how to do it without looking like the very snoop that she just reprimanded.
“I suppose . . . the duke finds himself overwhelmed. What with being the only parent and such,” Katherine said casually, wishing that this would somehow open the floodgates of gossip. Sure enough, she watched as her mother took a sip of her tea, placed it back down upon the saucer, and then let loose.
“The story goes like this,” Lady Sybil began. “The Duchess of Easterly was a fine young woman, and loved her husband dearly. They wished to have several children but they found after the birth of Constance that it was rather hard to have another. When she became pregnant with the son some years later, it brought much joy to the duke and duchess. Sadly, his wife’s body could not handle having that second child and she was lost during childbirth. The son survived.”
“My word,” Katherine said in awe, amazed by how many details her mother knew.
“Yes, it is quite the story. I know for certain that the duke has had to hire several governesses and maids for those children. He is a rather busy man, and no duke should be given the huge responsibility of raising their children on their own.”
“I should like to work at Bonhomie. As a governess.”
The words flew out of Katherine’s mouth before she had even had a chance to consider them. All three of her family members turned towards her, their eyes wide in wonder.
“What’s that you say?” Lady Sybil asked.
“I said, I should like to be a governess. To his children.”
There was silence again that followed, before Elizabeth calmly picked up a ham sandwich and took a bite.
“I’m not surprised,” Elizabeth finally said. “If you knew the way that she was looking at that boy.”
“At young Harry?” Lady Sybil asked.
“The same,” Elizabeth replied.
“I just mean that it would be fun to be a governess, would it not?” Katherine said, trying to retrace her steps. “To have that youthful energy around you all day. To be able to teach them to read and write. I think it would be a good profession.”
“You don’t need a profession,” Lady Sybil said in dismay.
“I know that I don’t need a profession, but I do want one. What’s the point in sitting around idly all day long?”
“You like being idle,” Lady Sybil said with a frown.
“Yes, but it’s not a life. I think that I would make a good governess.”
In the silence that followed, the family returned to enjoying their tea and the topic of Katherine wishing to be a governess at Bonhomie was not mentioned again. Katherine knew full-well that her mother wished for her to marry, and soon. She assumed that her father had the same hopes, but he kept quiet about it. Deep down, Katherine sensed that Lord Dennis wished for whatever made her happy.
The notion of becoming a governess had sprung up unawares. Katherine had never considered it before, nor did she think the position was even available, considering that Harry already had a maid to look after him. Still, from the look on the duke’s face, Katherine could tell that he was perhaps not fond of Rebecca. The more she thought of it, the more that Katherine assumed that her impromptu idea was utter nonsense and she decided to let it pass.
The tea was concluded and everyone in the Chance household went their separate ways. Lord Dennis went to his study, which was small and cramped, Lady Sybil went out into the garden to pick peas, and Elizabeth went to her room to do heaven-knows-what. Katherine was left by herself to consider things. Her sudden desire to be a governess brought several things to her attention, but the most prominent one was that Katherine finally wished to get out of the house.
This desire had never arisen in her before. For most of her life, there was no other place that she wished to be other than in the Chance household. There was very little else out in the world that called to her to venture out for. But something happened to Katherine that afternoon upon seeing Harry and meeting the Duke of Easterly. Then, returning home to hear his story only made it more clear to Katherine that she was ready for a new life. She was ready for an adult life of her own in a new place, where she could finally discover herself and become the woman that she was supposed to be.
It was then that Katherine decided that there was something very important that she wished to speak to her mother about, and that very night. No, she would not tell Lady Sybil about how she wished to remove herself from the house. Katherine was sure that this would immediately bring tears to her mother’s eyes. Instead, Katherine would talk with her about this other, more important issue that had been weighing upon her all day.
***
Lord Garret de Bowes had finished his final meeting for the day and stepped out into the streets of Hedge-Grove Downs. He’d need to return to London the following day, and perhaps make his way to Paris after that. Engaging in so much business was absolutely necessary, considering how his brother had washed his hands of all of it. Lord Garret reasoned that it wasn’t so much that his brother didn’t care, it was that he was constantly overwhelmed since the death of his wife and his vision had been eschew ever since.
Duty called after the tragedy and Lord Garret, who was living a rather comfortable life studying law at Cambridge, decided to throw it all away in order to help his older brother. Looking back on things, Lord Garret still felt the decision to be unintelligible to the outside eye. He was set to live the life of his dreams, but something within him did not fully trust his brother to uphold the Easterly dukedom.
Walking down the boulevard, Lord Garret came upon the garden that he had joined his brother in that very afternoon. It had bee
n frustrating, that afternoon visit. The duke’s children were ornery and the maid no less so. Lord Garret was relieved to get out when he did. He then briefly thought of the lovely creature that he had been introduced to at the statue of Hercules.
Seating himself upon a bench, a rather small dog, apparently without owner, approached Lord Garret and gave a little bark.
“What’s the matter, old chap?” Lord Garret asked, reaching down and picking the creature up in his arms. The dog did not bark again, but remained placid and content in his arms.
“All the lass needs is a little attention and care,” an elderly man said, approaching Lord Garret.
“She is yours?”
“For better or for worse,” the man replied.
All she needs is a little attention and care. Wise words.
Chapter 3
Katherine knew that the time was ripe once Elizabeth was lying in her bed and her father was seated by the fire, reading one of his history books. It was always at this time when Lady Sybil was in her room, sipping herbal tea and sewing on her sampler. When Katherine needed to confide in her mother that was the time to do so, because she could be sure that they would enjoy privacy.
Elizabeth and Katherine had shared the same room ever since they were little girls, so Katherine would have to sneak out of the room so that Elizabeth did not wake up and ask where her older sister was going. Tip-toeing out, Katherine gently opened the door and closed it behind her. Not hearing her sister stir, she was confident that she could walk down the hall without being detected.
“Mum,” Katherine said, gently knocking on her mother’s door.
“Yes?” Lady Sybil replied.
“May I come in?”
“Of course, love.”
Katherine pushed open the door and found her mother seated where she was always sat, and indeed, the sampler was placed upon her lap. A warm cup of chamomile was at her side.
“I need to speak to you about something.”
“But of course.” Lady Sybil took the sampler off her lap and placed it on the side table, signifying that her daughter had her full attention.
“There was something about that boy this afternoon.”
“The duke’s son?” Lady Sybil asked.
“Yes. Harry.”
“What about him?”
“He . . . he,” Katherine said, not able to complete the sentence with ease. “He looked like him. Just like him!”
“Now, Katherine,” Lady Sybil scolded.
“But it’s true. I could see him in the eyes, in the face - the boy even had the same chip in his front tooth.”
“My darling, you can’t go on and on seeing him wherever you go, and in every young face that you see,” Lady Sybil replied, her expression twisted with sadness. “It’s not healthy for you.”
“But it’s true, mum. He was there. It was like I was seeing him all over again.”
“My love,” Lady Sybil went on, putting out her hand and taking Katherine’s. “We need to move on from this. Can’t you see that it’s absolutely crucial that we do so?”
Katherine knitted her brow, unsure what to say next. Yes, she knew that she needed to move on, but the memory of him would not go away; his handsome young face, the way that he smiled, the manner in which his eyes sparkled and laughed. “I don’t know how you have moved on so well.”
“I haven’t,” Lady Sybil replied.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean what I say. I haven’t moved on. I think of him every day, but that doesn’t mean I’m putting my life on hold, seeing him wherever I go. I have accepted the fact that he is gone and there is still living to do.”
“Oh, mum. You’re so strong.”
“You’ll learn in life, Katherine, that strength is just an idea. Truly, all that one can do is move forward. That does require strength, yes. But it’s a necessity.”
Katherine sat there for a moment, wondering if she should have told her mother all that she had just said. Should she have kept it to herself? Would anyone truly understand? Surely if anyone could understand, then it would be her mum.
“You really want to be a governess?” Lady Sybil finally asked.
“I do,” Katherine said earnestly.
“Oh, it makes my heart flutter,” Lady Sybil said, bringing a hand to her chest, “and not in a good way.”
“What could be wrong with it?”
“I want to see you married. And to a man with a hefty income.”
“Oh, mum,” Katherine said, not wanting to have that conversation again.
“It’s true. I want to see you settled and safe with a fine gentleman that can take care of you. It keeps me up at night, thinking of that.”
“This is my decision though, mum. This is what my heart is telling me to do. I wish to become a governess,” Katherine said, asserting her will.
Lady Sybil sighed to herself and looked down at her hand, which was still holding her daughter’s. She released it, then looked up towards the heavens.
“If it is what your heart truly wants, then by all means that’s what you should do,” Lady Sybil conceded. “But just know that you should do this for yourself, and not because you’re chasing the dream, the memory, of someone from your past. If you are to be a governess then you do so in order to live a happy life.”
“Yes, mum,” Katherine said with a smile. “I do it for myself.”
“Very well, then,” Lady Sybil said, picking up her sampler again.
“Do you think dad will be upset?”
“He wants what I want, darling, and that’s for your happiness.”
“Yes,” Katherine said, getting up from her chair. She was feeling rather good with where the conversation had finished. “I shall go and tell dad now.”
“No, leave him be. He’s deep into his history tome by now. Give the man some peace,” Lady Sybil advised. Katherine frowned to herself, and Lady Sybil cocked her head to the side before standing. “Let’s have a hug, then.”
Katherine and Lady Sybil embraced one another, and Katherine took a deep breath in, enjoying her mother’s lavender scent which came from her favorite soaps. “Thank you.”
“You needn’t thank me,” Lady Sybil went on, releasing her daughter.
“And I do admit to missing him,” Lady Katherine went on. “All the time.”
“I miss him too, love,” Lady Sybil said, pinching her daughter’s cheek. “I miss him too.”
Katherine tip-toed back to her room and gently opened the door, hoping to not wake Elizabeth. In the darkness, she made her way to her bed and lay down upon it, facing the ceiling.
“Where have you been?” Elizabeth asked.
“I was talking with mum.”
“What about?”
“Is it any of your business?”
“Of course it is,” Elizabeth replied.
“Lizzie,” Katherine said, turning onto her side to face her sister. “I’m going to become a governess, and I’d like to work in the duke’s home.”
“The Duke of Easterly?”
“The very same.”
Risky Rules of a Passionate Governess Page 3
