by Tia Siren
''My parents were traveling to London when their stagecoach left the road. They were killed.''
Andrew looked at her. He could see she was still grieving; he recognized the look on her face. For so long he had also worn the same expression. ''My wife died four years ago.''
''How awful,'' she said it as if she really meant it, unlike so many people Andrew knew. ''How did the children react?''
''John was just two, and my wife died having Sarah, so they were not affected, but Agnes was beside herself. She hasn't really been the same since.''
I know the feeling, Julia thought. Out of the town, Andrew gave the signal for the pony to increase the tempo. When it broke into a trot, Julia gasped and held onto Andrew's arm.
''Does speed scare you?'' Andrew said as the wind whistled past Julia's bonnet.
''Yes, Mr. Andrew it does. On account of the accident.''
''Of course, how careless of me,'' he slowed the horse down to a walk and felt Julia relax again.
“That's it there,'' he said after another twenty minutes. Julia looked across the field and saw two large houses, one very large indeed. ''The small one's ours. It's called the Lodge. The large house next to it is my father's house.''
Right in the middle of the countryside, I'm going to love it, Julia thought.
When Andrew turned between two giant sandstone pillars that formed part of the intricate gateway to the estate, Julia began to feel at home. She didn't know why, but the location gave her a feeling of serenity. The house had been built in the middle of the estate, and it was, therefore, a long way from the gate, and as they drove through the grounds, Julia looked across green fields full of sheep. It was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky, and the place was looking its magnificent best.
After a few minutes, Julia saw it. Thorpe Hall. A large fifteenth-century house with leaded light windows and octagonal chimney pots. ''That's the Lodge,'' Andrew pointed. It was to the side of Thorpe Hall and looked small in comparison.
''A welcoming party,'' Andrew said as they were about to stop in front of the Lodge. Mrs. Patterson, Agnes, John and Sarah were just returning from their afternoon walk with Benji. Andrew jumped down and picked Sarah up who flung her arms around him. Agnes and John stayed with Mrs. Patterson and looked to their new governess through wide eyes.
''Mrs. Patterson, this is Julia Bradfield, the children's new governess.'' Mrs. Patterson shook Julia's hand. Far too young and inexperienced with children she thought as she looked at the fresh-faced young woman. ''Children, I want you to meet Miss Julia, she's going to teach you from now on.'' Sarah laughed, and the other two stood closer to Mrs. Patterson. ''Don't worry, they are always a little shy at first, they'll get used to you,'' Andrew commented trying to excuse his children's lack of manners. Benji came and sniffed around Julia's skirt and offered to cock a leg but thankfully refrained from doing so.
''Andrew, might I have a word with you?'' Oscar bellowed across the lawn.
''Excuse me, that's my father,'' Andrew told Julia. ''He's probably on the war path again.''
''Come inside and make yourself at home,'' Mrs. Patterson said. Julia followed her, carrying as many of her bags as she could. ''I'll just give the children something to do, and I'll show you to your room.'' Julia nodded and watched as Mrs. Patterson sat the children at the kitchen table and put some dough in front of them. The children seemed to spend hours kneading and rolling dough. Julie thought it a rather mundane activity but any help Mrs. Patterson could get in a busy household she would take.
''This is your room,'' she said when they reached the end of the landing. She opened the door and walked inside. Julia's expression lit up when she saw it. It was a large room and full of daylight. She hated dark rooms and had been a little nervous at the prospect of being forced to live in a tiny north facing room. But this was perfect. There was a chest of drawers, a writing table and a washstand with a blue and white jug and bowl. The bed was covered with a white eiderdown, and Julia couldn't wait to try it out. ''It's very nice Mrs. Patterson, thank you.''
Mrs. Patterson left and told Julia that she should be downstairs at six for dinner. The family all ate together; Andrew thought it important to have a family meal, unlike in many households, where a children's dinner preceded an adults dinner. The first thing Julia did was open her vanity case and place perfume bottles and soap next to the wash stand. As she was doing so, she heard shouting. Loud, aggressive shouting. She went to the window and looked out across the garden. She saw Oscar, with his two Spaniels on leads, and Andrew standing in front of the greenhouse bellowing at each other. What they were shouting was quite audible.
''Another of your loose women. I've had enough now Andrew. When will you learn? Inviting women here unaccompanied is highly irregular and breaks all the social codes.''
''She's from a good family, she's not a loose woman. She's coming because I want to get to know her better or would you rather your grandchildren were brought up without a mother?''
''That's not the point. I can't count how many women you have brought into your house over the past few months. It's obscene. You can't tell me each one of them was a potential wife. No, you're a philanderer of the highest order.''
''And you are a useless unfeeling father, who doesn't' understand how hard it has been for me since I lost Georgina.''
Julia darted from view as Andrew looked across at the house. Are they talking about me? No, Andrew had referred to someone who was coming, not someone who had already arrived. She was relieved; she'd only been at the house for a few minutes, and she didn't want to the subject of controversy.
The dining room was a long room with two windows which looked out over the garden. It was at the end of the house and Julia thought that her bedroom was above it. The children looked much cleaner than they had after their walk, and surprisingly each of them said hello when Julia entered the room. Andrew was sitting at the head of the table with a scowl on his face, and a half drunk bottle of wine. When he saw Julia he stood up, and showed her to her chair. She sat opposite the children on the long side of the table; Andrew was sitting at the end. Upon further inspection, Andrew was very handsome indeed, but it wasn't only his looks that attracted Julia. He was mysterious, on the one hand, a family man, and on the other hand, if his father was to be believed, a womanizer.
''Will you stay and keep me company a while, it would be nice to talk and get to know you a little better,'' Andrew asked after the children had gone to bed. ''I'll just go and say goodnight, and perhaps we can have some tea.'' Julia nodded. He really was quite dashing, and she felt herself blushing when he looked at her.
When he returned, he suggested they go into the drawing room. Larger than the dining room, it had two comfortable sofas arranged at right angles to the fireplace and a large easy chair between them. It was a cool April evening, and Mrs. Patterson had laid the fire but not lit it. Andrew put a match to it and leaned with one arm on the mantelpiece until the flames took hold and the wood began to crackle. Mrs. Patterson arrived with some tea and Andrew poured.
''Tell me about yourself,'' he said as he sat down opposite her.
''I'm afraid there isn't much to tell.''
When he looked at her, he saw a beautiful young woman who seemed painfully shy and quiet. ''Well where did you live with your parents before you went to be with your aunt?''
''We lived in a manor house in a small village called Tunberry, in West Sussex.''
''And what did your father do?''
''He was an architect.''
''And where did you go to school.''
''In Tunberry.''
Her short answers were beginning to annoy him. How could he have a conversation with her like this?
''You are very to the point,”
''Mr. Andrew, please forgive me but even though I say it myself, I am a very shy, private person. I am not used to conversing.''
''Yes, I can see. Losing your parents won't have helped I suppose.'' Ready to be ravished Andrew told himself. She's so shy
it will be easy. He imagined how it would be with Julia. How she would look, naked. She was beautiful, and he could see she had a lovely figure, he cast his eyes over her breasts and down over her long legs which he could see outlined inside her dress. He would enjoy the seduction of this tiny flower, he was sure.
''Yes, it was horrible,'' Julia said, referring to the death of her parents.
''Quite so,'' he nodded and sipped his tea. ''My parents are barking mad.'' He paused and stared into the fire. ''My mother is Dutch and as arrogant as they come and my father only has eyes for his two dogs. I'm sure he loves them more than he loves my mother.''
''I like dogs too,'' she offered.
''Yes, very faithful creatures. Unlike humans. The only faithful person I have ever known was my wife, my late wife, Georgina.''
''Do you miss her terribly?'' Julia asked.
Andrew was surprised Julia had asked a question.''Yes, I miss her terribly. In the beginning, I thought about ending my life. I wanted to be where she was. I couldn't bear to be here without her. But for the beautiful children she gave me, I may well have joined her.''
Julia put her hand to her mouth. She too had had such thoughts. She'd wondered why she was alive when it was so painful to be so. But over time, it had become a little easier. ''Yes, I understand.''
''Tomorrow, I will show you where you will teach the children and go through the do's and don'ts with you. They are good children, but lacking in discipline.'' Again he stared at the fire. ''I see their mother in them every day, and I can't bear to be cross with them.''
''I understand,'' Julia uttered.
''Then in the afternoon, you will meet Miss Sharpe. She's a lady from the same area as you. She and I have struck up a friendship, and I would like her to meet the children.''
She won't be good enough for you, though. You are a beautiful man, and despite your failings and womanizing, I can see you are a lost soul. You're a ship floundering close to the rocks searching for a way out. ''That will be nice.''
*****
''I want you to listen to me,'' Andrew told the children. They were sitting together, behind a mahogany table in what used to be a conservatory, at the back of the house which Andrew had turned it into a makeshift classroom. Built of glass it was west facing and got the afternoon sunshine, which made it light and pleasant to work in. ''You must be good for Miss Julia. She has very kindly agreed to educate you. Education is very important, and I want you to pay careful attention to what she tells you.''
They nodded, and Andrew gestured to Julia to take over. When he'd left the room, the children began to throw pencils at each other. Sarah began to cry when a pencil John had thrown at her with particular malice, hit her just below the eye.
''Stop,'' Julia shouted. She banged her hand on the table and stared at them. ''You will stop this ridiculous behavior now and sit quietly until I speak to you.'' The children jumped and sat bolt upright. They had never been spoken to in such a strict tone. After an hour, Julia had the children eating out of her hand. They listened to her and did as she asked. She set Agnes some mathematical problems to solve, John, some letters of the alphabet to learn and Sarah was asked to draw a picture of granddad's dogs.
Andrew had asked Julia to teach the children in the morning and take them for a walk in the afternoon. It would relieve Mrs. Patterson, he'd said. So after lunch, they put on their coats and set off over the lawn and into a field which the children told her led to a river. Benji bounded along next to them.
When they returned, Julia saw a large coach with four splendid Frisian horses standing in front of the Lodge. The driver and his assistant were standing next to the horses drinking a cup of tea. Julia nodded to the two men. Miss Sharpe was obviously not lacking in funds by the look of her transport, Julia noted.
''Julia come and meet Miss Sharpe,'' Andrew said as soon as she came inside. Julia walked into the drawing room and stared at a red haired woman who was somewhere in her thirties.
''It's a pleasure,'' Julia said as she shook Miss Sharpe's hand.
''Good Heavens, you're rather young to be a governess aren't you,'' she blurted. She was not fat but adequately proportioned, and as she spoke, Julia saw she had a slight double chin. Julia didn't answer, she turned and left the room.
''She's an odd one,'' Miss Sharpe said. Julia heard her.
''Odd? No, I don't think so. I think she's shy, but she's had a terrible time in the last few years.''
''Well, she looks odd to me. She's got shifty eyes.''
If that's the kind of woman he's been bringing to the house, no wonder his father was so angry. What a detestable woman, no manners whatsoever. But Julia had liked what Andrew had said about her.
Julia heard the horses hooves crunching the gravel outside, and looked out of the window as Miss Sharpe's coach left. Unfortunately, Miss Sharpe wasn't in it. She'd made herself comfortable with a glass of wine in the drawing room before dinner. Because Miss Sharpe was staying, Andrew had asked Julia to have dinner with the children as he wanted the dining room to himself.
Julia woke up to the sound of a woman screaming. She jumped out of bed and went to the door. She put her ear to it, and when she didn't hear anything, she opened it and listened. There it was again, and it was coming from the room next to her. Very gently, she tiptoed to the door behind which all the commotion was coming from, and dropped to her knees. The keyhole was obligingly large, and she got a fantastic view of what was happening. Miss Sharpe was sitting naked on top of Andrew, riding him like a horse. Andrew's face was hidden from view by a pillow, but Julia saw all of Miss Sharpe, and it was not a pleasing sight. Again Miss Sharpe screamed as she thrust her hips at speed back and forth over him. Julia guessed that it was supposed to be a scream of delight, but it wasn't delightful at all. It was a horrible, blood-curdling scream that made Julia nauseous. She quickly returned to her room and covered her ears. Julia hoped for a quick cessation, but the screams continued for some considerable time. Eventually, she fell asleep only to be woken at some ridiculously early hour by the sound of Andrew slamming the front door and Miss Sharpe swearing at him.
*****
The next morning, the children were very excitable. When Julia asked them why they told her that Aunt Jacqueline was coming to lunch. When they heard her arrive, the children jumped up and ran to the door, where they made a terrific fuss of her. Julia stood in the doorway which led from the conservatory to the hallway and watched.
Jacqueline was twenty-seven and the most beautiful woman Julia had ever seen. She had black hair and perfect skin, not a single blemish. Her nose was dainty and her eyes wide and alluring. ''You must be Julia,'' she said stepping forward. Andrew has told me how much the children respect you.''
''It's nice to meet you,'' Julia replied. ''Yes, I get on well with the children.''
''Where's daddy?'' Jacqueline asked the children, but they all shrugged their shoulders. ''Ah well, let's go and sit down. I'm sure lunch will be ready soon.''
''Julia, where are you from?'' Jacqueline asked when they were sitting in the dining room waiting for lunch to be served.
''Sussex.''
''Beautiful. Well, I'm really pleased you're here. You know my brother has suffered greatly, and I'm pleased he has managed to find someone to take care of the children's education.''
Julia nodded without saying anything.
''He's terrible you know. He can't keep his hands to himself these days.'' She made a gesture mimicking a man grasping a pair of female breasts. ''To think he was so happily married, now look at him. Woman after woman, and not one of them the marrying kind. Lord knows where he digs them up from.'' Julia nodded again. ''Just make sure he doesn't go seducing you,'' Jacqueline added.
''Why does he do it?'' Julia asked. The fact she had finally spoken shocked Jacqueline.
''Do what?''
''Sleep with so many women?''
''Heavens, that's a good question,'' She rested her elbow on the table and stared out of the window. ''He's tryin
g to replace Georgina, but it's impossible, and I think now he's lost his way. It's turned him into a serial womanizer.''
''Not you as well,'' Andrew shouted as he slammed the door shut. The children sat bolt upright and were suddenly very quiet; they'd never seen their father in such a temper. ''He's finally gone mad,'' he shouted as he slumped into his chair.
''Who? What?'' Jacqueline asked.
''Father. He's told me he's going to give the estate to Maurice and that we have to leave the Lodge.'' The two eldest children gasped, and Sarah began to cry. Julia took her onto her lap and comforted her. ''It's all to do with Miss Sharpe. She made such a racket last evening that father has decided to kick us out.''
''But Andrew, it's been going on for months. You have far too many......visitors,'' she was going to say lovers but changed her mind when she looked at the frightened faces in front of her.
The rest of the lunch was eaten in silence. When they finished, Julia took the children for their usual walk. She was glad of the fresh air, there was a terrible atmosphere in the house, and Andrew was in a very bitter mood. She saw a young woman coming the other way, she was carrying a basket, and she had a dog with her. Benji and the other dog started to play, making both women stop and watch.
''It's a lovely day,'' the other woman said.
''Yes.''
''I'm Mrs. Patterson's daughter, Rose. I'm taking some milk to her.''
She was like her mother. Round and plain, but Julia noticed she had a kind face. ''Your mother works very hard to keep us all fed,'' Julia said.
''She loves working at the Lodge, but she's very worried about Mr. Andrew. He can't stop entertaining....well.......you know.'' She sank her head to one side and allowed her eyes to roll in an 'If you know what I mean,' gesture.
''Yes. Well, it was nice to meet you, come on children.''
*****
That evening, Andrew asked Julia to stay and talk to him in the drawing room. This time, he needed something stronger than tea. He poured himself a brandy and gave Julia a glass of sherry. She took a sip and felt it warm the back of her throat. She'd only ever drunk alcohol once before, at her parents funeral. The vicar had given her a large glass of wine to calm her, but it had made her feel giddy.
