Page 23 of The Dark Duke's Virgin

Making sure not to make another mistake, Isabella pushed her lips together and pulled a quick face at Caroline. “You made me do it.”

“I made you do nothing.”

“Yes, you did!”

“Why, if I had such control of your fingers as you claim, do you not think I would be doing a far better job playing this piece than you are right now?”

Isabella’s eyes widened, and she struck another wrong key. “You said I was doing well! You just said?—”

“Joking,” Caroline chuckled. She walked behind where Isabella was sitting, resting a hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “I am just joking. You are playing beautifully.”

“You think?”

“Now, concentrate…” She reached over Isabella’s shoulder and turned the page on the music sheets. “Here—” she then instructed, indicating a particularly difficult section that was coming up. “Remember what I showed you.”

To this, Isabella did not respond. Rather, she tightened her face as she focused on the keys before her, gliding across them in a way that almost looked effortless. Caroline knew that not to be the truth, however, as they had spent the entire morning working toward this exact task.

And indeed, she held her breath as the young girl played the melody, her heart pounding with excitement because she wanted nothing more than for Isabella to complete it without fault. So strange that she cared this much for a role she did not even want. So strange that she had grown into it these past few days the way that she had. So strange that… no, actually…

Not strange at all. Not anymore, anyhow.

For two years, Caroline had been a companion for Esther, and they were two wonderful years that she would not take back for anything. But she had never felt needed in the role—more that she was accepted in it. With nowhere else to go, Esther had taken her in and cared for her when it was supposed to be the other way around. But still she cherished it, such that when she took on this new role as governess, she had worried she might be leaving behind more than she realized.

As it turned out, nothing could have been further from the truth.

For three days only, Caroline had worked as Isabella’s governess, and in that time, she had developed a relationship with the young girl that she might never have dreamed was possible. Such that she felt invested in the girl’s life in a way that made her want to see Isabella do well, that made her feel needed,that made her feel special and appreciated like she never had before.

Three days only, and already Caroline dreaded the eventual day when she and Esther would have to leave and go back home. How very strange.

“I did it!” Isabella cried out excitedly the moment she got through the piece. “I did it! Did you hear!”

Caroline clapped. “Well done, Isabella! See, I told you it was not difficult.”

“Well, it was,” Isabella said sheepishly. “If it was easy, it would not have taken me all morning.”

“Nothing worth doing should be easy.”

“Well, that doesn’t make any sense,” Isabella frowned.

Caroline chuckled. “It means that we should take pride in that which is hard to accomplish. If something is easy and everyone can do it, then why bother? Why feel anything other than resigned apathy if there is no challenge behind it? But if a thing is worked for, if you apply yourself, and then you achieve it… well, personally, I think that makes it all the more satisfying, don’t you?”

Isabella did not look as if she agreed. “It sounds like an excuse you have just come up with to try and make me study harder.”

“You got me,” Caroline laughed.

“I knew it!”

“Now, come on…” She turned the sheet of music back. “Again, thank you. Let us make sure the first time was not luck.”

Isabella’s eyes flashed, and she went back to playing, the concentration evident on her face. Caroline watched and listened, again unable to believe how invested she had become in this little girl’s life.

It was all Isabella, too—the reason for the way she had taken to this role as governess. The little girl was a marvel. Bright. Funny. Eager to learn. And the kindest soul Caroline had ever met. Really, she found it beyond incredible that a girl such as this had been born to someone as cold and malicious as His Grace… not that she would ever say such a thing out loud.

“I want to show father!” Isabella decreed when she finished it for a second time, again without fault. “He will be so pleased.”

“Perhaps we should practice a few more times first?”

“What is the matter?” Isabella pumped her eyebrows. “Scared of what father will say if I make a mistake?”

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