Page 19 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
Nearly at the corridor towards the East Wing, Caroline baulked at the sudden realization that this was her first official visit with the Duchess. Which made her question about the purpose of the visit resurge in her mind, only with an undertone of dread.
“Your Grace,” Miss Orville said, as they stepped into the Duchess’ sitting room. “Miss Robins is here.”
Caroline felt a strange sensation overcome her as she neared the seated lady. Though she had not seen it before, in this close capacity, Caroline really saw why the Duchess had been spoken of as a beauty.
Thick and radiant golden hair framed an oval face. The Duchess’ silk blue gown with a square neck and puffed sleeves accented her delicate collarbone, well-shaped shoulders, and slender form, and completed a gracious appearance.
“Thank you, Miss Orville, you are dismissed,” The Duchess’ voice was soft and held a note of nonchalance as she paged through the book sitting on her lap. “Please sit, Miss Robins.”
Approaching her, Caroline curtseyed. “Good day, Your Grace.”
Blue eyes met hers with a wordless order to sit and Caroline obeyed. She sat in silence as the Duchess went back to her reading and felt her anxiety mount with every passing moment. She did her best to not fidget in the ominous and oppressive silence and stifled her pending motions by clutching at her skirt.
She was getting close to despair when the book was closed and then she was pinned with ice-blue orbs. Ice ran down Caroline’s spine at the frosty look that was so strong her insides felt frozen.
“Miss Robins,” the Duchess spoke, “How long have you held the position of governess with us?”
“Just over two years, Your Grace,” Caroline replied meekly.
“And in those two years, how have my children advanced?” Her Grace demanded.
“Lady Josephine is prolific in reading, writing, arithmetic, and her French is superb. Lord Hayward is strong in his Greek and Latin studies, his reading and writing are strong and on par with boys his age; however, his French and arithmetic do need some work,” Caroline added honestly.
“That is unacceptable,” the Duchess’ snap was arctic, “What have you been doing in the last twenty-four months? Nicholas should be speaking French fluently and he should have advanced to geometry already!”
Caroline nearly flinched at the woman’s vitriol, “But, Your Grace—”
Her glare cut Caroline’s words to the quick. “My son is off to Eton Collegeto board this fall. If you cannot put him on par with his peers, and if he is perceived uneducated there, I will have you removed and degraded, and will make sure that no one in this country hires you. Am I understood?”
The words flew at Caroline like buckshot, each one piercing a metaphorical organ. “But, Your Grace, the boys who attend that school are thirteen years of age. Lord Hayward is only eleven. By right, he has two more years of schooling before he can be—”
“If you dare try talk back to me with that tone one more time, Miss Robins, I will see you out the door this night,” the Duchess seethed.
This time, Caroline did flinch, and her eyes instantly met her lap. “My apologies, Your Grace. I was out of place.”
A spiteful huff came from the Duchess, “At least you know your position. Have him up to par by the end of this summer. You will have Nicholas, Lord Hayward toyou, fluent in French, and studying geometry by the end of August. Good day, Miss Robins.”
Caroline stood and curtseyed even though she felt sick to her stomach. “Good day, Your Grace.”
She left the room and hurried to her quarters even though she knew there were two children waiting upon her arrival. She needed to calm down before going to see the two pupils.
Closing the door behind her, Caroline leaned on it and gasped in soft but frantic breaths. “My God…” She whispered to herself, “Is that what His Grace has been living with all these years? No wonder he is so crestfallen most days.”
Pressing her hand to her feverish forehead, Caroline breathed deeply and calmed herself. When she believed she had a hand on her emotions, she left her chamber and went back to the schoolroom. Forcing a contented smile on her face—even as she was the farthest thing from—Caroline took her seat.
She then glanced at the clock, “I do believe your time is up. Lord Hayward and Lady Josephine, please turn in your work and you are free to go. This day has come to its end.”
Nicholas was the first to hand over his workbook and with a solemn parting left the room only to pause at the doorway to wait for his sister, with a small scowl on his face.
“Goodbye, Miss Robins,” Lady Josephine sang sweetly before she skipped over to her brother. The two left and instantly, Caroline sagged in her seat.
Lord, please have mercy on me.
* * *
It was after dusk, but Caroline still had not left the schoolroom. Sitting on the chair, she kept going back over her teaching schedule, hoping to find a few gaps where she could find a way to teach Nicholas more, but every lesson was planned out.
Unless she was going to encroach on the boy’s weekends, there was not much she could do. She was starting to despair and framed her face in her hands while her heart palpitated. Someone knocked on the door and she did not have even the strength to say enter.
