Page 32 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
The Duke’s lips thinned, “And where were you when he was eight, Lavinia? You were alive, but you were not present. Nicholas floundered in those years when you were ill and now, he is catching up. He cannot suddenly assimilate all he needs to know overnight. If he had gone to boarding school at that age or even after, lacking the mastery he should have had, he would have been mocked, discouraged and humiliated.”
“So, his failure is my fault then.” the Duchess replied tightly.
Moses felt a headache start to bloom at his temples. “That is not what I am saying. Must you twist everything I say to paint me as the cloven hoof in this situation? I am not the Devil here!”
His words had come out with a vicious bite and by the pale look on Lavinia’s face, bloodless complexion and widened eyes, they had slapped her hard.
Did I, in some roundabout way mean, she was?Moses retracted,Did I mean she was the devil?
The Duke’s throat felt exceedingly dry and his chest rioted with shame. It hurt him every time he had to quarrel with Lavinia, sometimes on nonsensical matters. But God, she was still bent on sending Nicholas away and he was not about to let his son go unarmed in the midst of boys. He knew from a witnessing eye how hard it was to not fall prey to the derogation of older boys. It was only common sense to have him meet and hopefully pass the basic standards before going away.
When is she going to stop acting like a girl and become a woman?
He had enough of dallying, “Did you order the coachman to leave C- Miss Robins alone?”
The Duchess’ eyes and tone both hardened to an icy flint. “Do you think I would be that cruel, Moses?”
Outwardly, no, but inwardly, there is no doubt in my mind.
A stifled silence pulsed through the air like a living beast and Moses stood in it, realizing that Lavinia had neither admitted nor denied his accusation.
“Why didyouhave to get her?” Lavinia asked, “Couldn’t you have sent someone else to retrieve her? You are a Duke, Moses, you cannot lower yourself to their standards.”
“Duke I may be, but I am also human,” Moses replied, “Miss Robins is an asset to our house, Lavinia. And besides, there was no time to summon someone. It was just easier if I went myself.”
The words almost rang hollow in Moses' ears because Lavinia did have a point—he could have easily conscripted someone to get her.
But I would not have rested at all. I had to see her in person.
Raking a hand through his hair, the fatigued Duke tried to grasp the frayed edges of his sanity and muttered, “This is…I cannot handle this tonight. I will sleep in the adjoining room, Lavinia. Too much has happened in the past few hours and I cannot…concentrate.”
She is still my wife, no matter how suspicious I am of her.
“Please do not make a mountain out of it, Lavinia,” Moses sighed, “I apologize for snapping at you.”
The evening had proven to be a run of eye-opening hours for him. He had finally realized what he felt for Caroline, gotten an extended understanding of the depths of manipulation his wife could execute. Moses needed some time to come to grips with these revelations—and deal with his guilt of defending Caroline so heatedly against his wife—when it came.
“Goodnight, Lavinia,” Moses spoke as he left the room, suddenly not caring that he had not received a returned farewell.
* * *
The audacity!Lavinia swore as she saw the back of her husband disappear through the door.What does he take me for, some simpleton, to reply to such a blatant and trapping accusation?
Despite the fact that Moses’ suspicions were right—she had sent the coachman to get the suit, knowing full well that the seamstress had gone to the shire of Holstein, fifty miles away. It would be a miracle if the man returned by midnight.
Her fingers clenched and clawed so hard down the book’s page that she had ripped ragged lines through it. Looking at the marked page in disgust, Lavinia yanked it out, heard the vicious rips with pleasure, and threw the book to the farthest corner of the room.
“He thinks I didn’t hear it!” Lavinia seethed, “He thinks I didn’t hear how close he was to saying that dratted woman’s name in my presence.Caroline.He was going to sayCarolineright in front of me! How dare he? This marriage might be one of convenience, but I will not have him think he can get away with snubbing me for her!”
Her eyes narrowed at the large bed in the corner, “If I am the Devil that you so subtly implied Moses, maybe I should start acting like him.”
Chapter 14
“And you are sure?” The Earl of Crampton wanted to verify that he had truly heard Mr. Barton’s words correctly. “What do you mean there isnothing?”
The sleuth did not look affected at all and kept his composure in the face of the seething Earl. He stood, just a few feet away from the Earl’s desk in his study, with his hands clasped behind him. “Exactly that, My Lord. I asked all around, in the three towns beyond the church, and there is no recollection of the child that you described to me.”
“No recollection?” Peregrine felt incensed, “That is not—how can that be?”
