Page 41 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
“Moses!” she scrambled to put the glass away and turned her satisfied smile into a frown, but the Duke saw right through her. Not even looking at her, he went to the box of jewelry and opened it.
There in the velvet, he saw the puckered place where the brooch had been and ran his fingers over the place.
“So, you have heard of her crime?”
The Duke did not reply, only to hear a huff. “Did she run to you again?” Lavinia sneered, “What a spineless, milk-livered t—”
The narrowed-eyed look Moses levered towards her cut her words off instantly. Fingering the velvet bed, Moses—on a wild inkling—lifted it up, only to see the twinkling ruby of the brooch before his eyes.
He stood there in disbelief. Was this the very ornament Caroline had been accused of stealing? What was it doing there?
She placed it there.
With a grim mentality, Moses wanted to deny how conniving his wife was, but could not ignore the evidence of her deceit. Slipping his fingers into the ruby circle, Moses took it out and turned around. Lavinia’s face was pale, and she scrambled up.
“Moses, it is not what it looks like!”
Twirling the brooch to catch the light, the rubies glinted with the deep color of blood. Moses spoke and his tone was laced with disappointment. “Then what does it look like, Lavinia? Because this looks like an immature way of getting attention.”
Her face tightened, “Do not scold me as though I am a child, Moses.”
Disgusted, Moses dropped the jewelry back into the box, “Why not? You are acting like one—and a spoilt one, at that. You tried to frame Miss Robins for something she did not do and now you are acting like it is nothing? Lavinia, for the sake of God, where is your moral compass?”
She shrank back and seemed to crumple into herself. Her arms were wrapped around her waist and her head was twisted to the side. The silence between them stretched on until it became painful.
“I’m sorry, Moses.” Her voice was frail, not pretend frail but literally breaking. “I just did not know what to do. It seems as of late, she was taking all your attention and I…I am sorry. My actions were out of order and I admit it.”
A surge of compassion and pity washed over the man in the long stretch of silence that followed her admission and all sense of indignation left the Duke. Stepping closer, Moses tugged her close and sighed in her hair. There were no words he could have said as Lavinia was right in one regard—most of his attention had been centered on Caroline.
Guilt again followed his thoughts. He loved Caroline, but his wife was hurting. Not only by her childish actions but from what she had positively perceived to be a complete lack of attention from the man who had sworn to look after her.
“I know, Lavinia,” He murmured into her fragrant hair, “I know.”
It was times like these that showed him the human and hurting side of Lavinia. He did not know how to make that side stay but when it did present itself, he could offer his support.
“What do you say I take the day off tomorrow and we take a ride around the countryside, just the two of us, hm?” Moses offered.
“I would like that,” she replied, “Thank you…and I will apologize to Miss Robins tomorrow.”
Hidden from her, Moses’ left eyebrow arched. He had not expected anything like that. Lavinia was sometimes the hardest person to accept her fault and admit it, but since she had openly offered to do it, who was he to dissuade her?
“I think that would be wonderful of you.” Moses smiled and pulled back. The anger was still there as Lavinia had done a devious thing, but she was his wife. The best he could do was to come to terms with it. He did know, though, that underestimating Lavinia in the future would be foolish. A part of him felt he should be back with Caroline, but he had to take care of Lavinia. Analyzing his doublemindedness could be done another day.
* * *
The next day the children were out on their mid-morning break and Caroline was just tidying up the room when the summons came to present herself to the Duchess’ sitting room. The command actively sent tremors of dread through the young woman. She nearly dropped a Latin book when Miss Orville relayed the wishes of her mistress in a decidedly cold tone.
Frowning a little at the icy demeanor, Caroline replied, “One moment and I’ll come.”
Putting the book down, she took in a series of calming breaths and tried to squash her fright. Turning around, she saw a flash of contempt on the face of the lady’s maid and wondered.Have I done something to offend her, or is she just taking up her mistress’ attitude towards me?
Her steps toward the sitting room were laden with fear but Caroline forced herself to go inside. The Duchess was sitting on her favorite chaise-lounge but instead of having a gothic book on her lap, she was paging through Josephine’s drawing book.
Caroline could not hold back her surprise as the lady greeted her, and she replied with a curtsey. The Duchess looked up, “Thank you, Miss Orville, you are dismissed as I need to speak with Miss Robins alone.”
“As you wish, Your Grace.” Miss Orville replied with another curtsey. Perhaps she was imagining it, but Caroline felt a scorching sensation run over the back of her neck and twisted minutely to look at the maid. By the time she had, Miss Orville had turned away.
“Miss Robins,” the Duchess spoke with a tone of voice Caroline had never heard from her. It was soft, calm, and had a hint of pleading in the undertone. “I was wrong to accuse you of stealing my property and I admit it. It was a harebrained and imprudent notion and I pledge to not do any such thing to you ever again.”
