Page 42 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
The words stunned, shocked, bamboozled, and baffled, separate or combined, did not cover a fraction of the governess’ almost jaw-dropping reaction. The Duchess was apologizing to her. This same Duchess who—only nine hours ago—had threatened to put her out of the home. This was the same Duchess who had also threatened to damage her reputation and put a stigma on her so that no reputable family would ever hire her again.
Caroline could only blink her shock away.
For once Caroline saw something in the Duchess that she had never seen, or cared to see, before—a hint of pain. It made sense, though, if the Duke was unhappy, why would his wife be any different? She wanted to say something, she truly did, but the words would not come out. Even as they were running through her head, she did not feel it was her place to make any remark.
The Duchess of Barley arched a delicate eyebrow and Caroline collected herself. “I appreciate your apology, Your Grace. Thank you.”
“Not as much as I thank you for accepting my apology,” The lady sighed, “Good day, Miss Robins.”
Walking back to the schoolroom took little of her mental concentration. The majority of her concentration was on the stark change in the Duchess’ attitude.
Mayhap His Gr—drat, Moses does actually have a hand on her overall. Maybe I should add ‘worker of miracles’ under ‘deliverer’, ‘protector’, and ‘matching mind’ to his list of talents.
She stepped in and to see both Josephine and Nicholas at their respective places was a slight shock but a quick look to the clock proved that their timing was right.
“Well, Lord Hayward and Lady Josephine, let us jump right back into our lessons, shall we?”
* * *
That afternoon, just as Caroline was dredging up the courage to ask the Duke for a chess rematch, seeing as she had unwittingly defaulted on the last one, she came across the Duke and Duchess just as they were about to leave the foyer.
“Ah, Miss Robins,” the Duke spoke while his wife was adjusting her muff, “I was just about to summon you. Please oversee Nicholas and Josephine this evening. Her Grace and I will be out.”
While he was speaking, the Duchess snaked her arm through the crook of his and leaned—ever so subtly—into his side with a pointed look to her. It was a simple move, but Caroline felt that she knew what it meant. The Duchess was wordlessly stating her claim.
“Of course, Your Graces.” She said smoothly, with a respectful curtsey, “Take your time, they will be cared for.”
“Do you hear that Moses?” the Duchess replied with a possessive run of her hand over the Duke’s arm. “We won’t have to run back early.”
Another pointed look was levelled at her and Caroline wisely backed out.She might have apologized but she still does not like me.
* * *
Five nights—five long nights had passed, and on each one of them, the Duke and Duchess had gone out. This night they had gone to an opera in London and were staying the night at the Duke’s townhouse. Caroline felt as though she was witnessing the resurgence of a romance between the two, but the confounding issue was that she knew—from the Duke’s stark admission—that no romance had been there in the first place.
A hastened courtship, yes, infatuation, yes, an even hastier marriage, yes, but there was no romance. Perhaps this was only some kind of trade-off? The Duke’s attention in return for the Duchess keeping peace with Caroline, but if that was it, how long would it last? She had both seen and heard the Duke’s disillusion with his wife.
Why is he doing this? Is he trading his sanity for my safety? I feel that something horrible is going to happen and if it does, who will be there to pick up the pieces?
* * *
He should be in bed beside his wife, but Moses felt like a cheat. There was no way he could carry on, knowing that he was in love with Caroline, but was keeping up this farce of a marriage.
Looking at her from halfway across the room, Moses was nursing a sherry and turning ideas and various other contemplations in his mind. What was he doing?
I am stuck. Nailed down with pretty silver tacks in this marriage while my mind is on another.
Scrubbing a hand over his face Moses knew that no matter what, he would still be loyal to his family but…what was he going to do with Caroline? Could he bear dismissing her in a pre-emptive move to avoid temptation?
Just thinking of it sent unwanted palpations through him. Caroline was the only person with whom he had felt such a mindful connection within the past ten years of his life.
The people he dealt with as Duke, most with the same level of education and sophistication were all wonderful, educated people, but they just did not connect with him on a human level. Lavinia was beautiful and blooded, but she just could not give him the level of mental stimulation he craved.
Caroline was, but the mere thought of initiating anything with her brought to mind a scandal, bigger than that of the Prince Regent, caught in bed with his mistress, Lady Jersey, by hiswife.
Massaging his brows Moses deliberated.I got myself into this mess and I must find a way to get out of it.
* * *
