Page 51 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
The ball had just come to a close and Caroline had managed to drag herself away from the epic poem and go to her room. The memory of her dance with the Duke was still prevalent in her mind, enveloping her in a soft haze of delight.
Stepping into her room, her foot landed on something that was decidedly not wood and nearly sent her sprawling to the floor. Grabbing at the nearest sturdy surface, as her fright pounded through her veins, Caroline steadied herself and lifted her foot.
She saw a folded piece of paper and curiously, she took it up.
Is this from Moses?
Delighted that the Duke had found a way to send her a message, Caroline lit the lamp at her desk and unfolded the note with giddy expectations. With one look to the penmanship, her blood ran cold instantly.God, no! Not him!
Dear Caroline.
It seems as you have found yourself a safe haven with the Duke of Barley, his wife, and his two adorable children as a governess spinning a tale as a poor orphan child now turned into a prodigious bluestocking. What would they think of you if they knew that everything you are, everything you present to them and everything you pretend to be is a lie? I do believe that is it is about time your past catches up with you dear Caroline. Don’t you think so, my dear?
Regards,
Your admirer
The note was clenched so hard in her bloodless hands that it almost ripped in half. Weakly, she stumbled to her bed, sat in profound horror, and stared at the far wall as fear wracked her frame.
He has found me…after all this time, he has found me!
Chapter 20
The Duchess edged to wakefulness, with the fear of harsh sunlight stinging her delicate eyes building up in her chest, only to be thankfully met with drawn drapes and a dimmed room.
“Thank God,” Lavinia sighed and fell back onto her pillow with hazed and fractional memories of the night before darting in and out of her mind. A drink, a dance, another drink, two more, Moses’ uncanny disappearance, supper, and then blackness. Pure, all-encompassing blackness.
Marshalling the strength to sit up, Lavinia gingerly parted the sheets and swung her feet out from under them. She was about to get up when the world spun around her and she grabbed at her head.
“Your Grace,” Miss Orville rushed to her side, “Please let me assist you.”
“Thank you, Miss Orville,” Lavinia breathed in relief. “Some tepid water and then, some tea.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” the maid curtseyed and left the room. Gauging her strength, Lavinia stood up and slowly crossed the room to take up her robe, discarded from last night, and tied it around her silk nightgown.
Moses is gone, I see.
Feeling another measure of strength, she made it to the window and looked down to the gardens to see Miss Robins sitting still on a wooden bench. She frowned when the governess suddenly hunched over and caged her head in her palms.
What on Earth could be the matter with her?
Catching herself on the errant thought, Lavinia scoffed and turned away.
Oh, who gives a fig? She cannot possibly be having a morning worse than the one I am having.
* * *
The anxiety that had gathered in her chest from last night had only tripled in strength with every passing hour. Caroline felt a storm was brewing just over her head, waiting for the perfect moment to burst its destructive fury down upon her.
Nothing had prepared her for this sudden reappearance of her old enemy, one she thought she had left behind years ago.
But how could he know where I am? For all he knew—should have known—I was dead and buried by now, so how could he have found where I am?
Last night she had not slept a wink with the fear that she was being watched. Her deep-set scare had forced her appetite to disappear and her stomach to curl into knots. It was real, he had found her again, after all her efforts to elude him, he had still found her.
She shot a look towards the house and nibbled her lip. Was she putting all those inside, all who she cared about, Josephine, Nicholas, and Moses in danger? Could she live with herself if they got hurt?
“Miss Robins?”
