Page 64 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
* * *
Furthermore, with you getting attacked and this book suddenly coming to light…this is too much of a coincidence for me to rest easy.
Once again, the pressure to tell him the truth of who she was pounded her mind, but once again, she refrained. “I concur.”
Moses watched as she flipped some of the pages and ran her fingertips lightly over some of the images. Her smile was wry, “If Her Grace had seen this… I would be on the streets now, wouldn’t I?”
The Duke’s lips pressed as he recognized her rhetorical question. It was true, however, if the Duchess had seen the images in the book, Caroline would have been put out with no question. And with the Duchess, jealousy, tempered or not, could have been devastating.
“This morn, I received word that Edw-Lord Dalton, forgive me, is hosting a private race for several of the partners of his stud farm tomorrow afternoon,” Moses spoke quietly. “I had planned to go alone but this disturbing news of you being attacked on two fronts is not sitting well with me. I am now thinking of making it a family affair, you, I, Lavinia, and the children. What do you say?”
Caroline looked up from the lap, closed the book and smiled, “It is a wonderful idea.”
* * *
With the level of vitriol Lavinia was producing as they were on the way to Dalton Park, Moses wished Caroline had said no last night. His wife was a beautiful slab of silent stone beside him. Pinching his nose, Moses tried to block out Nicholas and Josephine’s babbling and went back to last night.
He had just parted ways with Caroline, she to her room and he to his suite to tell Lavinia about his plans.
“Lavinia,” Moses was smiling, “How would you like a day out at the races?”
In the past, Lavinia had expressed complete disdain on anything that had to do with the outdoors, horses, loud noises, and anywhere muck could get her on her dress, but he was hoping she had come around.
Her delicate eyebrows had lifted, “That sounds wonderful. Where?”
“Edward’s racing park in his grounds,” Moses gave an internal sigh of relief. “You, I, the children, and Miss Robins.”
In retrospect, that was where he had gone wrong, but how could he have not said it?
“Miss Robins?” Lavinia’s tone was colder than the ice-capped top of a frigid mountain peak. “Why her?”
“We do need someone to watch the children when we cannot,” Moses reasoned, even as he cringed internally at his words, “It is only logical, Lavinia. You and I will be navigating the social trails, making acquaintances, and getting back into the place where we should have been years ago.”
She had scowled but the invitation to gain a place in the spotlight was not one she could refuse. Tapping her chin Lavinia gave an exaggerated sigh, “I suppose it will be a fitting follow up to our ball.”
“Yes,” Moses had replied, “I think so, too.”
However, her joy had turned into a sour stony silence soon after. While Moses was dressed in a blue double-breasted morning coat, sterling white breeches, and coal-black Hessians, Lavinia had donned a pretty gown with a rich mauve corset, and lighter silk skirts.
It is a little substandard of her, usually, she would try to outshine others.
The moment Caroline had joined them, dressed in a flattering simple dark blue muslin gown with a waist sash and holding a bonnet, Lavinia had huffed and stormed out, back to her room.
Caroline’s head, sporting an elegant but clearly complicated hairstyle, twisted to follow the lady’s rush from the room with a mystified look. Moses could only shake his head.
Lavinia came out ten minutes later in an ensemble that would have rivaled the best of the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette’sarmoire. It was all white lace, with a tight corset and ruffled skirt with a plumed headdress so tall that it had to be removed before entering the carriage.
From that moment, thirty-something minutes ago, Lavinia had not spoken a word to him, or anyone, for that matter. She only stared out of the window and fluttered her fan with a tight clench of her jaw.
And here I thought this was going to be a happy occasion,Moses sighed.The way to hell is certainly paved with good intentions, isn’t it?
They arrived at the gates of Dalton Manor but knowing where the race park was, Moses directed Mr. Collins to drive a little further.The Dalton Track was a mighty stretch of ten acres of grounds near Edward’s main stables. As they neared the grounds, Moses could see a queue of landaus, chaises, and phaetons lined up on the road to the grandstand and arched his eyebrows.
How big is this race?
“It seems like Lord Dalton’s hobby has evolved,” Moses mentioned.
“And he has invited the wholetonto this event,” Lavinia finally spoke.
