Page 67 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
Lavinia’s heart was still pounding in her chest just as her mind was racing with furtive thoughts mixed in with some curses. She shot a look over to the woman sitting not too far from her.
Is it too much to ask that she did not hear what had been said?
The governess was sitting still as Josephine was babbling, asking questions about this or that. There was no indication that the woman had heard, so was she worrying too much? Her fan was making double time, beating the air furiously as her worry grew.
“Is it that humid here?” Moses’ teasing voice cut through her musing. “Your fan is brewing up a storm.”
Lavinia dragged herself from her worry and forced a smile on her face, “Did you get to see the stables?”
Before Moses could reply, Nicholas launched into an impressive spiel about what he had just experienced. Lavinia tried to concentrate on his words but found her eyes darting over to the governess from time to time.
* * *
The fourth race had come to a close with Caroline shifting on her seat. She needed to use a facility soon. Just like the Earl’s butler had said, a servant was placed in the room to facilitate any request the noble patrons had. It was a good gamble that he could point her in the direction of the washrooms.
Thankfully, the seat she was in opened to an aisle where she did not need to cross by the children or the Graces. Standing up, she excused herself, “My apologies, Your Graces, please excuse me for a moment.”
Moses had nodded with a tiny frown while the Duchess had ignored her outright. Walking to the servant, Caroline quickly asked for directions to the nearest washroom.
“Down the grandstand stairs, the third hall to the left and the rooms are there,” the servant informed her.
Leaving the veranda, she did not see the man who left after her.
* * *
The washrooms for women that she found had a long latrine at the side, buckets of water for handwashing and a tin Bourdaloue resting on a shelf up top. In quick motions, she relieved herself, straightened her dress and went to wash her hands.
She kept wondering what she had heard the man say to the Duchess. Who was this Sebastian and why did he have to say it in a clandestine way? Maybe it was an old friend of the Duchess that she truly had forgotten? It was most likely, as the lady had been ill for a good long while.
After washing her hands, she shook the rest of the water off and left the room only to get suddenly manhandled into the corner of the hall. Her face was pressed to the side so she could not see her attacker’s face but she did hear his voice.
“Caroline Robins…or is it, Russ,” a poisonous voice hissed in her ear, “Don’t you think it is high time for you to drop this charade and leave these innocent people before they get hurt because of you?”
* * *
Moses frowned—two races had ended and Caroline still had not re-joined them. What was going on? Why had she not returned? The man he had seen standing and leaving just after Caroline had was another thing that left him bothered.
His eyes kept darting to the door and back to the racetrack while his hand clenched spasmodically on his thigh. His stomach felt upset and was roiling.Where is she?
Josephine had fallen asleep on her brother’s shoulder and Nicholas was trying very hard to not move and disturb his sister. Which, to Moses, was very mature of him. But again, where was Caroline?
Lavinia didn’t seem to be paying any attention to the racetrack whatsoever as she was now examining her nails. Moses sat as long as he could until his worry peaked and he could not take this ambivalence much longer. He had to know where Caroline was.
“Excuse me. I’ll be back shortly.”
He was out of the veranda before his wife could even ask him a question and followed Caroline’s steps downstairs. Luckily, a servant, holding a tray of tarts, cups and a teakettle, was passing by and he asked him where the washrooms were.
“The one on the left is for ladies and the one on the right is for the gents, Your Grace,” the man said, before turning and hurrying up the stairs with the refreshments.
The Duke hesitated before turning and moved closer to the direction of the ladies’ room. At the corner, he heard voices and looked around only to see a picture that froze his heart in his chest. Caroline was pushed against the wall with a man holding her there.
“—ou think the Duke is going to be sitting pretty knowing that you have fooled him for so many years? He will banish you in disgrace. Your disguise is falling apart by the seams, Caroline.”
“Get off me,” Caroline’s words were muffled. “And tell your master that I am not afraid of him.”
A strangled cry came from her as it seemed like the man had yanked her hair, “My master will have you dead one way or another, mark my words.”
Moses had enough and cursed himself for not acting sooner. He could not sit by and let this ruffian abuse the one he loved any more. “Release her, you jackanapes!”
