Page 79 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
“Remove the governess,” she said hatefully, “She assumes too much power here and she has to know her place. She is only a servant but acts like she is the lady of the manor. His Grace shows her too much favor and it is repellent to me.”
Peregrine knew at that moment that he had found an ally. “Tell me, what is your name?”
“Janet Orville, My Lord, Her Grace’s lady’s maid.”
“Well, Miss Orville, I do believe we are in accord,” Peregrine murmured, “But are you willing to do some traitorous deeds?”
“Anything, My Lord,” Miss Orville had replied, “I will do anything to get her out. She is the apple of His Grace’s eye when it should be m- Her Grace.”
The Earl caught her near slip and grinned. Oh, so jealously is the engine behind this motion then. How wonderfully deluded you are. I am sorry, woman, but neither you or Miss Robins is going to be the Duke’s partner. I will make sure of that, but to trick a fool I must play a fool.
“I will contact and use you, Miss Orville, as my spy,” Peregrine answered, “Just be ready to act when I tell you.”
And now she had come to his home like a ninny. Anyone could have followed her and then he would become one those suspected when Miss Robins was dead. Liberating the pistol, Peregrine checked to make sure there was a lead ball inside.
“My Lord,” a breathless voice said from the doorway, “Thank you for seeing me.”
“Come closer, Miss Orville,” Peregrine ordered, “Please tell me why you have come at such an ungodly hour?”
“I had to flee, My Lord,” Miss Orville spoke, “His Grace was investigating the theft of Miss Robins’ sketchbook, one that had drawings of His Grace inside. I had acted on your orders to find something to discredit her but when I left it for Her Grace to find, His Grace found it instead. He called an inquisition this morning after he arrived, to find the perpetrator.”
“After he arrived from where?”
“I do not know, My Lord,” Miss Orville spoke, “I do know that he took Miss Robins with him, but she did not come back.”
Damnation! He took her into hiding!
Peregrine cleared his throat, “This is a sensitive matter Miss Orville, please come with me, we will have to speak in privacy.”
With her beside him, Peregrine led her down the hallway and out through a discreet door and into the outside.
“Why are we outdoors?”
“I have a shed nearby,” Peregrine answered, “Just a little further.”
When they had rounded a thicket and were near the edge of the forest, he took out the firearm, leveled the gun between her eyes, and reveled in the terror in her eyes.
Peregrine’s voice was hard. “Youfoolishgirl. If, by happenstance, Miss Robins was removed, did you really envision that you were going to be her replacement? What is it with you women and these unattainable fantasies? Are the gothic novels that you read filling up your heads with such foolish notions? Miss Orville, you were a tool I used and now that tool has lost its usefulness. It must be discarded off.”
“But My L-lord, please,” she begged, “I only did what you asked of me for the both of us- for Her Grace.”
“No, you did it because of your jealousy,” Peregrine stated. “You did not do it for the love of your mistress.”
“I’ll scream,” Miss Orville said in fake bravery, “This mansion has to have someone who will aid me!”
Then, Peregrine had to laugh as the cocked the gun, “And make me their enemy in the process? Do you even think over your words before uttering them? Goodbye, you ninny. You have written your death sentence by coming here.”
* * *
Caroline silently mourned that she had not taken her other sketchbook with her, the one where all her memories of Moses, in dozens of configurations, were immortalized. Now the one she had, with drawings of random objects, fantasy people, and wonderful architecture, just was not enough.
Caroline had spent the last half hour staring at the picture of Nicholas and Josephine that she had sketched on a whim. Her fingers were lightly running over the indents of her pencil marks and hovering over the shaded areas so as not to muss the perfect hues with her touch.
I miss them so much.
“Miss Robins?” Verona spoke quietly, “Your breakfast is ready.”
Looking up, Caroline closed the book and managed a small smile, “Again, please call me Caroline and you do not have to cook for me, Verona, I can do it.”
