Page 10 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
“Not too bad, if I dare say,” the older man replied while pumping his hand in a strong grip. “And I thought I told you to call me by my name. We are certainly not strangers anymore.”
From behind him, Moses spotted Hinds about to rest a travelling bag down and the Earl—somehow sensing the motion—hissed over his shoulder like the true serpent Moses imagined him to be. “Be careful with that! You will rue it if what is inside breaks.”
Frowning at the man’s rudeness to his manservant, Moses decided to censure him if it happened again, then added, “Forgive me, my formality is only the product of years of training. You are looking well. May I ask, what brings you so far from Crampton?”
“Oh,” the Earl smiled easily, “I have just returned from France and decided to come to see my daughter and my grandchildren. I come bearing gifts—they are a bit delicate, you see.”
That still does not explain his rudeness.
“Welcome then,” Moses said while gesturing to a seat near him. “How is the shire?”
“It has its ups and downs.” The Earl sighed—a little dramatically if Moses thought about it too hard. “But nonetheless, I am doing well. But speak truthfully Moses, how is she?”
The Duke held back a sigh, “Not well, Peregrine, another spell took her almost a week ago and the physician ordered her to be on bed-rest.”
A grimace tightened the older man’s lips, “That is…not what I had expected to hear.”
“It is not anything anyone wants to hear,” Moses added grimly as he sat. “But the physician says she is convalescing.”
The older man mulled over the words then shook his head, “And where are my grandchildren?”
“In the schoolroom with their governess,” Moses replied, as he rose and moved to the door, “I shall have Hinds summon them.”
“And the governess, too,” the Earl added somewhat slyly, before rolling his eyes at the Duke. “I am only fulfilling my grandfatherly duty, Moses. I have a right to see how they are faring academically. If I am not mistaken, Nicholas if off to school soon, correct?”
The words were spoken with sincerity, but Moses still had his suspicions—the Earl could be a master manipulator whenever he needed to be. The Duke’s smile was tight as he directed Hinds to summon the children and Miss Robins.
“Not yet but we are preparing for it. Nevertheless, Peregrine,” Moses decided on a fitting topic of conversation, “are you aware of the wondrous job the Duke of Wellington in doing with routing Bonaparte forces from the Peninsula and—”
“Grandpa!” a blur of blonde hair and green taffeta ran into the room and was instantly scooped up on Lord Crampton’s lap. Nicholas was right behind his sister.
“Good evening, Grandfather,” Nicholas’s tone was even.
Their grandfather reached out his other hand to reach for the boy and smiled. “Ah, m’boy Nicholas, you seem to grow much more than I expect, every time I come.”
“I am well, Grandfather,” Nicholas added.
“Really,” the Earl squinted then rattled off a sentence of fluent French to the boy. He smiled, even more, when Nicholas replied with ease.
Moses looked quietly at the silent governess who had entered the room and grimaced internally. He felt like he was putting Miss Robins under savage and unneeded scrutiny as if he was pushing a young lamb in front of a ravenous wolf. A leashed wolf but a wolf, nonetheless.
“Good afternoon, Miss Robins. This my father-in-law, Lord Crampton.”
She then executed a curtsey that could rival one from a lady. “Good day, Your Grace, and Lord Crampton. I am pleased to meet you. I am Miss Caroline Robins, the governess.”
Moses steeled himself to not react to the judging look the Earl was levering at the defenseless woman “Miss Robins, good day to you. From what I have just heard, your tutoring of Lord Hayward is marvelous. Where did you gain your education?”
Ire flew into the Duke’s system as his teeth ground. It was not improper to ask of a person’s education, but the tone the Earl had used was nothing less than debasing.
“From the nuns at the convent of Stockton, Wiltshire, My Lord,” Miss Robins replied without hesitation. “From the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the supervision of Mother Superior Agnes.”
“Oh,” the Earl nodded, “A notable institution, Miss Robins.”
Moses wanted to breathe out a sigh of relief, but he couldn’t. He felt that something was coming—something underhanded and devious.
“And as I understand it, correct me if I’m wrong,” Lord Crampton said slyly, “That is an institution for orphans, is it not?”
The Duke’s teeth ground hard as his suspicions were confirmed.
