Page 17 of The Colonel's Ungovernable Governess
“Yes,” Mrs. Darcy confirmed. “According to the lady, Miss Lambert’s parents are both deceased. She was on her way north to find a position as a governess. Thankfully, her skills in connecting with the twins have proven superior to her making her way through the world alone. She was near complete exhaustion or worse when we came across her. Mr. Bingley’s estate was some fifteen miles removed when we rescued her from where she had collapsed.”
“Explain to me more of her family,” Edward instructed.
“If I understand what she said correctly,” Mrs. Darcy shared, “her father was killed in the war, while her mother succumbed to some sort of illness contracted when the lady served in the hospitals. When she first told me her mother and a few others assisting with the wounded had died, I thought she meant by a military action, but she meant by exposure to some sort of disease. I am not confident which one. Miss Lambert says she has no other relations. I assumed her parents were part of the gentry because she is well educated, but, if part of the gentry, she should have family who would take her in. Naturally, many families are dying out because of this war that has gone on for nearly twenty years. Perhaps her father was from trade, such as was Mr. Bingley and his sisters. Obviously, Miss Caroline Bingley was more well educated than was I in certain subjects. Miss Rose did speak of her father as an officer. Would such be possible?”
“An officer commission, depending on whether it is a lieutenancy, such as was Mr. Wickham, or even a captaincy, is possible for those not from the gentry or aristocracy, but not easily achieved, especially if there are those of higher rank socially who wish to purchase it. The army still assumes a man with a wealthy family can shoulder the cost of an officer’s needs—uniforms, weapons, and so forth. Many who could afford the commission are passed over because they have no one to support them.”
Darcy said, “No matter how educated the lady might be, we should determine if she would make a good governess for the children. Though the twins appear fond of the woman, we do not wish to install an opportunist in the position nor employ an unreasonable caretaker who holds no sympathy for the pair’s situation, especially as both require some sort of stability in their lives.”
* * *
Edward had less primping to do than did his house guests. If he knew Darcy, and the colonel was confident he did, his cousin was at this moment claiming a private reunion with his wife. Edward would be proven correct if Mrs. Darcy arrived at the table still a bit flushed. The idea both pleased him and caused a bit of envy at the same time. He was undoubtedly happy for Darcy, who had discovered a woman who stirred his cousin’s soul, but Edward was also jealous, for he expected never to know such bliss. The idea of bedding a woman not of his choosing soured his stomach.
With another sigh of resignation, he sought out the housekeeper, Mrs. Ross. “Might you elucidate, ma’am, on what occurred with the children’s last governess?”
The housekeeper motioned him into a nearby empty room before responding. “Mrs. Peyton, sir, took the absence of your bother and Lady Lindale as an indication she was not only in charge of the children, but also the household. Mr. Torrence and I generally ignored the woman’s posturing until she became more antagonistic towards the young lord and lady. Mrs. Peyton was particularly unkind to Lord Vincent, who we all agree, other than his stuttering, is quite intelligent, though more than a bit singular in his approach once an idea is set in his mind.”
Edward remarked, “As are most young gentlemen.”
The housekeeper smiled, indicating she believed the characteristic applied to more than male children. “As you say, sir.”
“What exacerbated the last incident?” he inquired.
“Young Lord Vincent corrected Mrs. Peyton regarding some species of flower in the garden. As he often is prone to do, even after Mrs. Peyton corrected his ‘supposed’ error, Lord Vincent insisted he had not misspoken. The boy offered to fetch a book in the library to prove his point. Instead, Mrs. Peyton took her bamboo walking stick to the child. When Lady Victoria defended her brother, Mrs. Peyton slapped the girl twice with an open hand, once on each cheek. This all occurred before I could reach the schoolroom and put a stop to the woman’s continued abuse. I missed viewing the actual slap by seconds, but I heard the sound and could view the red handprints on the child’s face.”
“Continued?” Edward asked.
“Mrs. Peyton was often harsh with Lord Vincent. A pinch of his cheeks which often left a small bruise. A slap of a ruler across the back of his hand,” the housekeeper explained. “A reprimand and going without a meal is one thing. Purposely causing harm to a child is inexcusable, in my opinion, sir. If I am in error, I humbly apologize.”
“You are not in error,” Edward confirmed. “Was my brother and Lady Lindale aware of this situation?” The idea did not sit well with him. He had often presented a soldier a nasty duty, but not for speaking from turn. A warning would generally suffice. Only if the man did not take the situation seriously, did Edward resort to more “extreme” measures.
“His lordship and her ladyship have been much from home of late, and Mrs. Peyton threatened worse if the children spoke out against her.”
“I see. And Miss Lambert? Though she is a friend to Mrs. Darcy, my cousin’s wife has suggested we employ Miss Lambert in a governess position, for the lady has no other family to whom she might turn. I am not fully convinced. I do not wish to bring someone into the twins’ lives who will remain only a few weeks and abandon them.” In truth, Edward realized he would likely be spending more time at William’s Wood than at Maitland Manor, and the woman was an untouchable temptation.
“Miss Lambert carves out time to spend with each child individually, as well as time together, during her day. Though her position is not yet official, she is quite attentive to their needs. At the moment, she is still housed in the guest rooms and so she has not interacted with all those below stairs, but the ones who speak of her, do so with admiration.”
The woman’s affirmation was not what Edward wished to hear, but he was glad the children were safer with Miss Lambert than they had been with Mrs. Peyton. “Thank you for your honest observations, ma’am. They have proven most beneficial.”
As he walked away, Edward knew he had to act in the best interest of the children. However, like it or not, a sudden rush of desire caught him off guard, and he paused to suck in a steadying breath. “Ridiculous!” he murmured a self-chastisement. He was a man in his early thirties. He did not lust after young girls, though, in reality, his promised bride had not yet reached her majority. Miss Lambert was far too young to be a governess. “She is a ‘miss,’ not a ‘missus,’ for God’s sake,” he grumbled, though he knew often women in a prominent household assumed the “missus” honorific when they were employed in such a house. “What does Miss Lambert know of children?” Again, he had no children, only his instincts as to what was prescribed, but he chose to ignore the hypocrisy of his opinion.
“Colonel!” Two young voices echoed in the hall as the children barreled towards him, followed at a distance by Miss Lambert. “Would you . . . take us . . . out riding . . . later?” Vincent asked. “We have . . . missed riding.”
“Has your new saddle arrived, Lady Victoria?” he inquired in a poor attempt at ignoring the young woman waiting nearby.
The child frowned her displeasure. “No, but I can ride astride. Miss Lambert’s saddle is made for a man.”
Edward looked up to the woman for confirmation. “Is such true, Miss Lambert?”
Rather than being ashamed, the chit’s chin hitched higher. “It is, sir. A woman must claim what she may to survive. For example, despite having adequate funds for a room upon my journey north, I was required to sleep in open fields due to men’s rules. I ride astride for long distances,” she answered smartly, “as a sidesaddle is not so comfortable in those situations.”
“Come then, instead of riding this late afternoon, let us take a gig into the village instead,” he instructed the children. “It will be too late for a proper ride. We may check on Lady Victoria’s sidesaddle and claim a bit of sugary treats at the bakery.”
“May Miss Lambert come with us?” Victoria asked.
“I am confident Miss Lambert has other things to accomplish,” he suggested.
The chit’s smile grew larger. “And I am confident I might find something to entertain me in your absence, Colonel. Yet, I will remain behind and feed the ducks as we planned to do today.”
