Page 34 of The Colonel's Ungovernable Governess
“How grand!” Jocelyn said with an encouraging smile. It was then she spotted the trio. As she passed Mr. Darcy, she paused briefly to gather Vincent from the man’s side. As she reached for the boy, she said softly, “Tell your cousin, the three standing under the large elm are Lady Annabelle’s friends.”
Mr. Darcy looked oddly upon her, but he nodded his agreement.
“Might we speak to Alicia before we go in?” Victoria begged.
Jocelyn assumed Vincent would object. Instead, he assisted his sister in tugging Jocelyn towards where a sweetly pretty young child stood with a more traditional-looking governess. Not for the first time, Jocelyn realized her clothing was not a “customary” look for a servant in a viscount’s household.
The two young girls hugged each other as was common among children. Though Vincent did not hug the girl, he presented her a small bow and said, “You look fair today, Miss Alicia.” No stuttering. Jocelyn could tell Vincent must have practiced and practiced his compliment.
Though the girl did not say it in a mean manner, she replied, “You always say the same thing, my lord.”
Jocelyn knew Vincent wanted to shout at the girl for not accepting his kind words, for his hand tightened about her fingers. Therefore, she said, “Though I realize you wish Lord Vincent to say something a bit different, his parents expect him to perform in the manner of all members of the aristocracy. Lady Victoria may present you an embrace of affection, but English society only permits their young men the pleasure of offering you a compliment.”
Both the girl and her governess appeared shocked by Jocelyn’s daring, but Miss Alicia responded quicker. “I meant no offense, Lord Vincent. I truly enjoy your affirmation.”
“You do?” Vincent asked in surprise.
The girl looked oddly upon Vincent, but she said, “I am not in the habit of speaking a lie.”
“Neither am I,” Vincent responded without hesitation.
“Nor I,” Victoria declared.
The three burst into laughter, and the crisis was diverted for the moment.
“We must go in. The colonel will expect you to sit with the family and the Darcys.”
“You, too, must join your family, Alicia,” the other governess said. As they turned together to enter the church, the woman remarked. “You appear to have more sympathy for the young lord than did your predecessor. His mannerisms offended Mrs. Peyton, who did not wish to be judged poorly if the boy acted from form.”
“I have lived most of my life on the Continent,” Jocelyn explained. “I have known many young gentlemen who are very regimented in their ways. I imagine Lord Vincent requires order as a means to deal with the sudden passing of a beloved father and being uprooted from the only home he had ever known, while realizing others will believe he must learn to conduct himself as an earl at the age of ten. Such responsibility should be far removed. We should not expect our children to shoulder the responsibilities of an adult.”
The other woman said, “I am Mrs. Aiken. Would you care to follow me to where the servants are to watch the service?”
“That is very kind of you,” Jocelyn responded, suddenly realizing she would be expected to sit with the servants and not in the family pew.
“Do you speak French or some other language? You said you had lived on the Continent, Mrs.—”
“It is ‘Miss,’” Jocelyn corrected. “Miss Lambert. I speak French quite fluently and also more than a smattering of Spanish and a bit of Italian.”
Mrs. Aiken said, “I am also a ‘Miss,’ but the custom for many high-ranking servants is to pretend a former husband.”
Jocelyn smiled knowingly. “I understand the custom, but, you see, I was a friend of the Lindales’ cousin, Mrs. Darcy, before I accepted the position. I have lost my family, who have served this country since I was but five years of age.”
“I see,” the woman said as she directed Jocelyn to an area of the church where senior servants of the surrounding estates stood along the wall. “I was wondering if you would object if I brought Miss Alicia to visit with the Babcock children, say, once or twice weekly, so Alicia might have a French lesson, and I might learn along with the children. I could teach lessons in . . .”
“Drawing,” Jocelyn supplied. “I am fair in drawing leaves and flowers, but not so much faces. I fear I am much of the same nature as my friend Mrs. Darcy in that manner.”
“I draw quite well.”
“Then we have a bargain.”
Jocelyn studied Vincent as the boy looked on while Victoria and Miss Alicia chattered together before the girl’s parents called her away. There was such longing on Vincent’s expression, Jocelyn could do nothing less but agree to teach the young girl so Vincent might claim a friend also.
* * *
Elizabeth tugged on his sleeve. Edward was watching where Miss Lambert and the children conversed with another of the local governesses. Mrs. Aiken was employed by the Schroeders, a family from the gentry, but a well-placed one. Ironically, both Vincent and Miss Lambert appeared from place. Fortunately, the tension in the boy’s shoulders relaxed, thanks to something Miss Lambert said. Yet, there was nothing the woman could do to make herself less lovely. Less from place among the servant class. She held herself too royally to hide among the other servants. The woman was truly beautiful. Alluring as hell, or should he think ‘heaven,’ as he was standing before a church. She was pert and opinionated, and he would enjoy nothing more than kissing her into silence when she was least expecting it. He wanted her as he had never wanted another woman.
“Miss Lambert says,” Elizabeth began, before he could even turn his head her way. Edward pulled himself from his fantasies regarding a servant in his brother’s household to listen to his cousin’s wife. “The three young people standing under the large elm to the right are the ones from the fair.” He looked up to where she had directed his attention. “I would say Miss Lambert is correct, for Annabelle just gave them a small wave, warning them away, when they thought to approach. Would you like me to sit beside her during services?”
