Page 16 of The Precious Secret of a Loving Governess
“Oh, he does. And I know that he loves her, truly. But she doesn’t seem to realise that at all. She is not a bad child, but she knows that she gets more attention from everybody when she acts poorly. So she does it over and over. I believe she is simply misunderstood,” Miss Franklin explained.
“I think that if we all showed her the same level of affection when she was good as when she is bad, we would have no trouble at all form her. Unfortunately, the long string of governesses that came before you did a poor job of it, and only encouraged her to behave badly in order to get the attention she wished for.”
At the end of that explanation, Victoria nodded once more, agreeing to everything that Miss Franklin had said. It seemed she truly was making a friend and she appreciated the maid’s perspective on all of these matters. She was relieved to hear that someone shared her thoughts and made her think that perhaps she was not such a fool for believing them.
“I am relieved that these are the things you have noted. I have been here only a day and have thought the same, but knew that perhaps my lack of time here was affecting my opinion,” she confessed.
“No, Miss Jamison. I think that because you are a rather wise woman, a kind one, it is easy for you to see the truth of the matter. I am not surprised in the least that it has taken you such a short time to observe the way things are here,” Miss Franklin remarked.
“Yes, well, I do hope that I shall be of some use in helping matters,” she replied.
“Indeed, you shall. Now, I had best get back to work and allow you to finish that letter you’re working on. I know it can get lonely here without family and writing is an important way to stay in touch with family, Miss Jamison,” she remarked, standing and grasping the duster in her hand.
Victoria smiled at her and said farewell before getting back to work at finishing her letter. She determined that she would have to tell her mother about Miss Franklin as well and the fact that she was making a friend. It would make her mother happy to hear that.
And it was already bringing Victoria the contentment that she needed if she was truly going to remain here. With the dinner the following night, she would need all the peace and contentment she could find.
Chapter 8
Dressing in her finest gown, Victoria still felt like a peasant. For years there had been no need at all for her to wear anything that might impress a person, but alas, here she was. It was a dinner that would be attended by the wealthy and the noblemen and women of society, and she had nothing at all to wear that might be deemed acceptable for such an affair.
She couldn’t help but wonder what sort of event this would be and if she would be accepted among the Earl’s crowd of friends. More than his friends, she wanted to be accepted by his betrothed.
There was really no reason for this desire and she knew it. Why should she care what the betrothed thought of her? She didn’t know this woman and they would have little interaction even after the marriage. Generally, stepmothers cared nothing about the education of their stepchildren.
Unless this woman was very different from what Marian described, Victoria thought she would be no different from most. And if she was the same, none of it really mattered and she ought to put her anxiety to rest.
But as she fixed her hair in place and glanced in the small mirror, she was reminded of the life she could have led if things had gone differently for her. Yes, everything should have turned out differently than it had, and there was nothing she was able to do to change that.
Victoria sighed and made her way down the stairs. She prepared herself for an evening of humiliation before it had even begun, simply assuming that due to her position, she would be treated with nothing more than this. It was the way of things.
A small crowd had gathered already and she entered into it, smiling at those she passed, many of whom gave her a glance for just a moment longer than necessary. She wondered if they were looking at her with the eyes that saw a servant or if they knew her past. Could they recognise her? Did they see the young woman who had been disgraced and who was now a governess?
Victoria tried not to think about it. She didn’t want to linger in the misfortune of those thoughts when she was there to serve her employer in whatever capacity it was that he was expecting that evening. She would be dutiful and genial.
Passing by Miss Franklin, who was restocking treys of pastries and sweets, she leaned in.
“Have you seen the Earl of Hanover? I’m to present myself to him first, is that correct?” she asked.
“Yes, Miss Jamison. I believe he is over by the drinks with some of his gentlemen friends, however. It might not be the best moment to interact. Wait until he departs from them,” she suggested.
Victoria nodded.
“Will Miss Marian be presented at all this evening?” Victoria wondered.
“Oh, no. Once she was and it was quite the disaster. She humiliated her father by throwing a tantrum and shouting about her hatred for Lady Ingles in front of the entire party. Since then, she has been relegated to her room, and the Earl will not allow her to leave it on these nights.
“Typically, he stations someone on her floor with drinks and treats for the party, and this person gives them to any guests who may be wandering past. But their primary duty is to ensure that Miss Marian does not leave her room,” she explained.
Victoria nodded. She had had another long, difficult day with the child and could imagine exactly why it was unwise to release her from her room when she was going to cause such trouble anyway.
“Well then, I suppose I ought to wait until the Earl is finished with his friends,” she conceded.
“You might go over to the sweets table. They are magnificent. The very best. And I guarantee you that it is the best place to stand at the whole party and you will be able to speak to the Earl at once when he is free,” Miss Franklin noted before walking away with the empty trays.
Victoria had no desire to stand and eat sweets until the Earl noticed her. She wouldn’t want to be the subject of even more gossip and scandal as that gluttonous governess which she could so easily be considered by doing such a thing.
The day was going to be rather difficult enough without having to deal with such things. She, instead, waited in the corner. But the house continued to fill up and the moment one gentleman left the group, another joined.
