Page 67 of The Precious Secret of a Loving Governess
“Indeed, my lord,” she replied.
“And you will stay? Until my return?” he asked.
Victoria paused and inhaled. “Yes, I shall remain until your return,” she promised.
The Earl reached for her hand and wrapped his own around it, giving a gentle squeeze.
“I have much I should dearly love to say to you, Miss Jamison. But for now, I cannot. For now, I have a matter which must be attended to. But when I return, we shall speak. And I ask that, in the meantime, you dry your tears,” he said, turning to face her.
The hand let go of hers and lifted to her cheek. With a tender brush of his fingertips, he wiped away a loose droplet that rested upon her jaw.
Victoria was captivated by his eyes, but he tore away from the mutual gaze as if steeling himself.
“Three days…” he whispered, standing from the bench.
She watched him leave, growing smaller until he turned the corner and was gone from her sight. Nothing was left but the falling darkness of night.
Chapter 31
Morning dawned and Victoria awoke for the day. It would not be an easy one, but very few easy days had passed in recent times.
The letter from the Earl taunted her from the desk and Victoria found her way over to it again and read the words once more. What sort of man did she make him to be? When would he allow that man to care for her? Would he ever? And what was the meaning of those brief moments they had together the previous evening?
When would that man give himself in marriage to Lady Ingles? That was the better question to ask. It was the one which be answered soon enough. It was the one which would come to pass within weeks, most likely.
She read through it again, taking in the words.
What I have to ask you, what I have to beg you for, is that you shall not leave before my arrival.
I am going to make everything right.
Yes, he had asked her to remain and that was difficult enough. But remaining until he came to prove himself the wonderful man that she already knew him to be? Could she bear to see any more of that man that she cared for so deeply? Why did she have to be faced with him when she already knew that he was good and kind and true?
Victoria set the letter down.
She would soon depart down the stairs to continue her studies with Marion. But although the sun was shining and the air was fresh coming through the window, Victoria remained downcast.
Still hurting, still confused, her heart yearned for the Earl. He had said he would return in three days’ time. But until then, what was she to do? How was she to push onwards?
She thought for a moment about her mother and father and the life that they were currently living. It was a life that had required so much forgiveness on her mother’s part and so much humility from her father. Did not everyone have to face the challenges of relationships?
And yet here there was nothing to overcome. There was only what she had to accept. And that was the very fact of Lady Ingles being engaged to the Earl. So she would accept that and move onwards.
Victoria dressed and made her way down the stairs in order to meet with Marian and work through the studies for the day.
Yet when she approached the child, it was evident that something had taken place. Something had occurred and Victoria believed that she knew exactly what it was. She could see it in Marian’s eyes.
There was little doubt in her mind that Marian knew of her departure.
“Alright, we must be getting on with today’s lesson,” she began, not allowing Marian to have the first word of the day when she felt quite certain that it would be contentious.
“I have nothing more to learn from you,” Marian pouted, tears in her eyes and her lip quivering.
Victoria’s heart ached to see the sadness in her charge. She wished with all her heart that she could make it right, but there was nothing to be done now. She had already taken things far enough that she would be gone in a matter of days, or however long it might take to find a replacement.
“Marian,” she said softly, sighing the name with apology.
“No, you should just go. If you are going to leave me anyway then there is nothing you can say to make it better,” she whimpered.
