Page 75 of The Precious Secret of a Loving Governess
“Yes, my dear. I am home. And I am so sorry to wake you,” he apologised.
“It is the best dream you could have given me. I am glad that you woke me. I do not need sleep so much,” she insisted.
Reginald chuckled at that. But he had other things on his mind in that moment and arguing with his daughter about her stubbornness regarding sleep was not one of them.
“My dear, I need your help with something. It is very important and I think that it shall bring us both a great deal of happiness. How does that sound? Will you help me?” he asked.
Marian nodded with great enthusiasm and he was glad to see that she was looking forward to assisting him in his endeavour.
“Right, now come with me,” he laughed, scooping her into his arms and carrying her down the stairs, eliciting giggles.
As they began to descend, he whispered his plan and told her the parts in which he needed her to act or speak. She agreed to the whole of it and seemed eager to do so, just as he had expected.
Things seemed as though they would go well, smoothly even. He only hoped that his plan was a good one and that things would turn out as he had hoped.
Reginald set Marian down at the bottom of the stairs and took her hand, leading her into the room where Miss Jamison was still seated, looking anxious and uncertain.
“Marian,” she said, surprised that the Earl had shown up with his daughter.
“Yes, Miss Jamison. It is me. Even here in the middle of the night. Papa allowed me to wake up and I am ever so glad. I do like the night,” she said, her eyes wild with excitement that she got to be awake now of all times.
Reginald tried to restrain his laughter at his daughter’s interests. He needed her now more than ever and was looking forward to the role they would each play in this.
“Now, Miss Jamison, would you listen to us as we each ask you a question?” he proceeded.
“Certainly,” she replied.
“Excellent. Then I must preface by telling you that you ought to know by now why I did all of these things. But if you should continue to refuse to accept the way that I feel, I do hope that this settles the matter for you,” he said.
Miss Jamison eyed him warily, waiting for the questions to come.
“Miss Victoria Jamison, I ask that you would join our family. I should like nothing more in all this world than for you to be my wife. And having said that, I have to ask you formally, will you be my wife?” Reginald asked, down on his knees again.
A look of bewildered joy draped over her face, but his plan had not yet concluded. Marian had been instructed to speak before Miss Jamison had a chance to and she played her part well.
“And I have a second question to ask of you. I should love for you to join our family and be here. Always and forever. Will you be my stepmother?” Marian asked.
Elation washed over Miss Jamison’s face and she threw herself from the sofa and into the arms of both father and daughter.
Reginald held her tightly and felt his daughter’s arm wrap around the both of them. They were already becoming one small unit, a true family.
But she had not yet given a verbal answer.
“You have not replied,” he laughed, pulling back just far enough to look into Miss Jamison’s eyes.
“Yes, yes, and yes. I shall be a part of your family. I shall be your wife. I shall be your stepmother,” she replied accordingly.
And with that, the tears of joy began to flow all over again and the family grew closer than they ever anticipated it might come to be.
Chapter 35
A month had passed in which Victoria had continued her work as Marian’s governess while planning for the wedding. The Earl had argued that it seemed strange to continue as her employer while the two were engaged.
But Victoria insisted that she continue in her work as it was otherwise improper for her to remain in the housing which he had provided. Not only that, but she had so enjoyed teaching Marian that she was sad for it to come to an end.
Nevertheless, the Earl hired a new governess for Victoria to train in the final week before the wedding. Miss Ridge was a wonderful young woman and, as this was her first appointment, she was easy to train with good habits that Marian would respond to.
And now the day had come that her mother and father were due to arrive on.
