Page 76 of The Precious Secret of a Loving Governess
Victoria waited in the window until she saw their carriage arrive. It was the most exciting thing she could have anticipated and was thrilled to run down to the entrance to greet them.
Throwing her arms around her mother, tears filled Victoria’s eyes. Mrs. Jamison squeezed her in reply and they held one another for a long time before letting go.
Her father held back for a moment, as if waiting to read his daughter and see how she might feel about an interaction. But without hesitation, Victoria moved towards him and greeted him with a hug as well, a sign that he was welcomed at the estate.
“My sweet Victoria,” he whispered. At this, the tears in her eyes spilled over and Victoria made no effort to conceal them.
But within a short time, the three were seated in the parlour and Miss Franklin brought tea for the family. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison immediately began sharing details of their life of late and asking Victoria about her own.
“To think that you are getting married in a few short days is such a wonder!” her mother exclaimed.
“One which I hardly anticipated,” she laughed in reply. “But he is such a good man. The Earl shall be here any moment to meet you both and you shall know him for the great man that he is,” she promised.
Indeed, it was only a short time before the Earl of Hanover and Marian came to meet with Mr. and Mrs. Jamison.
“Is this the man my daughter is marrying? And is this the lovely Miss Marian?” Mr. Jamison asked in a jolly humour, his face lit up with excitement for his daughter.
“It is wonderful to meet you both,” the Earl exclaimed, giving a familiar smile and handshake rather than the formal sort of greeting that might have been expected.
“Oh, my lord, we are the ones who are delighted!” Mrs. Jamison replied.
There was such a joy in the room that none of them could quite express through words, yet the conversation moved forward without a pause or consideration.
Marian and Mrs. Jamison found themselves playing a game and Victoria could not help but indulge in watching them together.
Conversation abounded between the Earl and Victoria’s father and she listened in on much of it, curious what they might speak about. Much of it was related to billiards and hunting, the sort of sports that men of means enjoyed.
She wondered if her father missed those days of indulging in such activities, but the Earl promised to take him on a hunt the following day and challenged him to a match in the billiards room.
Before long, the two men departed in order to fulfill that challenge, leaving Victoria and her mother to catch up while entertaining Marian.
It was difficult to discuss everything they wished with the child around, but Victoria knew they would have more time together later.
Around lunch, they all convened in the dining room and ate their meal with the company of one another.
“Well, you know we are currently living with my wife’s very generous sister, but I think that we shall find a place of our own soon enough,” Victoria heard her father say.
“That is wonderful, Papa,” she commented in agreement with the Earl.
“Yes, I am looking forward to the day upon which we can give her all her space back. I must admit that I never imagined I would enjoy the sort of labour that I am doing now, but it is not so bad,” he added.
“And he is very good at it. Already, he has seen a promotion from his managers. Can you believe it? What an excellent man he is,” her mother declared.
Victoria was glad to hear and see this exchange and to know that so much forgiveness had taken place on her mother’s part. But a small part of her still twisted and ached for an explanation from her father.
She expected that it would come soon enough, but it did not change the fact that she struggled to wonder if her mother was being naive for giving in so easily to a reunion with him. Was she being wise in recommitting herself to a man who had been unfaithful? Would his hard work stick?
And if he gained back his wealth, would everything return to what it had been just a few years before when he chose vices over his family?
Later that evening, Victoria and her father decided to take a walk alone together. It was time for them to discuss the matters of the past and put them to rest.
They found themselves among the flowers of the garden just as the sun was beginning its descent. They still had a fair amount of daylight left, but knew that the colours in the sky were soon to turn vibrant pinks and oranges, making it all the more worthwhile to be outside.
For a while they remained quiet. There was no tension in their steps; merely a thousand words that had not yet been said between them that they both knew had to come sooner rather than later.
Victoria wondered if she ought to begin the conversation, but it felt strange to initiate when she knew well that this conversation was one in which her father would have to lead the discussion and was going to be giving a great apology that she had been waiting for for quite some time.
And when they stopped at the bench in the garden to have a seat, the words finally started to come.
