Page 78 of The Precious Secret of a Loving Governess
“Thank you, Father. He is a wonderful man. And he has always treated me very well, even before either of us knew what was to come of our mutual feelings,” she told him.
“I can see that. And when I watch you marry him, when I see the two of you together as husband and wife, I think there shall be no greater joy in all my life than beholding that moment. You deserve it. With everything you have been through and how hard you have worked, you deserve this happiness,” he told her.
Victoria leaned against her father and he wrapped an arm around her. It felt so wonderful to have him be proud of her and it was good to finally be able to be proud of him once more.
With everything that had come as a result of his failures, she knew that one great thing remained. And that was the fact that she was able to marry the Earl for no other reason than having come across him in her time of desperate need for employment.
Had her father not made such terrible mistakes, she would never have known the love she now had. And that made everything worth it.
“Thank you, Father, for making the right decisions,” she said. “And thank you for having made the wrong ones. It was those wrong ones that brought me here. And it is the right ones that shall take us all forward.”
Chapter 36
Reginald was ecstatic. The whole day had been a wonder to him. He had never imagined that Mr. and Mrs. Jamison would be such lovely people. Not only had they been kind and devoted towards their daughter, but they had been loving towards him and Marian.
It was a wonder to him as Reginald had been curious to see the sort of father that Miss Jamison had had. Society had spoken of the gambling addict and adulterer but Miss Jamison had explained that was only one side to him. A side he had left behind.
It was also ironic to Reginald that society spoke so poorly of him when many members of nobility led similar lives and were also frequently misbehaving and indulging in pleasures that ought not to have been touched.
Still, he found it strange to come face to face with a man about whom he had heard so much ill, only to find that he was a wonderful person indeed.
“I had no idea what wonderful parents you had,” he had whispered to Miss Jamison earlier in the day.
She tried to refrain from laughing at him but had failed.
“Did you not believe me when I told you? If you recall, I informed you that they were both splendid, despite the problems which we have faced in the past and the rumours which still abound,” she replied.
“Yes, but you are intending to marry an Earl. We can make a concerted effort to get those rumours put out of the way. Your father is a good man. I have enjoyed hearing from him and seeing how he treats your mother with such dignity and respect. A man cannot be judged by his past,” Reginald declared.
“If only…” Miss Jamison said in a morose voice.
It was true that society always judged people by their pasts. But it did not mean that Reginald could not make an effort to reinstate the man into a good position by speaking highly of him. He could easily share about the strides he had been making to benefit his family and get them into a better place than the position they were now in.
Reginald determined to do so. He would not sit idly by while his wife was covered in scandal by a past which no longer mattered. No, he would make every effort.
Not only that, but he had a grand plan to prove to his in-laws that he cared for them and wished to see their lives bettered.
Miss Jamison had already spent a great deal of time with her mother and father. But now it was his turn. He had watched as her mother had played with his daughter. He had watched from the window as his betrothed hugged her father and gave him forgiveness. And now it was his opportunity to enjoy their company.
An idea had been swimming around his thoughts for quite some time. Knowing their situation, and despite the fact that it was one which Mr. Jamison had gotten them into, he stood by it.
The estate had plenty of room. But Reginald had lived a wealthy life. One that had come with many privileges. With that came the pleasure of having more than one home.
Although he enjoyed traveling between his residences now and then, he had no need for all of them to remain empty at all times in preparation for his visits.
It had seemed only proper that he should give a gift to his wife’s mother and father in light of their wedding.
In the previous weeks, he had hired a great deal of maids and staff to ensure that the home was fully prepared. It was one of his smaller estates, but it still remained beautiful.
He had furnished it with the most fashionable that society had to offer. It would have delighted almost anyone.
After all, such a gift ought to bring them happiness and prosperity. Or so he hoped. He wished only that they understood that it was a gift and not mere charity.
“Mr. Jamison, Mrs. Jamison, I wish to have a word with you both,” he announced as dinner came to a conclusion.
The two looked at him expectantly, waiting for whatever it was that he wished to say, but instead, Reginald stood and gestured for them all to exit the dining hall.
“We shall make our way outside, if you will,” he announced.
