Page 12 of The Duke and the Enigmatic Governess
“That’s what she remembers, and she loves to dance and see the fine ladies.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking. “The turmoil in that country has been catastrophic and even if the main months of terror appear to have ended, there is still instability and danger with regular outbreaks of violence,” he finally said.
“Let us be hopeful there is a trail to lead to her family,” replied Audrey. “There is precious little in her mother’s possessions to guide us, other than a slim volume of poetry, in English, which I suspect may have been written by the child’s mother.”
Aware of Mrs. Driscoll returning behind her, Audrey knew there could be no return to that moment of physical and emotional closeness between them.
“Miss Banks has agreed to stay,” she heard the duke telling Mrs. Driscoll, who sounded delighted at the news.
“Little Sasha needs her,” Mrs. Driscoll agreed.
As the physical sensations settled, Audrey felt a blaze of joy that she could stay here at Cambourne Place a little longer. She had found what almost felt like a friendship with the duke, and Mrs. Driscoll. She breathed a sigh of relief that she would remain close to Sasha and His Grace, and while there, she could continue to hide her identity.
Though why I am thinking these thoughts, I can’t imagine,she admonished herself.You have no business enjoying his company.
Yet she knew that if her brother had told her she was to marry The Duke of Clairville, she would have considered it carefully!
“Speaking of disappearing relatives, it occurred to me that you might need to inform family and friends of your whereabouts?” Audrey realized the duke was speaking to her.
Mrs. Driscoll picked up the thread. “I was wondering the same thing. Events moved so quickly you will not have had chance…”
“Please, that is very kind of you to think of it, but I will write to my family and explain.” Audrey reassured them.
She’d paid her cousin Rupert handsomely for his help in her escape and his discretion about her whereabouts.
I don’t think he will keep my secret very long. He might mean well, but the pull of the gambling table is strong,Audreythought to herself.But Rupert doesn’t know where I am, so perhaps I may be safe.
Chapter 3
The household had settled into a pattern which was not too different from that which was usual with guests, except for the focus on Sasha.
Sasha had her nursery upstairs, with Miss Banks and Nurse Walters taking turns to care for the child. Rosie was proving an excellent nursery maid and Nurse Walters was openly saying she wanted to offer her a position working with her at Clairville Hall.
Jude continued to conduct business from his library on the ground floor and had often taken to sleeping on one of the sofas there.
One sadness was the interment of Sasha’s mother with only his attorney, Daniel Young, in attendance as the duke’s representative. Jude vowed that one day the gravestone would have the poor woman’s name engraved upon it, until then it would say “an unknown lady, beloved mother of Sasha.”
He had found he could ride each morning, and this had made a difference to his spirits. He could keep away from others,and Barton and Jake were both able to accompany him if they wished.
He wrote to his mother every day and received at least one letter back. He smiled, thinking of a groom riding continually between Clairville Hall and his townhouse in Cambourne Place.
He was aware that the only reason his mother, the Dowager Duchess of Clairville, had not descended on them, was the need to keep his younger sisters safe. She had sent Nurse Walters at his request, and he thanked her for her confidence in the capable skills of their old retainer.
His mother was sensible enough to know that Nurse Walters could take the pressure off her, despite his mother’s larger-than-life personality and desire to be in charge. At the moment, Miss Banks was playing with the little girl while Nurse Walters was going through an audit of his shirts, sitting with Rosie and a pile of them, white linen, and thread. Mrs. Driscoll was keeping them happy, supplying them with everything they needed, and he was giving them a wide berth.
Jude had told his mother about the little girl’s progress, and the advice of the doctor. It was still a surprise when later that morning there was the welcome sound of barking and he recognized Tess, his spaniel. What surprised him even more was the sound of raised voices.
It sounded as though there was an altercation between Barton, Mrs. Driscoll, and Nurse Walters. Reluctant to get involved, but knowing it was necessary, he rose and walked slowly to the door, hoping the matter, whatever it was, would be resolved by the time he reached the hallway.
As he approached, he noticed Miss Banks approaching with Sasha from the other direction. He noticed the elegant way she carried herself and how, when she spoke to Sasha, she bent down to talk at the same level as the little girl.
He was aware he had been going out of his way to avoid Miss Banks, ever since the episode when she had agreed to stay on and take care of Sasha. However, he could not help but notice her, and was always drawn to watch her, whenever she passed close to his library window, or during the close confinements of shared meals.
Jude had flashbacks to the emotional and physical reaction of his mind and body when he had held her hand after dinner. If nothing else, the extreme sensations had reinforced that maybe he did need to marry, and at least once that happened, his mother might leave him alone.
Jude still couldn’t work out what had come over him to be so familiar with Miss Banks, but he blamed it on the informality instilled in him by the way Father had raised all the children.
In her latest letter, his mother informed him that she had “found the perfect match” for him. He had already replied, asking her to stand back and stop meddling, but smiled wryly as he knew nothing would stop her trying to secure him a match. Until now, he had not been interested in that life, but perhaps now, as he caught sight of a smiling face with dimpled cheeks and bright eyes, he wondered if he might be able to adjust to a bride and family life in due course.
