Page 23 of The Duke and the Enigmatic Governess
“You’ll take tea with us, Your Grace?” Mrs. Driscoll said, offering him a seat.
“I think Miss Sasha is glad to see you.” As Mrs. Driscoll said it, Sasha stood to curtsy and he gave a little formal bow back, smiling at the child’s knowledge of etiquette. Sasha soon returned to play with the set of spinning tops and his mind filled with the memories of that first night with Miss Banks, her eyes bright, determined to win a game of tops.
“Can you play spinning tops, sir?” Sasha asked him. “Mrs. Driscoll is not as good as Miss Banks, and I always win.”
“I can, indeed, play tops. As soon as I’ve spoken with Mrs. Driscoll, we shall have a game.”
The little girl clapped her hands, giggling excitedly.
“I wanted your advice,” he began tentatively. “It appears Miss Banks is out of danger, although she is still seriously ill.”
“I know, Your Grace. Sasha wishes to visit her, but the doctor has advised total quiet and rest,” agreed Mrs. Driscoll, putting her sewing to one side.
“The thought of her family not knowing her whereabouts concerns me,” said Jude. “I feel we ought to be trying to locate them. I plan to instruct Mr. Young to search for any relatives, but it occurs to me that there may be something in her possessions that could give us information on who we can contact.”
“We have known her for such a short time before she became ill that I have no clue about her family.” Mrs. Driscoll said. She hesitated before continuing. “If I may say, Your Grace, she seemed reluctant to talk about home. Some people talk about their family all the time, but I don’t think Miss Banks mentioned her family once in our conversations.”
“I feel it incumbent on me to take the decision to look through her room and see if there is any address for her family,” Jude informed her. “I do not take this decision lightly and would have preferred to ask her permission, but the Doctor is adamant she has no stress and much of the time she is still hardly conscious. I would be grateful if you would help me check her belongings.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Mrs. Driscoll replied. “I think that would be wise.”
However, before they could go and search through Miss Banks’ things, Jude kept his promise to play spinning tops with Sasha. He smiled as she clapped her hands in delight at the speed of the tops clattering across the floor.
After a number of games, some of which he allowed Sasha to win, Jude sent Sasha with Rosie to ask Cook for currant cake and milk. Then Jude and Mrs. Driscoll went to Miss Banks’ room and began to search through her possessions.
‘Let’s start with her portmanteau,” suggested Mrs. Driscoll. “I doubt she ever got around to unpacking it. I still feel uneasy about this, but you are right, Your Grace, there may be family who are worrying about her.”
“I know. If only she was awake and coherent long enough to tell us who to contact.”
Jude pulled out the portmanteau, noticing, as he did so, the high quality of the workmanship. Mrs. Driscoll opened it and cautiously looked inside.
“There is a letter here,” she took it out, looking at the envelope. “Now, let me see, it’s addressed to Lady Audrey Rowe.” She paused. “With your permission, Your Grace, I’m going to open the letter.”
Jude nodded his assent and Mrs. Driscoll took the letter out of its envelope. “Ah, it’s from a Mrs. Francine Weston, and there is an address,” she declared.
“Excellent,” Said Jude. “Is it a London address?”
“Indeed, Your Grace, and an address of quality.” She handed him the letter. “From the tone, I’d say they were close friends. However…” She paused. “The mystery of Lady Audrey Rowe remains. Could that be our Miss Banks?”
“It looks that way,” said Jude, looking puzzled. “But we mustn't jump to conclusions.”
“There are many young ladies of quality whose families fall on hard times and need them to seek employment as a governess or companion,” said Mrs. Driscoll. “It’s unusual for it to be a lady, though. I suggest we find Mrs. Weston and tell her about her friend.”
“I’ll get Mr. Young on to it immediately,” responded Jude.
“Why not just send a letter to Mrs. Weston? I doubt it needs the formality of Mr. Young being involved,” Mrs. Driscoll suggested, looking a little worried. “I just hope we are doing the right thing.”
“Now we have details of Mrs. Weston, it seems sensible to contact her. For all we know, Miss Banks' family may be very worried about her whereabouts. We could ask Miss Banks, but she is still very ill, and the doctor says we should do nothing to upset her. It seems unfair on her family not to let them know as soon as we can,” said Jude. “I feel equally uneasy, but it is the right thing to do.”
Jude still felt that sense of unease as he sat at his walnut writing desk to pen a letter to Mrs. Francine Weston. He swore as the ink splattered across the page, spoiling his first attempt, and he sharpened his pen and, taking another sheet of parchment, started again.
There it was done. He took the letter over to the stable and asked Jake to take it to the address in Knightsbridge.
***
Jude’s priority was for Sasha to be settled into a routine, to help her adjust to the changes she had experienced in such a short time. Now that quarantine had ended, the wider household could be involved in looking after little Sasha. Cook would help keep her occupied, with her endless offerings of cookies, cake, and fruit jellies. Rosie could continue with ideas for games and activities in the house and garden.
The next day, Jude suggested Rosie take Sasha for a walk tothe stables where Barton set up a little cart to take her for a ride around the mews near the house.
