Page 26 of The Duke and the Enigmatic Governess
And I am better,thought Audrey.I feel stronger every day. I’m so thankful that no one else fell ill.She smiled, thinking of the selfless action of those who had nursed her, and particularly Nurse Walters, who had chosen to join them through loyalty to The Duke of Clairville.
“I talk to Flossie with the words Mama used at home. I tell her ‘ici’to come and ‘s'asseoir’ to sit. Mrs. Driscoll is using the same words and Flossie sometimes understands. Flossie is very clever. I wasn’t allowed to bring her to see you today, but Nurse Walters says she can come next time.”
Audrey felt a warm glow of happiness at the sight of the small child confidently talking about the little spaniel, who was helping the healing process.
She watched Sasha exploring her room, marveling at the mural of trees, interspersed with gold paint. Mrs. Driscoll jumped up, startled, as Sasha announced it would be a good idea to paint a fairy in the forest.
Audrey stepped in, suggesting they paint a grand picture of fairies and trees to put on the wall in the nursery bedroom. Sasha, excited by the idea, began planning how it would look. A relieved Mrs. Driscoll looked at Audrey and whispered her thanks.
Nurse Walters bustled in, reminding Sasha she must not make Miss Banks too tired. Nurse Walters then told Sasha that she knew that Cook was waiting to make butterfly cakes with her. Sure enough, this distracted Sasha, and she hugged Audrey, saying she would return soon before tugging at Mrs. Driscoll’s arm as they made their way to the kitchen.
Nurse Walters plumped the pillow and gave Audrey some lemonade to drink. “You’ve got to keep your strength up, miss. Cook will send up a bowl of chicken broth soon. You do look better though; I think seeing that little girl has done you good.”
“Indeed, Nurse, Sasha has proved to be a delight. She enjoys every moment of life. I can’t help but smile when I am with her.”
“She is going to love the Clairville estate. I noticed she talked of fairies and forests and there is a path through the forest there which takes you past a lake. His Grace’s father had a trail of little, tiny houses, some in the trees and some in the glade built for his children. Little Sasha will have such fun exploring that woodland walk.”
“That sounds wonderful,” said Audrey. “I believe we can travel to Clairville as soon as I am strong enough.” She hesitated before continuing. “How long ago did His Grace’s father die?”
Nurse Walters took the lemonade glass from Audrey’s hands. “It’s fourteen years since His Grace lost his father. That was a sad day—his father was so young, and a more loving and involved father I’ve never known. His own father, Jude’s grandfather, had been rather austere and distant, and he made the decision to be different. He made a love match to Jude’s mother, and they were devoted to each other.”
“His Grace told me he has six sisters and no brothers,” said Audrey.
“Oh my goodness, he does indeed. Two are older than him, and three are younger. The two youngest are twins.” Nurse Walters looked wistful as she remembered the arrival of the twins. “I saw her ladyship through that confinement. I still remember all the faces when I came out to tell them that the duchess was safely delivered of twins, two baby girls. That was fifteen years ago now.”
“They must have been tiny children when their father died,” said Audrey.
“Only a year old—mere babes.”
“Was he ill? Something like I’ve had?”
“No, miss, it was a carriage accident. He was returning home late one night and one of the horses pulling the curricle was startled and bolted, throwing the duke from the carriage. He was gone, leaving her ladyship mourning his loss and Master Jude becoming duke at such a young age.”
“That’s so sad. They sound to have been very much in love.”
“Ah, they were that. They were inseparable, and created a home filled with laughter and love, and her ladyship has continued that philosophy. We all remember the old duke with such affection.” Nurse Walters smiled. “He decorated this house with her ladyship. They wanted a wall painting, a mural in every room, and I think he painted some of that forest scene himself.”
“It’s beautiful. Every time I look at it, I see something different,” said Audrey, gazing at the mural and noticing again how it sparkled in the sunshine.
Audrey’s heart went out to the children, and their mother, living with their sadness. She thought of His Grace, a duke at fourteen, mourning his father and trying to be the man of the house.
The closeness between them was new but growing in strength. When The duke was with her, reading aloud from the wonderful new novel he had found, it made her cry. At times she became angry with the characters, and at others she laughed at their antics. Sometimes when they laughed together, their eyes met and, within the close comfort of his presence, she felt a tiny flame of passion.
The previous evening, Audrey had tried to thank him for his kindness to her, and to little Sasha. He’d responded protesting that he would do the same for anyone, and it was nothing out of the ordinary.
Yet she was sure, from her memory of the urgency in his voice while she had the fever, that he cared about her at some level. When his eyes met hers, she felt warmth, and the knowledge she was wanted, even though no words were spoken. While ill, she had occasionally turned her head on the pillow and caught him gazing at her so intently that tiny sparks of promised passion coursed had through her body.
Even if she was right and there was something more than a level of attraction between them, there was no future for them. How could she trust any man after the way her brother had behaved? Yet, even as she thought this, she knew there was something pathologically wrong with her brother’s personality. He had always enjoyed cruelty, taunting her by hurting the kitchen cat, or pulling the wings off butterflies and laughing.
The reality was that none of that mattered. She was not Miss Letitia Banks, she was Lady Audrey Rowe, living under false pretenses as an impoverished governess.
If he knew her secret, how would he react? She had lived in his home, in close confinement, under a false identity. She would no doubt be thrown out onto the streets. Even knowing that she faced the danger of discovery, she was prepared to take the risk, craving that closeness which grew stronger every time he visited the sickroom.
***
The next day, Audrey woke, noticing the spring sunshine brightening the room and catching the gold paint on the forest mural. She felt well, and thought perhaps she might get dressed and go into the garden. How she longed to be outdoors again and feel the warmth of the sunshine on her face.
For the first time in days, she eased herself out of bed, pulled on her robe, and made her way to the window. She was frustrated at how weak her legs were, and it took a long time to cross the room.
