Page 45 of The Duke and the Enigmatic Governess
“It’s something I need to do, Daniel,” replied Jude, unable to tell his friend how Lady Audrey Rowe haunted his thoughts, day and night. “I met her brother, when we were in town, and it would be difficult to imagine a more unpleasant fellow.”
“Very well. I’ll set those enquiries in motion, though for the life of me, I still don’t understand why.”
“Just humor me Daniel,” Jude said laughing. “You’ve always said that little I do makes any sense.”
***
The next morning, Jude worked at his desk in the library, while Daniel rode out to visit the adjoining property Jude planned to buy. He heard a knock on the door and called to enter, smiling when he saw his mother.
“Mama. How delightful to see you. I’m ready for a break. Can you ring for tea, and I’ll be with you in a moment?”
“Of course,” said his mother, “I have quite a lot to discuss with you.”
After instructing Rosie to bring them tea, his mother started to check the china ornaments on the sideboard. Jude walked over to join her.
“Your grandmother loved porcelain. I confess I have little interest in it, other than a set which looks good at the table when we entertain,” his mother said, then looking at him seriously continued. “Let’s talk.” She moved to sit on the chair near the fire, and pour a cup of fragrant china tea. “I’m glad there is news of Sasha’s family, even if Daniel hasn’t yet traced her grandmother. It will help her to know her family. Of course, I hope she will stay here. Nurse is delighted to have another charge in the nursery.”
“Sasha will stay here as my ward. The situation may change in France in future, but we’ve made sure she is well provided for. That poor woman, escaping from France, then falling ill just as she was about to begin a new life. So sad.”
“I’m glad to hear that my boy. I see Sasha as a grandchild and part of our family. Speaking of family, everything is in place for Elspeth’s ball. I’m going to need some rush torches near the entrance to the house, and on the terrace. Can you ask the ground staff to make those and set them up?”
“Of course. We all want Elspeth to have a wonderful evening.”
“That brings me to Lady Audrey,” continued his mother. “We need a replacement. Nurse tells me she is not fully recovered from the scarlet fever, and I must admit, Jude, that I had no idea that the poor girl had been so close to death.” Jude began to interrupt, but his mother put her hand up to silence him.
“No Jude, I always take Nurse’s counsel on these matters. Woe betide you if you do otherwise,” she said seriously, but with a twinkling smile in her eyes.
His mother looked at him with an intent expression. “I like Lady Audrey. She is a good addition to our lives. She is kind enough to stay as governess, though most obviously a lady of the ton. Nurse and Mrs. Driscoll both speak highly of her, and your sisters think she is lovely. The most important opinion, is of course, little Sasha and I know she will be sad when Lady Audrey leaves Clairville. In some ways I hope we don’t find a replacement, because then we get to keep her till the end of June.”
Stunned by his mother’s words Jude could merely nod in agreement, while he tried to make sense of it all. Somehow, hearing her called Lady Audrey, by his mother, made him wince inwardly at the way he had talked to her as a governess.
He had been so keen she continue in that role. How would he have felt if someone had urged him to continue in a job as agroomsman, or butler? There was much to reflect on, but his mother hadn’t finished.
“Finding a replacement won’t be easy, but I’ve contacted Miss Swann, who taught Jane and Grace, to enquire if she is free. That would be a perfect situation. If not, over the summer months, Alice and Mary will be here at Clairville much of the time with their governess in tow. I can place an advertisement in the Morning Post if necessary. But for now, I agree with Nurse that what the child needs is good wholesome fresh air and an atmosphere of love and affection.”
She paused, looking at Jude quizzically. “I half-wondered about asking Lady Audrey to stay on as a house guest, after June, as the girls get on so well with her. What do you think?” Jude gave her a hard stare which made her pause, “Jude? What is it?”
He looked at her, unsure what to say, if anything. Then suddenly, as if he were a small boy of eight, who had fallen from an apple tree, and needed a hug, the words tumbled out.
“Oh mother, it’s too late I’m afraid. I tried to get her to stay on longer as a governess and somehow said the wrong things. Miss Banks, Lady Audrey, is determined to leave as soon as possible. I made her feel guilty, with harsh, unfair words. I doubt she will ever speak to me again.”
‘Oh Jude, I’m sure that’s nonsense. I was about to add, though, that if you offer for Lady Caroline, then all matters of thehousehold including the governess, generally, will be dealt with by her. If you had a duchess, you could focus on your estate and let her manage the household.” Studying her son’s face, something made her stop and wait for him to speak. She reached across and patted his hand.
Finally, he spoke. “It won’t work Mama. I can’t marry Lady Caroline.” He looked directly at her with eyes which reminded her so much of his Papa “I don’t love her.” He laughed and held her hand in his, maintaining eye contact as he spoke. “I remember my Papa every day. I saw how you loved each other. Dammit, mother, you were inseparable. That was true love.”
His mother nodded, tears forming in her eyes.
“How can I, who witnessed such love in my parents, choose a wife whom I don’t love? Lady Caroline would, I agree, make a perfect Duchess of Clairville, but although I admire her, I feel no spark of love. It would be a society marriage of convenience. I can’t offer for her, every instinct tells me that would be wrong.”
“I know,” his mother said gently. “I just want you to be settled and happy.”
“Well, I think I have just driven away the one woman who might make me happy.”
His mother took a breath and gasped. “You don’t mean, surely not?”
“I’m afraid so Mama. These matters of the heart are rarely predictable. I love Lady Audrey Rowe. I only realized it recently, though I have felt an attraction, a pull towards her, since the moment when I set eyes on her.”
“Oh Jude,” whispered his mother.
