Page 13 of The Earl's Disguised Governess
So, the rumours are true, she thought, as she held out her hand.
“I have not visited Little Harkwell for a while, but I do believe I saw you in passing during your first few days there.”
“Ah, your memory is vast, then,” she said.
“Either that or I do not see enough people to easily remember faces. I work in Bellott’s Hospital. I’m the chairman there.”
“Very impressive,” she answered, nodding. “I—Well, you know my occupation, of course. I am Lady Florence’s governess.”
“I have heard it is quite the job.”
“It can have its challenges.”
“Have you done it before?” Graham asked.
Claire shook her head. “I … I have not. But Lady Florence is a bright young girl. She causes nobody any problems whatsoever and is a very keen learner. I saw the acquisition advertisement in a news sheet. I was hired by the housekeeper the very next day.”
“You must have impressed them,” Graham noted, folding his arms over his chest, nodding at her. “Mrs Sanford is not one to be easily pleased.”
Claire found herself smiling brightly. “That is true, but I heard rumours that she was awfully fond of the French language, which I happen to speak exceedingly well. I greeted her in French and had her rather impressed.”
“That shall do it,” he said with a laugh.
“Although, I cannot help that while the housekeeper is impressed, her employer—and mine, I suppose—remains a mystery. You say you worked alongside him as a medic?”
Graham’s expression flattened, and she couldn’t figure out why, but he spoke as brightly as ever if not even more than before. “Yes. Indeed. We met during our time in the service.”
“You must have saved countless lives,” Claire said, awed.
“I hope so,” he said. “I am not one to boast. I take pride in my work, which is why I agreed to step down as a physician and be the chairman. I wanted to continue making a difference in larger ways. There is a certain beauty in patching men up while others are wounding them. We all fight for the same side, of course, soldiers and medics, but are we not just patching up the gun wounds they are causing the other side? I do not know ifthat makes sense at all. You know, they are firing at us, and we patch up our men, hoping we do not lose them. But we are firing at them while their medics are hoping for the same. But war is war, I do suppose.”
“Yes.” She shifted, unsure of what to say. She did not really know this man or how to offer him comfort, but she felt deeply and respected every man who had fought in the king’s army. “Your service has—”
“Ah, I have been thanked many times for my service.” He winced but laughed it off.
“I was going to say your service has been hard, I am sure, but it is a joyous thing you have returned to those who care about you.” She gave him a small smile, and he looked at her strangely as if she was a puzzle to figure out.
“Indeed,” he said. “I must allow you to get on with your shopping and finding this Emma lady.”
Claire laughed softly. “And I hope you buy your friend’s biography. You can tell me all the things that have been missed, should you ever wish to talk about them. Grief can take its toll.” I would know, was what she didn’t add onto that. I have lost enough people in my life.
“Thank you, Miss Gundry. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
He tipped his head at her before she continued to browse, but she noticed how Graham Courtenay cast one last glance at Viscount Archibald White’s biography before ducking out of the bookshop.
Finally, she found Emma, still laughing at the man for thinking she was looking for a person.
***
“Your manners are utterly abhorrent, girl.”
Claire startled as she heard the shout echo down the hall. It came from the music room and sounded much like Lady Katherine. Claire was rather afraid of the woman—she reminded her of the stern mamas who were only interested in the richest, highest ranked husbands and pushed their daughters onto them, only ever interested in that, rather than what their daughters wanted.
She thought back to when Winnie and Daisy chatted in the cellar, to discussing the Barnes’ return to a high rank.
Claire hurried down the hall to the music room, where she found Lady Katherine pacing back and forth, and a hunched-over Lady Florence sat at her piano, sadly plunking away at a few of the lighter keys.
“Heavens, Florence! You are giving me a headache!” Lady Katherine shouted.
