Page 37 of The Earl's Disguised Governess
“He played with my emotions, Lady Florence,” she said gently. Lord Tuberville was quite skilled at the games, she thought. Only to leave me behind completely the moment … the moment that …
Her chest ached, and her lip trembled. She cut off her own thoughts of her father and his actions that had pushed her into the life of a governess, forced to hide.
“I know you do not wish to listen to me,” Claire said, taking her young charge’s hand. “And I know you think that the man you correspond with is your moon and stars, lighting up your dark nights, but I wish to warn you. More often than not, young men in society will play with young women. They very often receive no consequences for frivolous, careless actions, and not every man has honour as they should. They can ruin a lady with no thought for the woman’s future. They can dally and play as they please and hush away their shadowed secrets. We are not so fortunate.” She gave a small smile. “They can use young women like yourself for their own satisfaction. They can play with hearts and leave you wanting more because they can. And they know that we wait for them.”
“That is your belief, Miss Gundry.” Lady Florence’s voice was softer than the snarky version it had been, but it was still stubbornly toned. “And your experience. Lord Victor is very different. He loves me, Miss Gundry, and would not wish to hurt me.”
I thought the same years ago, Claire thought mournfully.
“All I ask is that you think of it and you do as you wish, but keep my warning in mind,” Claire told her, squeezing her hand. “I do not wish to see you hurt.”
Lady Florence’s eyes held that faraway sparkle as she sighed dreamily. “Lord Victor and I are like Romeo and Juliet.” She faced Claire. “I yearn for him as Juliet yearns. I wait for his letters as Juliet awaited on her balcony, night after night, calling for her Romeo. And every night, I believe that he shall return to me, and we shall make our future together.”
Claire withered beneath the proclamation. “Lady Florence, I shall remind you that the play ends in tragedy. They both die at the end.”
“And it is romantic, is it not?” Lady Florence sighed, giggling. She clasped her hands to her chest, standing up. “We shall have the greatest love of the season! You shall see, Miss Gundry.”
***
Claire hoped that she and Lady Florence came to a tentative agreement following their visit to the baths, but she knew it was mostly her hope that wanted it. Lady Florence would have her own daydream that she perhaps needed.
Claire didn’t want to be so cynical, but Florence had been through enough without adding heartbreak to the mix of her grief. But it was because of her grief that Lady Florence likely needed the light that this man provided in his letters. In a world that had made Lady Florence lonely and orphaned, forced onlyto call her governess and distant cousin her only companions, the letters would have made her feel wanted and bright again.
And Claire could only hope the man who wrote to her did not prey on that.
A footman entered the music room where Lady Florence had agreed to keep practicing the pianoforte if only to play a tune from the play of Romeo and Juliet, as Lord Bannerdown had procured the sheet music for her to try out.
“Excuse me, Miss Gundry, but Lady Katherine is calling upon you,” he said. Claire’s chest immediately tightened. She forced herself not to look at Lady Florence, not to question if she had said anything. Had she understood more about the full story than Claire let on? Had she somehow uncovered her secret?
Claire’s heart thudded when she thought of her rifled-through desk and her belongings in disarray.
Surely that had not been Lady Florence, Claire told herself. She would not do such a thing. But she had been so hurt over Claire doing that very same thing to her. With one last glance at her young charge, who seemed confused herself, Claire left the music room and followed the footman to Lady Katherine’s bedroom.
Little Harkwell’s bright décor helped calm her as she walked up staircases and down hallways until the moment sheheard the woman’s voice. It drifted from the open doorway up ahead, and Claire’s heart rose when she heard Winnie’s voice as well.
“Yes, Lady Katherine,” Winnie answered to something Claire had not heard.
“And make sure—”
She was interrupted by the knock of the footman to announce Claire’s arrival. Claire watched as the older woman paused, flicking her gaze to the doorway with disinterest until she saw her standing there.
“Ah. Miss Gundry. You came much slower than I anticipated.”
Her heart thudded harder. “Apologies, My Lady. I came as soon as I was alerted.”
“Then next time, do not dawdle.”
Behind Lady Katherine, Winnie’s eyes rolled. Claire gave her a small smile before she lifted her chin.
“What can I do for you, Lady Katherine?”
“I wish for an update on Lady Florence’s progress. The dolt follows you around and attends silly plays, but I wish to know how she is truly doing. Can she hold a conversation in French yet? Is she proficient with an instrument to my satisfaction?”
It was not the questions Claire expected, so she branched but schooled herself properly. “I … Yes, Lady Katherine. Just today, Lady Florence has been playing a score from Romeo—”
“That is foolishness,” Lady Katherine interrupted sharply. “I want her playing scores that her future husband will not laugh at her for knowing by heart.”
“Lady Katherine?” she asked, confused. “I do not understand.”
