Page 39 of The Earl's Disguised Governess
“As you said, Lady Katherine, you do not know what you have read, so why should there be any persuasion necessary?”
Her backchat was a mistake, and Claire bit her tongue too late as anger flooded Lady Katherine’s features. Her mouth twisted, and her eyes turned hard and cruel as she walked closer.
“Listen to me, Miss Gundry,” she hissed. “I am playing a very fortunate game for my son, and he does not seem to realize the good that I am doing for him. Seeing as you and Lord Bannerdown are ever so close, you shall assist me. In return, I shall assist you by keeping your secrets and not sending you out onto the streets. Heaven forbid, I should have already done that. But I shall not, for you can prove your use.”
“I shall prove it with Lady Florence’s tutoring.” Claire nodded eagerly, feigning innocence about what exactly the bribe was.
“I am not talking about that foolhardy, insolent child,” she snapped. “You are close to Lord Bannerdown. I have seen you together, and while it displeases me to see such wrongness, especially with a lady of your standing—” She paused, waiting for Claire to correct her that she had once been a lady of the ton, similar to Lady Katherine herself, but Claire remained stubborn in her resolution. “—I can make use of this connection. You will convince his lordship that Lady Samantha is an excellent match for him. You will convince him that he should honour his late friend and marry Lady Samantha.”
Claire inhaled deeply, her chest aching as she considered the threat. Her heart pounded as her thoughts began to go into a tailspin of panic.
“Or I shall reveal your secrets to both Lord Bannerdown and the rest of the Ton, Lady Claire Garner.”
A sinking feeling dropped in Claire’s stomach, and she gasped. The room faded around her, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Lady Claire Garner. All she could see was the woman’s cruel smile, knowing she had won.
Before Claire could answer, Lady Katherine flicked her hand at her. “You are dismissed.”
Chapter 13
The days passed, work at the hospital was mounting, and Ernest found himself struggling to keep on top of everything.
He worked late hours, barely spoke with his fellow medics, and had completely neglected to finish his review of Graham’s plans for the Archibald Wing. There was some tension between Lady Florence and Miss Gundry—with neither of them explaining what had happened—and his mother’s anger and control and then Lady Samantha’s visit. On top of that, Miss Gundry had kept her distance from him ever since he had enquired about advice with Lady Samantha. Ernest felt pulled from all angles and as though he was doing wrong with all those angles.
He groaned, standing up from his desk in his office at the hospital and putting on his coat.
Outside, night had fallen, a black, inky sky framing the white snowy ground. He treaded carefully, fighting fatigue and the needs of his own body. When had he last had a bite to eat? He’d had surgery scheduled to be performed early that morning and had been gone before breakfast, and he did not recall lunch or dinner.
I need to prepare myself properly, he thought, hurrying to his carriage. The thought of returning to Little Harkwell afteran exhausting day was both a relieving comfort and dreadful. Lately, it felt as though his mother was waiting around every corner. He could not add her meddling and arguments to his plate as well.
Thumping his head against the carriage window, Ernest watched thoughtlessly out at the late winter night, letting his mind go blank.
Back in the house, he ventured immediately to his study.
I shall just file these papers away and then retire, he told himself, sitting down in his chair at his desk, opening the top drawers to find the order the papers needed to go in. But as soon as he sat down, he felt his body sagging, and he sighed in relief.
His eyes drooped closed, unable to fight the allure of sleep, and before he knew it, he was slumped over his desk, asleep.
Ernest was awoken sometime later—as soon as his eyes flew open, he noticed the clock read just after midnight—and candlelight burned his tired eyes. He groaned, sitting up, looking for the gentle touch of hands on his shoulders.
Miss Gundry stood over his desk, holding a candle that trembled in her grip.
“Lord Bannerdown,” she said, her voice hushed but panicked. “I am sorry to wake you but there is a problem.”
He drew himself up at once, partially embarrassed at being caught falling asleep at his desk. “What is the matter?”
Why have you been ignoring me?
Her eyes were wide as she fumbled for words. Her hair, plaited down her back, was loosened and wild, as if she had been sleeping as well but woke frantically.
“It is Lady Florence,” she whispered, her voice rising. “She has snuck out, Lord Bannerdown.”
“What?” he called, but Miss Gundry waved her free hand, panicked. Ernest’s heart pounded, and he swore he could taste his own pulse. It was dark outside! What was his cousin thinking? “Has she done anything of this sort before?” He should have known that, but big houses could keep big secrets.
Miss Gundry shook her head. “Never, My Lord.”
“Then we must find her at once. I shall call—”
“Please!” she called, an immediate cry to stop him. “Do not alert the staff. For Lady Florence’s sake. I know that she willhave her reasons, but I do not wish to alarm the others. I only want to bring her home safely, which is why I have come straight to you. I recalled a book that I wanted her to read at breakfast with me, for we have needed to double our tutoring efforts—”
