Page 49 of The Earl's Disguised Governess
“If you would like to tell me.”
“I would possess the ability to do any task expected of me.”
“What do you mean?”
He sighed, gesturing to the painting. “Sometimes I wonder what sort of earl your father would have been and if I am doing a good enough job of it. Sometimes, I wonder if I am doing my uncle proud enough.” He nodded to the painting of the former earl further down the gallery.
But Lady Florence’s gaze was fixed on her parents in the painting. “Shakespeare was right,” she said. “Art is a mirror of nature. But is it nature that took my parents? That left me here with only one man to love me who has not even contacted me since you scared him off?”
He sighed, and she turned to him.
“Cousin, I have found the identity of your admirer,” he told her. Her eyes immediately hardened. “And through my findings, I know one thing for certain. Your tendresse cannot continue.”
“You are cruel—”
“Please simply listen to me,” he said. He would not tell Florence of Claire’s identity. No, that was for her to decide. “I met with Lord Victor’s brother today. Lord Simon. They are the sons of the Marquess of Tuberville, are they not?”
Lady Florence nodded timidly.
“Cl—Miss Gundry shared with me that Lord Victor attended Oxford but left before he found what he was looking for. Well, the truth is rather that he failed his classes because he was overindulging.”
“He told me he searched for great purpose and had not found it in Oxford.”
“He found many things while there, but a purpose was not one of them, I am afraid,” Ernest confirmed. “His own brother confirmed he has more than one woman in his affections, and he attempts to … impress you all for his own gain. He has no honour, Lady Florence, or he would have stayed that night in the garden and not run away. He would have contactedyou to apologize. He would have ensured you were safe despite my anger. He would have met with me properly and requested to court you. But men like him do not court in the proper ways. They do so in secret, Lady Florence. He is a man who shall play with your feelings and not honour them in the slightest.”
He knew his words rang true with his cousin when it was not anger that marred her features but sadness. He did not enjoy being the one to break such news to her, but he knew he must.
“I know you are right,” she whispered, “but I so very desperately do not want you to be. Victor is all I have.”
“That is not true, cousin.” He paused. “Just as it is not true that I hate you.”
“I am sorry I ever said that,” she murmured. “I was overwhelmed and upset.”
“I understand. But Florence, I want you to understand that when you debut, I shall watch over you and guide you through Society properly. I am your family, and I want to honour my duty to you but also because I care about you. I want to ensure no further misery befalls you. I want to ensure that your suitors remain good and honourable and will treat you as you deserve.”
“And I know Lady Katherine feels the same way,” Florence told him quietly. “She is just poor at showing it. Of allof us, it is clear to see how much she loves us. She has done good things for us.”
Ernest did not agree but kept his thoughts to himself. Was his own mother poisoning his cousin with her abuse and manipulation? He had risen above her words with great difficulty, and he could only hope she had not begun to prey on Lady Florence during the days he had worked late at the hospital.
Was that what Florence meant when she accused him that night in the garden of not caring about her?
Guilt pierced his heart.
“Cousin, I am wondering if some time away from Little Harkwell—and Bath in general—might do you some good; what do you think?”
“You want me to leave?”
“No!” he said quickly. “No, I don’t want you to do so, but I think some space from your grief and the city in general would be beneficial. You could recover from … this ordeal with Victor. And you and Miss Gundry can reconcile properly without any interference. How about going to London?”
And that way he could keep Claire safe from his mother’s abuse and ensure Florence did not compromise herself or betempted to find Lord Victor. It was the best solution to all their problems.
“Okay,” Lady Florence said after several minutes. “I think I agree with you. And I shall be on my best behaviour until my debut.”
He smiled and stood closer to her.
After a pause, Lady Florence said, “I think my father would have been proud. My grandfather, too. You are a good man, Lord Bannerdown. Thank you for still standing by me through my recent behaviour.”
“You are young,” he told her. “There is time to make mistakes so long as you learn from them and have others around to support you. That is me, and it is Miss Gundry. Do not forget that.”
