Page 1 of The Hidden Governess

Prologue

“Youwillwed him.”

Lady Albina Waterford lifted her chin and looked directly into her father’s eyes.

“I shall not.”

Her father’s eyes narrowed.

“I will not tolerate such behavior, Albina. I have already spoken to you about Lord Kingston and explained to you the particulars as best I could.”

Shaking her head firmly, Albina kept her gaze fixed on her father.

“What you have said, father, is that the gentleman I am engaged to was found in the most deplorable of situations and that I, somehow, am meant to ignore such a thing and continue on with our marriage!”

Her father threw up his hands.

“Why should you not? Thetondoes not know of it yet so there can be no scandal.” Albina closed her eyes, wondering why her father could not see the difficulty in this particular situation. To encourage your daughter into wedlock was one thing, but to push her towards a gentleman who had been discovered in a less than honorable situation was quite another. That did not speak well of his character and Albina had always promised herself she would choose her husband wisely. “The situation with the house of disrepute is an unfortunate one, but that should not deter you, my dear girl.” Her father’s tone was gentler now as if he were trying to cajole her into doing as he wished. “But I can assure you that it will not continue.”

“Except that is not something you can promise,” she protested, quickly. “I have spoken to Lord Kingston myself on this matter and he was eager to inform me that such visits to places of disrepute would not continue once we were wed. Clearly, father, he is a gentleman who delights in frequenting such places. I am not inclined towards him in that regard, I am afraid.”

“And so, you shall insist on ending the engagement?”

“I shall.” Albina was undeterred. “There will be, of course, a few mutterings through society, but I can see no difficulty with that.”

The Earl of Rutherford blinked slowly at her, in a somewhat owl-like fashion. He tipped his head, drew in a long breath, and then let it out very slowly indeed.

“No, you shall marry Lord Kingston. I have spoken with Lord Kingston, and I am convinced that he has every intention of behaving honorably.”

Albina caught her breath. Her father had always promised that she would not be forced into matrimony with anyone, so why now was he insisting upon Lord Kingston?

“Father, I –”

“I am not inclined towards coming back to London for another Season. Besides which, if you do not wed Lord Kingston then thetonwill talk, and there will be questions raised as to why you didnotmarry. That will, unfortunately, lead to a lack of interest in you.” Leaning forward, his eyes pierced her heart. “They will speak of you, but they will not be eager for your company.”

“I am sure that will pass,” Albina returned. “I cannot marry Lord Kingston! I –”

“You can and you will.” Lord Rutherford rose from his chair, indicating that the conversation was at an end. “Lord Kingston expects it, and I will be contented with him.”

“ButIshall not be!” Albina cried, refusing to remove herself from her father’s study. “I am afraid I shall insist, father. I will not marry him.”

Lord Rutherford came over towards her and Albina shrank back in her chair. Her breathing grew quicker at the sight of her father’s narrowed eyes and lowered brows. He was furious with her.

“One way or the other, you will stand up beside him and make your promises, Albina.” His voice was low, the words hissed out from between clenched teeth. “I have means by which to make certain that you do as you are told. Do you understand me?” Albina swallowed hard. The fire of anger that had swept through her only seconds ago was now being blown out, leaving her with nothing but smoke and ashes. “Now return to your bedchamber! You will dine alone this evening. I have no wish to see you again today. And when Lord Kingston proposes, Albina, youwillaccept. Now, go!”

There was nothing for her to do but stumble out of his study and back towards her room. Tears blurred her vision, her feet dragging as the realization of her future hit her. She would be wed to Lord Kingston who, on the outside, appeared just as every gentleman ought, but on the inside had a character so despicable that she would find not even the smallest modicum of contentment with him.

A gasping sob broke from her lips as she reached her bedchamber. Her hand slipped on the doorknob, and it took her three attempts to push it open. Hurrying inside, Albina sank down onto her bed and put her head in her hands.

Her future was nothing but darkness and shadow. Lord Kingston was not the honorable man she’d thought him. Albina recalled when she had first tried to speak to him about the night he had been found with a number of ladies in the house of disrepute. All he had spoken of was his relief that thetonwould not be aware of it. The gentleman who had discovered him – in a state of intoxication, it seemed – had been a friend of Lord Rutherford’s and thus, the matter had been kept quiet, although Albina was certain that a good deal of coin had changed hands. Lord Kingston had not apologized for being found in such company; he had not begged her to forgive him nor expressed any sort of sorrow about such goings on. Instead, he had thought to laugh, to press her hand and promise – albeit with a gleam in his eye – that once they were wed, he would not do such a thing again.

Albina did not believe him.

But what am I to do now?

Albina dropped her hands from her face and attempted to think clearly. Her thoughts were still swarming together, and she struggled to pull them apart into a calm, coherent order. Rising, she walked to her dressing table and sat down.

“If you are not to wed Lord Kingston, then what are you to do?”

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