Capturing the Governess’s Heart by Sally Forbes
Chapter Sixteen
Robert and Abigail stood in the Great Hall chatting quietly just before the clock was due to chime the dinner hour. A footman went by toward the dining hall pushing the final trolley sent up by Lucy Brown from the kitchens, and delicious smells wafted by the pair as they waited.
“Where has Henry got to?” Robert asked his elder ward, looking concerned. “The dowager won’t be happy if he’s late. You’d better go and find him, Abigail.
“Yes, so you had, child, and be quick about it,” echoed the dowager imperiously, coming down the stairs to join them.
“Yes, Grandmother. I expect he’s still playing somewhere. He should pay more attention to the time.” Abigail said with irritation, rushing up the stairs to see if the boy was in his room.
“Don’t be too hard on him when you find him,” Robert called after her. “Good evening, Mother,” he added, nodding at the old woman.
“This is exactly why I say you need a wife, Robert. A man cannot properly raise children by himself, no matter how much he might love them,” the Dowager Duchess said as he started to walk away from her towards the dining hall.
But she followed him. “You need a wife who is capable of being a good mother to these young ones. I know you've been through a lot with Isabel, but that's not an excuse for not marrying and getting a wife now,” she continued insistently.
“I really don’t wish to discuss it with you now, Mother. I have heard what you have said, and I completely understand. But, please, just let me do things my own way and in my own time, will you?” He replied, pausing and turning back to let his mother see his annoyance.
Abigail was already returning with her brother, Henry, who seemed agitated. She was holding his arm and pulling him down the stairs with her, apparently uninterested in whatever was bothering him.
Then, Robert took in a sharp breath as he gazed up the stairs beyond the pair. “Oh my...” he murmured when he saw Emma descending the stairs. She looked beautiful, wearing a pale-pink satin dress and a pair of matching long gloves. Her auburn hair has been tamed into a chignon to add to the sophisticated look. He couldn’t help but appreciate her appearance with his admiring gaze, and his eyes locked onto Emma’s as she approached them smiling. She is simply stunning.
Robert, Abigail, Henry, Emma headed for the dining hall together, where the dowager had gone ahead.
“That is an exceptionally pretty dress, Miss Emma,” Robert said, offering her his arm.
She took it with a graceful nod. “Thank you, Your Grace. Abigail very kindly leant it to me.”
“We got dressed together, and as we are about the same size, I thought Emma could borrow one of mine. It suits her perfectly,” Abigail said, looking happy to see Emma looking so elegant.
“I must say, it is very good to see you looking much happier these days, Abigail, and I think we must all thank Miss Emma. Abigail grinned and took Emma’s other arm.
“Yes, it is fun being able to share my wardrobe and discuss womanly things with someone who understands.”
“Womanly things, is it?” said Robert laughing as they entered the dining hall, where the dowager already sat in her place as stately as a queen.
“Yes, you see, Uncle Robert, she doesn’t laugh at me when I say that.”
But that just made Robert laugh more. The party seated itself, with the dowager remaining silent and shooting a reproachful look at her son, then at Emma, reserving her darkest look for young Henry, who fidgeted in his chair.
“I have something to tell everyone,” he suddenly burst out excitedly. “I want you all to know that I got full marks for my arithmetic today! And I couldn't have done that without my wonderful governess!” Henry added gleefully, and even the dowager looked pleased for the child.
Emma blushed with modest pleasure and said, “That is kind of you to say so, Henry, but the hard work was yours.”
“Well, yes, I did work hard,” Henry said proudly, tucking in his napkin. “Where is dinner, Grandmother? I’m hungry.”
“In a moment, child, hush,” she admonished him. “It is certainly excellent news about your arithmetic,” she added, “but I’m sure you still have a long way to go.”
Henry said nothing to that, merely folding his arms and scowling, before Emma smiled at him, and he beamed once more.
The elegant appearance of the governess in her lovely gown was not lost on the dowager, who also noticed her son’s appreciative gaze as it rested on the young woman. She alone seemed unwilling to acknowledge the governess’s progress with both of the children, and, when he glanced at his mother, Robert immediately knew she was still unhappy with his having hired a governess. She persistently refused to acknowledge Emma’s presence, which Robert found rude and embarrassing but could do little about.
To the surprise of everyone, apart from the dowager apparently, who smiled, they heard the front door being opened, and then voices, as if people were being ushered inside. Robert looked at his mother questioningly, but she simply arched her eyebrows at him. A few moments later, the butler appeared at the door of the dining hall.
“Lord and Lady Irrisoll, and the Lady Beatrice,” he announced with a low bow, and the guests entered the dining hall.
Everyone at the table stood up, Robert shooting a dark look at his mother, who merely sniffed and went to greet her guests. The others merely looked surprised. Robert stepped forward too, greeting them with a polite bow. Lady Beatrice, extravagantly attired in a red gown with a satin waistband and a necklace of rubies, stared pointedly at Robert throughout the exchange of pleasantries, although Robert tried to avoid her gaze.
“I hope we are not late,” said Lady Irrisoll. “The traffic was very slow coming out of town and we were slightly delayed.”
“Not at all, my dear, we were merely exchanging our news of the day before your arrival,” said the dowager soothingly.
Small talk ensued until the last of the trolleys pushed by footmen were in place. When the butler announced dinner was ready to be served, the company took their seats at the table. Lucy had presented them with a multitude of dishes to choose from; the table was loaded with various soups, a selection of roasted meats, including partridge, beef, and pork, along with different vegetables and potatoes, with plenty of pickles, jellies, and relishes to add flavor. There were also fruit custards, baked puddings, and fruit to follow. Robert set about carving the beef.
“A very warm welcome to you indeed, my dear friends,” the dowager said, looking pleased with herself. Glancing up from carving the beef, Robert noticed his mother seemed about to make an announcement. With a sinking heart, he wondered what it could be. He put down his knife and signaled for the butler to take over the carving, then went to his mother and spoke quietly into her ear.
“Mother, may I have a word with you … in private, please?”
She looked annoyed. “Robert, not now, can’t you see I’m trying to do something important here?” she hissed. “Oh, very well.”
“Please excuse us for one moment,” she told her guests, then followed Robert into the hall.
“What is it?” she demanded.
“Why have you invited them here without consulting me, Mother. I know what you are up to, but may I remind you, I have never agreed to marry Lady Beatrice. Why are you making things so difficult for—”
His mother did not allow him to finish but simply stalked off back into the dining hall. He stared angrily at her retreating back. Why must she always be so adamant and controlling? She knows very well this is not what I want. He scratched his head, not knowing what would stop his willful mother. He walked back to the dining hall, shaking his head in annoyance.
Right in the middle of the meal, Lady Beatrice started a deeply boring conversation with Robert, all the while fluttering her eyelashes and smiling coyly at him. He was horrified, as it meant the dowager had already given her some false hopes about marrying him.
“And how are you getting on with your wards, Your Grace?” Lady Beatrice asked Robert, having merely acknowledged Abigail with a nod and hardly looking at Henry.
“Oh, we’re all getting on very well, aren’t we, Abigail and Henry?” He grinned at the pair, who nodded.
“Henry, you still have some food left on your plate. Please finish it,” the dowager said.
She continued to discuss the children in hushed tones with Lady Irrisoll while Lady Beatrice feigned interest, keeping her eyes on Robert. Now and again, the older women would glance at Emma as they went on with their inaudible conversation. Emma kept her head down and concentrated on her plate. She had no wish to get involved in their discussions of the children, but she wished Robert had thought to introduce her to the guests. She felt at a distinct disadvantage.
Abigail seemed to be enjoying herself, though, apparently hanging on Lady Beatrice’s every word and laughing unnecessarily. The whole dinner would have been enjoyable if Lady Beatrice had just remained silent and attended to her meal.
“You should hire some help for the children, you know,” Lady Beatrice advised Robert loudly. Abigail flicked a small smile at Emma.
“What a good idea, but, as it happens, I have already hired some,” he said, trying to be as polite as possible to the annoying young woman.
“That is Miss Fletcher over there.” The dowager gestured at Emma, sitting close to Robert.
“Oh, so that is the governess.”
“Please, my lady, call me Emma," Emma replied, smiling shyly.
“Very well. How nice to meet you.”
“It is my pleasure, Lady Beatrice.”
“You are quite pretty, for a governess,” Lady Beatrice said.
Emma blushed. “Thank you, my lady,” she replied warily.
“No doubt you consider yourself fortunate for being privileged enough to dine with people of our stature,” Lady Beatrice said with a sneer. Robert almost exploded at that but forced himself to bite his tongue, looking apologetically at Emma. He knew he mustn’t be openly impolite to Lady Beatrice, so he continued eating his meal without showing any reaction but thinking how to mean and calculating Lady Beatrice was. She has a bad character and does not treat people with respect.
“Yes, in most houses I have visited, the governess always dines with the other servants. It is most unusual, so be thankful you are permitted to sit at table with the present company,” Lady Beatrice went on. Why doesn’t she just stop talking? Robert thought angrily.
“Indeed, I know how lucky I am,” Emma said quietly, trying to hold back the tears filling her eyes, more convinced than ever that she didn’t belong.
Robert could see how humiliated Emma was. His gut twisted into knots, and he struggled not to protest and to show the required regard for Lady Beatrice in his manners, speech, and behavior, but he had to do something.
“Mis Fletcher is my guest, Lady Beatrice,” he said finally. “And, with the utmost respect, of course, I should like her to be treated with the same regard as all my other guests,” he added unsmilingly. Lady Beatrice looked shocked.
“May I have your permission to leave the table now, Your Grace,” Emma murmured, putting down her cutlery and napkin and rising to her feet. “I have a slight headache.” Robert seethed but had no choice but to agree to Emma’s plea, quite understanding her to wish to be gone. The others sat in silence, watching as Emma left the room, noticing the satisfied look on Lady Beatrice’s face as she did so.
“Forgive our daughter's discourteous manner,” the Duke of Irrisoll opined, clearly embarrassed. “She ever was forthright in her speeches. Please accept my apology, Dalwater.” Lady Beatrice seemed indifferent to her father’s need to make an apology, merely lifting her chin haughtily. The children stared at Robert with horrified expressions while his mother and Lady Irrisoll studiously attended their plates as if unaware of what had passed.
“That is quite alright, Irrisoll. Miss Fletcher had complained of a headache earlier, in fact, so her leaving us is not unexpected.” Robert spoke calmly, but inside, he felt as if he could happily throttle both Lady Beatrice and his mother. In truth, he was still rather shocked to find a lady as endowed as Lady Beatrice could have such a bad character. Of course, even his mother must now understand there was no possibility of him marrying that kind of person. Ever since she had sat down at the table, she had ignored the children, despite freely giving her unasked advice on their upbringing. She had shown them no warmth at all except to talk about disposing of their care to a governess.
Yet, she continued to behave as if she was certain of marrying him. His mother’s doing, he was sure. But even she must now see that Lady Beatrice was incapable of relating to the two youngsters. It seemed all she cared about was a new carriage, dresses, jewelry, and luxuries. He'd be damned if he would marry her!
