Page 21 of The Governess’s Carnal Temptation

“I can, and I will. And I will make you regret ever coming here, Miss Haddington,” she spoke her name with such venom it almost felt like a curse. However, Lydia steadied herself and took a step toward the girl, feeling almost like a soldier in combat.

“I doubt that Lady Charlotte, for while you might have frightened away others, I am not so easily intimidated. Do you know why?”

“Why?” The girl spat.

“Because I love teaching, and I can see you are a quick learner; thus, your gruffness will not scare me away. So now, are you ready to learn just how the two Marys’ connection affected the country we now live in? Or are you determined to run away from knowledge to prove a point?”

She observed the child, who looked at Lydia as though she were a pest set loose in her room. And yet, Lydia felt confident the girl would give in. While Charlotte had ranted, Lydia took inventory of the space around them and saw the stack of books piled in the corner by the dollhouse. This girl wanted to learn and was smart enough to take in knowledge. Just like her former charge, Charlotte had a great deal of potential, but she had to overcome this barrier of anger and arrogance to access it.

Lydia stood and smiled. After a short standoff, Charlotte grunted and rolled her eyes but then slid back into her seat, crossed her arms, and shrugged.

“Very well then. Teach me.”

Lydia sat down and shimmied her shoulders ever so slightly, for she knew that she'd scored a significant point in this battle of wills.

CHAPTER TEN

Later that evening, Nicolas headed towards the dining room, pulling his burgundy waistcoat down and rolling his shoulders. He'd resisted the urge to drink all day, opting instead for copious amounts of tea. Unfortunately, dinnertime and the hours following were the most difficult for him. A glass of wine with dinner quickly became another, and by the time he got to the drawing room or parlor, he'd switched to brandy or whiskey.

He was determined, however, to get through the evening without a drop. He discovered that the longer he went without, the easier it became. Who could blame him for losing his resolve after what he had been through?

Nicholas stopped in the hall outside the grand dining room when he heard the clattering of cutlery on porcelain.

Upon entering the dining room, he noticed Charlotte to his right and Lydia opposite her. When he walked in, they both raised their heads, and Lydia smiled.

“Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I am unaccustomed to eating in company. I trust you both had a fine day?” he looked from Lydia to Charlotte only to catch his daughter’s icy glare. He gulped but proceeded to spread his napkin on his lap as though he hadn’t been given one of his daughter’s infamous silent reactions. Lydia, on the other hand, appeared almost chipper.

She looked up, a half-eaten piece of fresh bread in hand. “It was a rather successful first day. We learned much about Tudor history. Lady Charlotte is an eager pupil with the knowledge that surpasses her age.”

Nicholas saw Charlotte look up, a proud smile on her lips. A boulder dropped off his shoulder, for he’d worried the two would clash and the entire venture would fall spectacularly apart. Hearing this and seeing Charlotte’s reaction to the sudden praise gave him a sense of relief he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Encouraged, he turned his attention to Lydia again. “What wonderful news. I hope this is only the beginning. Of course, I always knew you were a talented teacher, having experienced how important education was in your household. You and Miss Caroline were gifted students, so it is only natural.” He dipped his spoon in the pea soup the footman had just set down. “Say, how is she? Your sister? And your father?”

He’d expected her to settle into easy civil discourse even if she remained angry. It was considered polite in their society to do so. However, Lydia’s apprehension was stronger than he’d feared, and her faint smile vanished, replaced by a hardness that felt like he’d been kicked in the stomach by his horse.

“Well, thank you,” she replied but instead looked at Charlotte. “My father always put great stock in our education, as does yours. You’re fortunate in that regard, Lady Charlotte.”

“Fortunate, yes,” his daughter replied, her words dripped with such insincerity, a cold shiver raced down his back.

“Pray, what is your favorite subject?” Lydia carried on, unbothered by Charlotte’s reply.

“I have none,” Charlotte replied, looking down at her soup.

“Surely there is one you prefer to the others,” Lydia tried again. Wishing to help, Nicholas cleared his throat.

“She enjoys reading. As do you, if I remember correctly,” he smiled at her, but Lydia paid him no mind.

“Do you, Lady Charlotte? What is your favorite book? When I was your age, I adored Little Goody Two-Shoes. Have you read it?”

At this, Charlotte raised her head. Her blonde hair shifted, and a lock fell into her face. “The story about a little girl who grows up to marry a rich widower. I suppose that would be a merchant daughter’s favorite book.”

“Charlotte,” Nicholas chided her immediately, outraged by the girl’s behavior. How could a nine-year-old girl have such venom in her? How could she be so misbehaved, so cruel? “You will apologize at once.”

“Why? She asked,” Charlotte replied. Nicholas leaned forward and raised his right hand, pointing his index finger at his child.

“In this house, we do not speak to our guests in such a rude way. I will not have Miss Haddington think you were raised without manners,” he said, his voice vibrating with suppressed anger.

“What would you know about the way I was raised, Father? You were never there. I had neither father nor mother,” Charlotte replied. To his surprise, her voice had an edge that spoke of the genuine sorrow hidden beneath her harsh exterior. He felt the true depth of his failure when bringing up his daughter. Her pain ate into his consciousness as it so often had before, but this time with a ghastly sharpness.