Page 59 of The Governess’s Carnal Temptation

“But if he is, and Miss Haddington comes back, Lady Evelyn will make her leave anyway. I know it. Papa, I do not like her. I do not. I wish you would not marry her. She is horrid. She always tells me everything I do wrong and not in a nice way.” She pressed her lip out and then leaned forward. “I ought to have lured her under the beehive.”

“Charlotte,” he exclaimed, but he could not entirely scold her because a part of him felt the same.

“Listen to me. I am not marrying Lady Evelyn.”

“No?” She stared at him, and a smile spread on her lips.

“No. And I will tell you all about that soon, but I must go away again. I need you to be brave until I get back.”

“Are you going to London?” She asked with a bright smile.

“I must see to Mr. Haddington. Back when I was a boy, he was very good to me. When your grandmother died, he and his wife helped me. Now that he is sick, I must see he has the best care. Will you promise me that you’ll be brave? And that you’ll behave?”

Charlotte nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes. I will. But please, will you tell Miss Haddington that I miss her? That I want her to come back? Without Lady Evelyn, she could come back; please tell her. I’ve kept up with my studies too. I’ve been good!”

Nicholas’ heart hurt for his child because he knew how much she’d grown to love Lydia. In his naïve dreams, he’d hoped he would find Lydia here, she’d accept his proposal, and they might be a family. A real family… but unless he could convince her to return, that would never happen.

However, for the time being, none of that mattered. Lydia’s father was so ill that she’d dashed away to tend to him. He had to follow her, not only because he loved and needed her but because her father had indeed been good to him and he could not abandon him now in his hour of need. He hugged Charlotte once more, and then dashed into the hall.

“Mrs. Funny,” he called out as he raced down the stairs.

“Your Grace, I was just unpacking….”

“Never mind that. I am leaving right away. Tell the coachman we must go to London.”

“London?” she said and looked at him with surprise.

“Indeed, for there is someone I must meet.” He paused and turned around. “Do we still have the medicines the physician left when Miss Haddington took ill?”

Mrs. Funny nodded.

“Good, pack them immediately and bring them to the carriage. Miss Haddington’s father is very ill and…” he stopped and realized she already knew.

“I know it. I had packed a parcel of tea and herbs to be sent to London, but….”

“I’ll take it with me, have it sent with the medicine. Mrs. Funny, I must go. I cannot waste a moment.”

She smiled at him as if she understood without asking any questions.

“You go, Your Grace. And Godspeed. I hope you bring her home.”

With that, she hurried away to collect the items. Nicholas ran to the carriage, shouting orders to the servants and the coachman all along. His breath pounded as he boarded the carriage again.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“One more spoonful,” Lydia urged her father, but he turned his face away.

“There is nothing worse than cold porridge, Lydia,” he said. “I thought you’d come to make me feel better rather than torment me.”

Lydia smiled at her father. She'd been back for a week, and the difference in her father was striking. She was certain he wouldn't make it through the first night when she arrived. He'd been so pale on his bed that he almost matched the sheets. His breathing had been ragged and shallow, as if he'd swallowed gravel.

Caroline, meanwhile, was distraught, with a lean face and sunken cheeks. The two had kept vigil by their father's bedside, certain that he would soon join their beloved mother on the other side. He'd made a remarkable recovery, thanks to the extra funds Lydia had brought and the medicines they could afford as a result. A week later, he was sitting up and eating, albeit reluctantly.

“I am so happy to have you back. It is always good when you’re with me,” he said, squeezing her hand. “When do you have to return?”

She swallowed hard and shook her head. “I will not, Father.” She’d already explained why she could not return, but her father did not understand why. Caroline hadn’t told him the whole story of Lydia’s employment as even at his best, her father’s ability to comprehend was not good due to his long illness and age.

However, he knew she’d been working for Nicholas and made it clear he wished for her to continue to do so. There was no use telling him about Lady Evelyn as that would only have led to her confessing she still loved him. It was hard enough having to have that conversation with Caroline, who’d known all along that Lydia’s declarations regarding her lack of feeling for Nicholas had been pretending all along.