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Perhaps it drank from the fountain daily.

Purity lowered her hand, and the squirrel dashed into the hedge. A second later, it poked its head out and scolded her for her audacity.

She chuckled. “I’ll be gone soon, my little friend. Let me enjoy these few stolen moments in paradise before my world returns to normal.”

Drumming her fingertips on the chaise’s arms, Purity permitted her mind to return to her earlier reflections. To be fair, disagreeable interactions with Lord and Lady Ceddes had been infrequent since they seldom deemed it necessary to visit their offspring.

Attending this house party was an unofficial send-off for Pomeroy, Merrilee, and Amaris Bardslay. It was also the longest expanse of time the couple had spent with their children since they’d hired Purity. Neither parent demonstrated paternal inclinations. Ten minutes with their offspring stretched the bounds of their benevolence.

In just over four short weeks, Purity’s charges would be off to boarding schools, and she would be unemployed for the first time since leaving Haven House and Academy for the Enrichment of Young Women—the foundling home and school where she’d been raised and educated.

Hopefully, she’d manage a visit with a few of her closest friends, also raised at Haven House and Academy for the Enrichment of Young Women, before she started her new job.

A job she’d yet to acquire, as she had no letter of reference yet.

She’d waited for months—growing increasingly impatient—for her employers to offer to write her a recommendation or even mention that, very shortly, her services would no longer be required. They’d remained frustratingly obtuse and disobliging in that regard. Now, she found herself in the discomfiting position of having to ask for a reference while in attendance at this house party.

She made a dismissive sound in her throat.

Enough of this unfruitful, melancholy musing.

With deliberate intent, Purity turned her thoughts in a more pleasant direction: this glorious, unforeseen reprieve from responsibilities. She’d been given an unexpected gift, and she meant to enjoy every splendid second.

After breakfast, Lady Ceddes had actually collected her children for a morning outing with several other families and didn’t require Purity’s services for a few hours.

Would wonders never cease?

There was a first time for everything.

Purity gave a slight shake of her head, and a curl flopped loose from her chignon.

Dratted nuisance.

An unremarkable light brown, her hair had vexed her since girlhood when she’d been required to wrestle the unruly mass into a neat knot by Hester Shepherd, the headmistress at Haven House and Academy for the Enrichment of Young Women.

Once Purity had captured the strand fluttering about her face in the fragrant honeysuckle and rose-scented breeze, she confined the wayward curl with a pin. Giving her hair a satisfied pat to ensure no more intrepid tresses were about to spring loose, she settled into the luxurious chaise lounge once more.

She determined nothing would stir her from her current contentment.

When was the last time she’d had an entire morning to herself?

At Petherwick Court, the Ceddes primary estate in Somerset, a myriad of tasks always needed attending to if the children were engaged elsewhere. Governesses of three energetic children seldom were permitted such a luxury. Governesses to self-centered aristocrats such as her employers, who seldom saw their offspring, even less so.

And yet here she was. Unfettered by her three charges and without a single duty to perform. In all of her eight years employed by the Ceddes, this was a first. A most pleasant and welcome first, indeed.

Crossing her ankles, Purity grinned, feeling very much a pampered lady of leisure.

The sensation was both disconcerting and delightful.

She wiggled her toes in her practical black half boots and furrowed her brow at the frayed hem of her slate blue gown. Now wasn’t the time to add to her scant wardrobe. Best to wait until she found a new position and then acquire an appropriate new gown or two.

Drowsy from the sun’s warmth, the comforting buzz of engorged gold and ebony bees zipping from fat blossom to even fatter blossom, and the sweet warbles of songbirds, she permitted her eyelids to drift shut.

Awaking with a start, she snapped her gaping mouth closed and touched a fingertip to the side of her mouth to catch the unladylike dribble of drool perched there. Goodness, she’d been far more tired than she’d realized. Thank the Lord there hadn’t been anyone about to see her lack of decorum.

Furrowing her brow, she glanced around.

What had awakened her?