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Felicity nodded to the housekeeper and then followed the girl from the room, smiling over her happy chatter.
“Do you ride? I hope you ride, as I am so looking forward to riding with you. It won’t be nearly so fun if we have to take the gig. But Father says you are to ride so surely you will, even if we have to teach you. I hope you’re going to like your room, but if you don’t we could probably have it redone. We haven’t really decorated before, but I really want you to like it here. Do you think you’re going to like it here?”
“I haven’t yet seen anything that will make me not like it here,” Felicity managed to answer before the girl giggled and tripped ahead again.
“Are you going to make me do lessons? Father thinks I ought to have a governess, as he says I ought to be still in school. But a governess will have to go away eventually, so I insisted that I needed to have a companion, who will stay with me. But Father says just because I got my way about having you doesn’t mean I can get away with not having lessons. Are you going to give me lessons?”
A lump was forming in Felicity’s throat at the thought of this poor motherless girl so anxious to have someone who wouldn’t leave her. Felicity’s stomach cramped with guilt over her subterfuge. If she truly were Miss Felicity Jones, she would love to promise the girl she would stay with her forever. As it was, she could only hope to avoid the topic of the length of her tenure.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to agree with your father. You probably haven’t yet learned everything you ought to know. But perhaps, we can consider it as just something we shall do together. I wouldn’t want to cease learning myself, so we shall find things we can agree upon that we wish to learn about. You aren’t actually opposed to learning, are you?”
The girl wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think so. I just didn’t want to be away at school anymore. I don’t think it’s right for Father to be all alone. And I didn’t want a governess.”
Felicity offered her what she hoped was a reassuring smile. She would settle for it even being neutral. While her guilty feelings threatened to overwhelm her, Felicity vowed in her heart to at least show the girl as much friendly affection as she could for the time that they were together.
It wasn’t that Felicity was opposed to staying with the girl. Being the motherless child’s companion felt far more noble and fulfilling than becoming a debutante. But Felicity was fairly certain her family would eventually realize no one had laid eyes upon her and would start searching for her. For the time being, Felicity shoved the concerns from her mind. She was here now and would do the best that she could.
They had finally reached the suite of rooms that she and Lady Adelina were to use, and the youngster threw open the door with a flourish. Her face was split with a grin, but Felicity could see that the girl was nervous about her companion’s reaction.
“Oh, how lovely,” Felicity was relieved to be able to say. “The big windows should be able to catch quite a bit of light. I expect mornings won’t be difficult with the sun streaming in.” She walked closer to the windows. “And the view is dazzling, as well.”
Adelina skipped toward her, clearly pleased at Felicity’s positive reaction but not quite sure as to her meaning.
“Why do you say it’s dazzling?” she asked with a wrinkled brow.
“All that green,” Felicity answered promptly. “I’m sure, when the sun lands on it, it will be quite spectacular."
The girl didn’t appear convinced but merely shrugged and smiled, seemingly pleased that Felicity appreciated it.
“How old are you?” Lady Adelina asked suddenly, startling Felicity from her continued enjoyment of the view.
“I turned nineteen a few months ago,” she replied, uncertain if she should be trying to appear older or younger from the child’s perspective. She had thought to lie about her age but had felt she had stretched the truth enough in order to get the position, her conscience wouldn’t allow her to do any more, especially not to the girl she was to be entrusted with.
Adelina grinned. “That’s terrific,” she replied. “I was afraid Father was going to get me a granny as my companion.”
Felicity laughed and turned away from the window. A quick glance around the room showed her that it was perfectly suitable for her needs, possibly better than Miss Jones qualified for and certainly not beneath Lady Felicity’s notice.
“What’s wrong with a granny? I’d love to have one.”
“Well, besides the fact that grannies are old and smell of ointment and peppermints, I don’t think one would be ready to go riding or anything that would require energy or gumption.”
“What do you know about gumption?” Felicity asked with a laugh.
The girl shrugged, suddenly looking uncertain. “Father said it’s what I had when I fell out of the tree and didn’t cry.”
“You didn’t cry? I’d have to agree with your father in that case. How did you manage it?”
“My brothers were there, you see.”
“Ah, I do see. It wouldn’t do to cry in front of one’s brothers, I don’t suppose, especially not if they’re older than you.” There was a pause as they thought on the matter and made their way toward the door. Felicity finally added her thoughts. “I cannot say that I have the same amount of gumption as you, but I don’t lack for energy, so I’m sure we’re going to get on just fine.”
Lady Adelina did a small jig of excitement before glancing at Felicity with concern. “Do you expect me to be more dignified? I’m probably not quite as up to snuff as you would expect me to be, am I?”
Felicity blinked, wondering where the child was going with this particular question. She started with a laugh. “You probably shouldn’t be using such expressions as ‘up to snuff’ but I think, since you’re nine years old, being too dignified might sit a little oddly on your shoulders. Why do you ask?”
“That’s what they were always telling us at school. Since Father is a duke, I’m supposed to be refined and dignified.”
“Ah, I see. Well, I wouldn’t say they were wrong completely. You will want to learn to be refined and dignified at the appropriate times. But I think you have plenty of time to worry about that later.”
