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Though the words were genuine and polite, Watson could tell from the tension in her body that Miss Percival was not entirely happy with his request. There was silence for several moments before the governess spoke up again, “Your Grace, forgive me if I am overstepping, but Lady Amy is a very intelligent young woman and I believe much of her problem is not only her lack of freedom to learn as she likes, but also that she is quite lonely.”
Watson tensed at that, not just because he was surprised by her forthrightness but also because he sensed that she was right. Though the conversation was taking a turn for the uncomfortable, Watson knew for his daughter’s sake that he had to continue. “What makes you believe so?”
Miss Percival shrugged her delicate shoulders at that and glanced down almost as if she were ashamed to admit the answer. “Mainly it is the way she acted so enthusiastically with you at dinner, but also it is in the stories she chooses to read. I have noticed a pattern in that many of them are of lonely people, and I believe that part of her issue is that she has withdrawn into herself in order to protect herself from such feelings.”
Watson thought over what she was saying for several moments, taking in every word and stroking his chin in the process. Her eyes rested upon him as she finished and he knew that she was eagerly awaiting his response, maybe even expecting him to become frustrated or even angry by what she was suggesting. Yet, all Watson could say was, “I fear that you are correct, Miss Percival.”
A quick flash of surprise flickered through Miss Percival’s gaze, and it was clear that she had not been expecting him to agree with her so easily. Likely, in many of her previous positions, it had taken her much longer to get the nobles to see the problems within their families, some too stubborn to admit that there was any problem at all. Yet Watson had already dealt with that, and he was more than ready to begin trying to solve the problem.
He opened his mouth to ask a most uncomfortable question, but Miss Percival seemed to read his mind and she leaned forward with a smile to assure him, “Please do not worry, Your Grace, it is perfectly normal and especially in the children of nobles who are quite busy, such as yourself.”
Watson could not help but smile with relief at the woman’s words. Though he knew that he was at fault with many of his daughter’s problems, he did not feel as though this governess was blaming him for it.
Where some governesses showed their distaste in a simple twist of their strict gaze or even scoffed under their breath from time to time, Watson did not get that kind of sense from Miss Percival. Not for the first time, he could not help but think that she was a breath of fresh air compared to those who had come before her.
“Miss Percival, I do believe that you are going to get on remarkably well as part of the family,” he told her with a genuine smile, feeling as though it was the first real smile he had experienced in quite some time. Again, the governess blushed and bowed her head.
“Thank you, Your Grace. I am honoured to be thought as part of the family,” she admitted and as if she thought that his words were a sign that she ought to make her exit, Miss Percival began to push herself to her feet. Watson watched her silently and admired how gracefully she offered him a curtsy. “I think I have kept you for long enough, Your Grace. I do hope that you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
With her head still bowed, Miss Percival began to walk away. It was in that moment that Watson realised he was not quite ready for her to leave. He liked the easy-going nature between them and the fact that she seemed to be the only one in the world who had been able to calm the tension within his household. She made him feel calm and that was a much-needed sensation in his life after so many years of stress and tension.
“Miss Percival, one more moment if you will?” he called after her and he was relieved when she almost immediately stopped at the door and turned back to look at him with a pretty little smile upon her rosebud pink lips.
“Yes, Your Grace?” she responded, standing elegantly with her hands clasped before her and her shoulders back. She looked practically regal and for a moment Watson wondered whether perhaps she was of more noble blood than even she realised. Yet, it was not possible. He had done his research well and knew practically everything there was to know about her.
“Perhaps you might agree to do this again?” the Duke suggested and quickly clearing his throat of the lump that had begun to form there, he added, “What I mean to say is, would you please indulge me in making a full report every evening so that I can be sure we remain on the same page?”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Miss Percival responded with a slow bow of her head to show that she understood. When she lifted her head again and looked at him, Watson expected for her to curtsy and leave. Instead, she remained with pursed lips as if she were trying to decide whether she ought to say something or not.
“Was there something else you wished to discuss, Matilda?” Watson asked with a raised eyebrow, and he was almost certain that he saw a shiver run through the governess’ body at his use of her first name.
“Your Grace, I do not wish to be too forward, but I was rather hoping I might be able to request that you purchase some more books for Lady Amy’s studies?” Miss Percival explained, and she looked all too tense as she quickly added, “What I mean to say is that your daughter has already read every book for her current reading level, and I fear it is only adding to her boredom.”
Watson gritted his teeth at her words, not because he was angry that she’d had the audacity to ask it of him, but because no other governess had stepped forward previously to suggest such a thing. Had he known that his daughter had gone through the entire library at Thistledown Manor, he would most certainly have supplied his daughter with fresh material to read.
“You are certain she has read everything to a satisfactory level?” the Duke asked, wanting to be certain. Miss Percival did not even bat an eyelid even as she started to nod.
“There are several books that she can even rehearse back to me, word for word,” the governess admitted, and Watson felt another claw of guilt gripping at his stomach.
“If you would kindly write me a list of all those books you think she would benefit from my purchasing then I shall happily see to it,” Watson assured her, even more relieved at her presence than before. “Thank you, Miss Percival.”
“I shall see to it that I have a list prepared for tomorrow’s meeting, Your Grace,” she reassured him, dropping into yet another graceful curtsy. Instinctively, Watson pushed himself from his seat and moved around the desk in order to bow in response.
“Thank you, Miss Percival. I wish you a good rest of your evening,” he told her with a grateful smile, hoping that she understood just how appreciative of her he truly was.
***
“Well, I never!” came the exclamation from one of Watson’s closest friends the moment that he set foot into the local gentleman’s club the next morning. Heath Hayman was a teacher, almost as tall as Watson and some would say just as handsome, and the two had been close friends ever since they could remember.
“We were beginning to think that you were not coming!” The man with him, another close friend of Watson’s, turned in his seat where he had his back to him. Together, Heath and Timothy hurried to their feet to greet their old friend with a handshake and a brotherly embrace.
“How are you? How is my niece?” Timothy demanded as soon as he stepped back to look Watson up and down. “You look far better than when last we met. Has something changed?”
Watson could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. The truth was he was feeling much better than when last they had met.
“I take it that all is going well with the new governess?” Heath said with a raised eyebrow. His expression was almost apprehensive as though he was waiting for Watson to correct him and say that it was not in fact going well. Instead, Watson nodded and smiled.
“Miss Percival has turned out to be a fine addition to the household,” he responded. Clearing his throat, feeling his cheeks beginning to redden, he quickly gestured toward the table his friends had been sitting at, “Shall we sit?”
