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It was not until the carriage came around to the bottom of the manor steps that Matilda realised there were people coming out from the huge double doors at the top of the marble porch that was really more of a grand double staircase leading up to the wooden doors that likely stood at more than seven feet in height. Matilda wondered how it was even possible for one person to open such huge doors. They were clearly made from mahogany and likely weighed more than a tonne.
Quintin stood, blocking Matilda's view for several moments and by the time the carriage door was opened, and the steward clambered out, what appeared to be the entire household had already exited the manor and travelled down the steps to form a greeting line before the carriage.
"Come, Lady Amy," Matilda heard the hushed hiss carried to her on the breeze even as she stuck her head out of the carriage to climb down with Quintin's help.
Here we go,she thought, able to tell from the woman's voice that Lady Amy was likely already causing trouble for the day.Do not let all you have learned spoil your first impressions,she scolded herself, knowing that it would not be fair to herself nor the child if she allowed other peoples' views to influence her before they had even been acquainted.
Out of the corner of her eye, Matilda saw a woman dressed all in black with a large key ring tied to her belt, urging a young girl into line toward the centre of the household.That must be Mrs Stevenson, the housekeeper,Matilda guessed from the large set of keys.
She saw several footmen, two of which stepped forward and bowed before quickly moving to the back of the carriage to remove her luggage from where it had been secured on the back. A single trunk was not much but it would definitely take the two of them, if not a third, to carry it into the house, especially with all those steps.
There were also several maids in black and white and an elderly looking woman in a striped dress with a white apron whom Matilda guessed was the cook. A man standing opposite Mrs Stevenson, Matilda surmised was the butler, Mr Burns, due to his stern expression and his rigid stance.
But the man standing at the very front of the group, apart from everyone else, was the man who caught Matilda most off guard. There was no misunderstanding him for a servant, no misidentifying him for anything less than a true nobleman. With glossy, black hair combed back from his face and an afternoon shadow up his chin, with warm chocolate brown eyes and a chiseled jaw, with sharp and noble features and a kind smile, there was no mistaking the Duke of Worthington.
Everything about him, from the way he stood and smiled to the fine clothes he was wearing, suggested he was a nobleman of the highest order, even before Quintin stepped before him with a bow and said, "Your Grace, Lord Watson Berkley, Duke of Worthington, please allow me to introduce you to Miss Matilda Percival."
The steward gestured her forth even as he stepped out of the way, leaving no barrier between herself and the Duke, or the rest of the eyes that were watching her from behind him. Distantly, she heard Mrs Stevenson hushing Lady Amy once more. Clearly, the young girl was not pleased to have been dragged away from whatever fun she had been having. Matilda could not exactly blame her. From what she had heard, they had greeted a new governess almost every week.
"Miss Percival, it is an honour to finally meet you," the Duke of Worthington announced, stepping forward to greet her. For what felt like the first time in her life, Matilda was unsure of what to say. Though she had heard of the handsomeness of the Duke, she had been entirely unprepared for witnessing it, even believing that some had lied to her in order to trick her into taking the position. Maybe even Quintin had told her of his handsomeness, though she could not be sure.
Quickly remembering herself, and realising she was practically gawping at the man, Matilda dropped down into a low curtsy.
"Please, Miss Percival," the Duke said, leaning down to offer her his hand and help her up. "We are so pleased that you finally accepted my offer. Are we not, daughter?"
Though the Duke released her hand almost as soon as she stood, Matilda could still feel the warmth of his touch lingering through the lace of her glove. She tried her best to hold her composure even as Lady Amy was brought forth to meet her. The daughter looked much like the father, quite pretty with large and innocent brown eyes and hair that was only a shade off being black.
She was pale skinned save for a few telling freckles that suggested she liked to break the rules of covering up in the sunshine even though currently she wore a pale blue bonnet which matched her day dress perfectly. A navy-blue ribbon was tied around her waist, and another held on her bonnet while her hair cascaded from a ponytail down over one shoulder.
"Lady Amy, what do we say to Miss Percival?" the Duke said sternly though there was also affection in his tone as he placed a hand upon his daughter's shoulder and urged her forward a little more as the girl stepped up beside him with her head bowed.
From what Matilda could see of her expression beneath the rim of her bonnet, it was clear she was not pleased to be there. Yet when she lifted her head and smirked at Matilda, the governess saw the innocence melt away for a moment, a spark of mischief in her large brown eyes. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Percival."
Lady Amy curtsied as any respectful young lady would but there was still an air about her, one that suggested she would try to give Matilda trouble as soon as nobody else was looking.I have my eye on you,Matilda thought, wondering not for the first time whether maybe there was more to the story as to why Lady Amy was the way that she was. If anyone had the patience to get to the bottom of it, Matilda did. There was a reason why she was known as one of the best governesses in the country.
"It is a pleasure to meet you also, Lady Amy," Matilda assured her, offering the same respectful curtsy in turn, "And, please, call me Matilda if that is acceptable, Your Grace?"
She looked to the Duke for confirmation, knowing that it did not truly matter what Lady Amy wished to call her as it was the Duke who was in charge of everything beneath the roof of Thistledown Manor.
"As you wish, Miss," he assured her with a nod of his head and a smile that helped to ease Matilda's nerves a little. She could not help but feel as though she had leapt over the first hurdle, breaking the ice. Even Lady Amy looked a little startled. Clearly, she was unused to calling her governess anything other than what her status demanded.
"Miss Percival, perhaps my daughter and I might show you in?" The Duke suggested and Matilda struggled not to cringe. It was the Duke's prerogative to call her what he wished. "Please, follow us."
The Duke held out his hand to Lady Amy and Matilda watched the girl take hold of it.
"Yes,Matilda, will not you come with us?" Lady Amy suggested, fluttering her eyelashes. Matilda thought that there was even a hint of shyness to her voice.Perhaps all the statements I have received are wrong?
Matilda thought for a moment. She had heard several times of the girl's anger, how she often raged with such fury as if she were a wildfire entirely uncontrollable. And yet Matilda could see no hint of that at the moment. All she saw as she followed the Duke and his daughter inside was a devoted and affectionate father and an equally loving daughter who walked hand in hand, quite happy in each other's company.
As they passed the line of servants, the Duke introduced her to several of them, including Mrs Stevenson and Mr Burns who it appeared Matilda had guessed right. There was also Mrs Matthew, the cook, and Miss Rose, Lady Amy's personal maid.
The others were maids, footmen, and other servants who remained toward the back of the crowd and did not get a formal introduction though Matilda made it a point to smile at each one of them as she passed by, hoping that if she managed to befriend the staff, she might at least have a chance of succeeding in such a well-paid and prosperous position. Winning them over would be only half the battle. The Duke and his daughter, mainly the daughter, were her largest concern.
If she turns out to be as bad as everybody claims,Matilda thought, remembering her last position in the home of the viscount who had been the very one to recommend her to the Duke in the first place.I am well equipped to handle it.
She remembered all too well how many weeks of patience and pushing it had taken to win over the viscount's three children in order to get them to behave and accept that they were expected to do so at all times while still being able to have fun.I handled the three of them. Lady Amy should not be so difficult,she thought though she knew better than to lull herself into a false sense of security.
"We do so hope that you shall make yourself comfortable here, Miss Percival," the Duke told her even as they headed up the marble staircase with Quintin hurrying behind them, struggling on a slight limp to keep up. Hearing the Duke speak, Matilda was reassured that at least the accounts of the Duke himself had been correct. He was indeed a kind and polite man, unlike many of the nobles she had worked for previously.
