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It was more than a little infuriating to Watson, but not nearly so uncomfortable as having Miss Percival at dinner with them when all his mind kept returning to was their kiss from the night before.
I ought to apologise,he thought, taking several moments during dinner to gaze at the governess, wondering just how to handle the situation. He could not help but think of how his heart had hurt the moment that she left the drawing room that morning, leaving him helplessly alone with Lady Florentia and her mother who had been all too eager to voice her opinion on the matters at hand.
Watson felt as though he had been gritting his teeth and clenching his jaw all day and his hands had been tightened into fists so many times that his knuckles were aching. By the time dinner was over, he had more than given up on trying to get anything out of his daughter.I shall wait until I have Miss Percival alone to find out what is going on with her,he decided even as he requested that his daughter give him a kiss and head on up to bed.
The moment that Lady Amy and Miss Percival left the room, Watson leaned back in his chair at the head of the table and breathed a deep sigh of relief.
“Is all well, Your Grace?” Quintin asked, stepping up from where he had been waiting in the shadows at the edge of the dining room for the family to finish their meal just in case the Duke had need of anything.
Watson shook his head, unable to keep the smile that he had forced onto his face for the entire dinner, hoping that his daughter might thaw a little from whatever had chilled her so toward him.
“I fear that I have failed all over again, Quintin,” Watson sighed even as he pushed back his chair and forced himself to his feet.
“I am sure that is not true, Your Grace,” Quintin responded quickly and loyally. “You can only do your best and that is all anyone has ever asked of you.”
Watson could only allow the corners of his lips to twitch upward in a grateful smile to the steward before he said, “Quintin, will you please request that Miss Percival join me in the study for our usual meeting once my daughter is asleep?”
“Yes, of course, Your Grace,” Quintin replied.
Watson took only a moment to pick up his wine and drain the last of its contents before he placed the glass back on the table and left the room. He was not sure whether or not he had the strength to face Miss Percival after all that had happened over the last few days, but he was certain that he would not be able to sleep if he did not.
Whether he liked it or not, he had an apology to make and could only hope that he had not ruined things irreparably between them, not to mention the fact that he needed to get to the bottom of his daughter’s recent behaviour toward Lady Florentia and her mother.
Hopefully, the governess would be able to give some insight into what was going on though Watson quickly reminded himself that none of his daughter’s previous governesses would have had any clue as to what was plaguing her or causing her to be in such a sullen mood.
Miss Percival is different,he reminded himself even as he entered his study and left the door open, hoping to catch sight of Miss Percival before she reached the room.
It was little more than an hour when the Duke finally heard the sound of footsteps coming down the staircase further down the hall. The sound was distant and yet he had come to recognise the gentle sound of the governess’ elegant steps as she moved about the manor. His heart betrayed him, beating wildly at the sound, and he discreetly raised his eyes from the papers he had only half been reading anyway.
When she appeared at the other end of the hall walking toward him, Watson could not help but smile. Though she looked just the same as she had an hour ago in the dining room, Watson was once more floored by her beauty and found it hard to look away so not to make her feel uncomfortable.
Even though she had likely seen him watching her, Miss Percival paused at the door and knocked before entering. “Your Grace, I thought you might like the usual evening report.”
It was the same way that she came to him every night, and yet it still made his entire body tingle the moment that she stepped into the room and curtsied before him.
“I do hope I am not disturbing you,” she added, standing in the room with her hands clasped before her and her head slightly bowed as if she could not bring herself to look at him.
“Of course not, Miss Percival. I am always ready to hear the evening report,” he assured her, placing his papers on the desk and gesturing her further into the room. “Please, come in and have a seat. I think it has been a long day for us both.”
Even in the dimness of the room which was being lit by a single candle on his desk and the fireplace behind his back, Watson could see the way the governess blushed as she moved to sit in her usual seat across from him. Watson’s heart swelled to think how easy and regular their evening meetings had become and how much he enjoyed them still.
“I am quite aware of how the morning played out and how quiet my daughter was at dinner,” Watson said with a deep sigh once Miss Percival had settled herself into the chair. “I do hope that this afternoon was a much more pleasant experience.”
The expression that crossed the governess’ face suggested that it could not be further from the truth and Watson had to brace himself for whatever she was about to throw at him. She glanced down at her hands clasped before her and twiddled her thumbs around several times before finally responding, “Your Grace, your daughter has had a pretty tough day today.”
“Tough, as in…?” Watson asked with a raised eyebrow. He struggled to stop himself from gripping hold of the edge of the desk in his anticipation. “I do hope she has not been causing havoc.”
“Oh, no! Nothing like that!” Miss Percival responded quickly, her gaze flashing up to his and when their eyes met, Watson instantly felt his anticipation easing slightly. No matter what, the governess always seemed able to calm his nerves. “Lady Amy has had a tough dayemotionally, Your Grace.”
Watson clenched his jaw at that. Though he was well aware of women and their emotions, he had always struggled with the idea that one day his daughter would be going through similar such things and in truth he had no idea of how to handle it.Is that time coming already?Watson thought, biting the inside of his cheek as he tried to think of something to say.
“Is…is she becoming a woman? Is that what caused her outburst in the drawing room this morning?” Watson asked, feeling more than a little guilty. “Had I known, I would not have allowed Lady Denby to speak of her so harshly.”
“Oh, no, Your Grace. I believe Lady Amy’s problem is…” Miss Percival paused and turned her gaze away once more, looking as though she was not entirely pleased to have to spell it out for him. Watson’s stomach clenched and his head hurt until he felt like he was the most foolish man that ever lived.Whatever could be the matter?“Your Grace, I fear your daughter has a dislike for Lady Florentia.”
The moment he heard the words, Watson realised he was not surprised. In fact, he had half been expecting such a thing to happen ever since he began to court the woman. With a deep sigh, he started to shake his head. Running his fingers through his dark hair, he grunted, “I was afraid this would happen.”
“Your Grace, I would try not to worry about it too keenly,” Miss Percival insisted and when he looked up again, she was looking at him with an expression that suggested she wished to comfort him just as she had the night before.It was a look like that which caused me to kiss you, Miss Percival,he thought, barely managing to stop himself from saying the words aloud.
