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“Oh no, it is nothing,” she protested, shaking her head, and finally seeming to get herself back under control. “I am just amused by the thought of you trying to teach your daughter needlework. I cannot imagine many fathers who would have the patience for it.”
Watson’s cheeks heated with embarrassment as he realised that she had pegged him right. Needlework was most definitely not something he had the patience for, nor did he have the patience to listen to Amy moaning about pricking her finger every five minutes.
“Then you can see why I am in need of your help,” he told her, trying his hardest to hide his embarrassment. Then, hoping to quickly change the subject, he added, “Of course, there will be the usual duties of arranging all daily activities, schooling, meals and bedtimes and such.”
Matilda nodded steadily, taking in all that he was saying. “Yes, Your Grace, Quintin has indeed outlined all that shall be expected of me.”
“Then you will also know that Sunday and Monday shall be your usual days off unless I notify you otherwise and in good time,” Watson told her, remembering how he had offered the woman two days off a week, with pay, in the hopes that it might sway her to take the position. “Though I do request that if you plan to go further afield than the edges of the estate that you clear it with me first.”
“I would not expect any different, Your Grace,” Matilda assured him. “And you have my word, I will do all I can to get to the bottom of Lady Amy’s problems.”
Watson opened his mouth to thank her but before he could say a word, she added, “Or perhaps the bottom of the previous governesses’ problems.”
Watson could not help but scoff at that. It was clear that she had only said such a thing not to upset him. Perhaps if it had just been a single governess to quit, he might argue the matter but after five governesses, he was certain where the issue lay. The only problem he had was the fact that he could not get to the bottom of it, not without the help of a woman like Miss Percival.
“I am very grateful to you, Matilda,” he admitted, pushing himself to his feet. Straightening his jacket and running his fingers through his hair, he cleared his throat and suggested, “Please, allow me to escort you to the stairs.”
The governess looked more than a little surprised when he offered her his hand to help her to her feet, yet she made no kind of protest, bowing her head with gratitude and allowing him to help her up.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Releasing her hand, he gestured for her to lead the way, moving to pull the door further open where it had closed slightly in the draft through the house that came with the evening chill.
“I do hope that I have not kept you from anything important this evening, Your Grace,” she told him even as they began to walk down the hall toward the grand staircase.
“Oh no, Miss Percival,” he protested with a shake of his head, “There is nothing more important than the care of my daughter, and besides, I wanted to make sure that we had the correct measure of each other.”
It was then that they reached the bottom of the staircase and Miss Percival turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow. “I think that we do, do we not, Your Grace?”
He looked at her silently for several moments, pleased once more that she had finally agreed to come and join them, to take the position he had been offering for weeks.
“I do believe that we do, Miss Percival.” He smiled back at her and dropped down into a respectful bow to wish her good night. “Have a pleasant night, Matilda. I do hope you shall find your room comfortable.”
“It is by far the most comfortable room I have ever been afforded. Thank you, Your Grace,” she responded with a smile and curtsied. “Good evening to you.”
She then rose to full height and took the first step of the staircase before she paused and turned back to add, “Fear not, Your Grace. I do not frighten easily.”
Watson had to gulp past the sudden lump in his throat.That is exactly what they all say.
Before he could allow the worry to take a hold of him, he pushed away the thought and responded, “I am glad to hear it, Miss Percival. Remember, this is your home now. You may have access to anything and everything beneath this roof and on this estate both for professional and personal use.”
Holding onto the banister with one hand and her book of fairytales in the other, Matilda dropped into a half-curtsy and said, “Thank you, Your Grace. And thank you for your employment.”
“Until the morrow, Miss Percival,” he said with a nod of acknowledgement, bowing once more as he realised he had kept her quite long enough when the grandfather clock began to chime once more on the hour.
He stood silently, watching her ascend the staircase back to the room that adjoined his daughter’s, and he could not help but think,I have a good feeling about this one.
Chapter 3
Matilda had been pleasantly surprised by her easy conversation with the Duke and when she awoke the next morning, she was in a very positive mood.She smiled gently to herself as she washed and dressed and prepared for her first day, feeling that the Duke was most definitely a man she could get used to working for. He had been kind and gentle and reassuring, unlike many noblemen she had known in her time.
And yet, by the time she came down to the drawing room where she had been previously told by Quintin that she would first meet Lady Amy properly, she quickly started to get the sense that things were going to take a negative turn.
Upon entering the large, sunlit room with its plush sitting area, small piano forte, and a shelf of books, she thought it the perfect place to meet her new charge properly for the first time. It was a place filled with good energy and lovely things, a portrait of the Duke and his daughter hanging above the fireplace and even a couple of stuffed birds decorating the walls.
The clock sitting upon the mantlepiece beneath the portrait suggested that she was a little early after having been brought her breakfast by Quintin in order that she not be rushing around on her first morning with them. She had eaten it quickly in her room and then hurried down to meet her charge though there had been no sight nor sound of Lady Amy all morning.
Having been housed directly next door to the young lady, Matilda found it quite disconcerting. A part of her would have liked to ignore Quintin's instructions that she would be met in the drawing room if not for the fact she was certain that no child would appreciate their new governess invading their private quarters on the very first morning.
