Chapter 9
Caroline stood on the slope and looked down at David’s house.
At this time in the morning, it looked warm and inviting.
There was a threat of rain, dark clouds gathering on the horizon, but it was holding back for now.
It also made the scenery look interesting; Caroline could see this becoming a painting, David’s house in the foreground with the clouds on the horizon.
Better than what her house would look with rain clouds in the background. It would look like she belonged in a Gothic novel.
Hopefully, it would hold off until Caroline returned home. She didn’t want to be caught out in it again.
As she made her way down the slope, Caroline knew she might turn up, and David wasn’t present.
She hadn’t sent a calling card ahead, as she was supposed to do, so turning up on her own without sending a message ahead would raise a few eyebrows.
David would be doing his own thing. He and his sisters were more than likely not home.
That was going to be a risk she had to take.
Caroline didn’t think she could wait until her calling card had been received.
This had to be done now. After spending most of the previous evening and breakfast the following morning talking to her parents about David’s proposition, Caroline knew what she needed to do.
It seemed like the best situation for them all.
Especially as she had received a letter that morning from one of her other potential employers saying that they wouldn’t hire her because they had found someone more qualified.
That was fair enough, but it made Caroline feel like her situation was a bit more dire.
She needed a job, and if she put all her hope into the final family and that fell through, she would have to go further afield. The idea of doing that sounded exciting, but Caroline didn’t want to do that unless she absolutely had to.
David was giving her an opportunity that she would be a fool to pass up. Now she just had to tell him she would take the job.
When she got to the house, Caroline hesitated, looking up at the huge building before her.
The household staff knew her, but what would they say if she came here without sending her calling card first. She still had to follow things in Society despite her unwanted title of spinster.
Nobody had said it out loud, but everyone would be thinking it.
Caroline didn’t think she could get rid of that title.
She despised it now.
Hadleigh opened the door shortly after Caroline knocked. He gave her a smile and bowed.
“Lady Caroline. Forgive me, his grace didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“It’s my fault, Hadleigh. I only decided to speak with him this morning.” Caroline hesitated. “Am I permitted to come inside?”
“I’m merely a servant, Lady Caroline. You don’t need to ask me something like that.”
“But this isn’t my house.”
Hadleigh’s smile warmed, and he stepped aside.
“You always were thinking of others, My Lady.”
Caroline stepped inside and handed her bonnet to the butler, adjusting her gloves as she looked around.
“Is Lord Bayntree around?”
“He’s in his study. Ladies Henrietta and Gwendolyn are in their bedchambers.”
“Still. It’s ten-thirty.”
“I’m not about to question why they’re still upstairs, My Lady.” Hadleigh put Caroline’s bonnet away in the closet, closing the door before heading across the foyer. “If you’ll follow me?”
Caroline walked after him through the hallways until Hadleigh reached what she assumed was the study.
When she was a child, they had been forbidden from coming in.
The old Duke of Bayntree hadn’t wanted them inside.
She had never looked in; although she had tried through the window, the curtains had been closed. It was like it was hiding something.
She felt excitement going into a room she knew about but had never stepped inside.
Hadleigh knocked on the door and entered when permitted.
“Lady Caroline Fairfax is here to see you, Your Grace.”
“Lady Caroline?”
“Shall I send her in?”
“Of course! Let her in, Hadleigh!”
The butler withdrew and gave Caroline a nod. Smiling in return, Caroline entered the study and looked around. What she saw was a surprise. It was a rather bland room, with a bookcase in one corner and a drinks cabinet in another.
The fireplace was huge, and there was a chair and settee, clearly mismatched despite being the same colour, in front of said fireplace with a rug that clashed with the colour of the upholstery.
The curtains were open, and the sunlight made the whole room look brighter than it should with the simple white walls.
Apart from the huge oak desk in front of the windows, there was barely any other furniture.
This was the study belonging to a duke? Caroline wanted to scratch her head at it all.
“Caroline, good morning.”
Caroline jumped. David had got up from his chair and was coming around the desk, giving her a smile that made Caroline’s heart stutter again.
He was dressed in a more somber pale grey, but it looked really good on him.
David was one of those people who could make any colour look good.
He could be in the brightest colour possible, and nobody would care.
Then Caroline realised she was staring, and David was coming closer. She needed to remember her composure and stop behaving like a fool. She gulped and gave him a smile.
“Good morning. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“No, of course not. You could never interrupt anything.” David grinned and gestured at the room. “What do you think of the room? I’m going to sort it out when I’ve got things sorted on the estate, so it won’t look like this forever.”
“Was it always looking like this?” Caroline turned in a slow circle. “I can’t see someone like your father wanting his study in such a state.”
“I’m afraid I can’t blame Father for this.
He took everything with him when he left.
” David shrugged. “I have no idea why he moved all the furniture in this room minus the desk and not the others, but I wasn’t really in a state to argue.
I’ve had to get all this furniture from other rooms, so it looks relatively used. ”
“So you’re the reason everything doesn’t match.”
“I never said I had an eye for detail. But it will be sorted eventually.” David took her hand. “Come with me. The settee may not match anything else, but it’s comfortable.”
Caroline almost tripped over her own feet. David’s hand was warmer than she thought, closing around her fingers with a soft touch that made her forget what she was doing. Catching herself in time, she avoided looking at David as he glanced back at her due to her stumbling.
She was not going to do anything stupid, or that would make her look like a fool. David might know her and not mind if she did that, but Caroline would rather not go through the embarrassment.
They sat on the settee, Caroline adjusting her skirts over her trembling knees. David crossed his legs and sat back.
“So, why are you turning up this morning? Not that I’m not happy to see you …”
“I’ve thought about the offer you gave me last night.” Caroline felt her words coming out in a rush, and she took a couple of breaths to calm herself. She needed to maintain that and not seem like she was too desperate. “About becoming a governess for your sisters?”
David tilted his head to one side.
“Oh, yes?”
“My parents and I have discussed it, and we can see that your offer is good. If it’s still there, I would like to accept it.”
David’s expression lit up.
“So, you’re willing to do it?”
“I am. However …”
Caroline started to hold her hand up, only to realise that she was still holding onto David’s. Clearing her throat, she withdrew her hand from his and held it up.
“However, I do have a few conditions, and I hope you’ll consider them.”
“Of course. You know I always listen to you.”
“David …”
“Alright, most of the time.” David shifted to face her fully, his eyes searing into hers. “So, what are these conditions?”
“I have one day off a week. It’s at your discretion which day it is, but if I ask for a specific day, I want no arguments over it.”
“Of course. You’re not a prisoner here.”
That was something. Caroline went on.
“You work with me on what you want your sisters to learn. You don’t leave it just to me and then get upset because they’re not doing what you thought. Give me a timetable I have to work to, but don’t make it too restrictive on the girls.”
“I’ll remember to talk to you about that.”
“And while I’m sure I’m capable of teaching Henrietta and Gwen to the best of my ability, I know there will be mistakes.
While I want you to remember that, I also don’t want you to be gentle on me because we’re friends.
If I’m terrible or do something you consider unforgivable, I wantto be confident that you will let me go.
I don’t want to be a detriment to Henrietta and Gwen’s education. ”
David smiled.
“I can’t see you being a detriment to them, Caroline. You will be anything but that.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I’m sure.” David reached out and touched her arm, his fingers warm against her skin. “You’ll be perfectly fine, Caroline. I can’t see me telling you to get out of here because you’re bad at your job. You make sure you do everything to the best of your ability.”
Caroline knew that, but she knew there was a part of her that was sure this would go wrong.
She didn’t want to end up messing things up for herself; otherwise, she would be stuck as to where to go from there.
Failing her first governess job wouldn’t exactly help her get another posting.
Future potential employers wouldn’t take too kindly to that.
She needed this to go right.
#
“Would you like anything else, Your Grace?” Hadleigh asked as he poured the brandy into David’s uplifted glass.
“No, thank you, Hadleigh. You can retire for the night if you so wish.”
“If you’re sure, Your Grace?”