Chapter 24 #2
Perhaps he was to blame for allowing Payton to become such an integral part of their lives and standing by when she walked away.
Since her arrival in his household, she’d been more than simply Joy’s and Abram’s governess; she’d been their constant companion, a friend and confidante.
She’d spent countless hours with them in the schoolroom, having meals with them, doing Joy’s hair, and selecting Abram’s clothes.
Thankfully, Abram and Joy had believed his excuses—for now.
Damon had to accept that Payton was gone, as well. It was what she wanted. Which meant he needed to focus his time and energy on something other than the feel of her soft lips against his.
His gaming night…it had been his distraction for years.
Now should prove no different. He would help with the setup and organization alongside his servants. There was also Catherton and his acceptance of the invitation to take up space in his mind.
Mrs. Brown shuffled into the room, much like her husband had shuffled down the hall earlier, collecting their empty plates at the same time she pinned Damon with a sorrowful stare.
A look that should have been reserved for his children, but the servant had turned it on him.
There had been no witnesses to his kiss with the governess, except a sleeping Joy.
No one had invaded their private moments in his study.
Was it possible that Payton had spoken of their intimacy with another servant?
It would be wise to speak with the children about Miss Samuels, but he was still at a loss for how to tell them.
Today, he would act as if nothing had changed. Governesses had come and gone, some in quick succession. Miss Samuels was no different.
Damon slipped from Ashford Hall as soon as Mr. Brown had the carriage readied.
He’d been able to avoid Joy and Abram the entire day, but when the sun rose anew, and Miss Samuels hadn’t returned, they’d begged him to check on her.
He’d been faced with either admitting that she wasn’t returning or bending to the children’s pleas.
It was just before lunch when Damon could resist them no longer and left, though he had no intention of seeking out Payton. She’d been clear that her decision was made, and her fury at his unappreciated meddling with Catherton had also been evident.
He’d had no choice but to throw himself on Flora’s mercy and beg her to assist him in securing a new Ashford governess.
When he hadn’t heard back from her, he assumed she’d insist the children were ready to venture outside London for schooling.
Surprisingly, Flora had sent a note saying she’d contacted Lady Devonshire, whose younger sister ran a school outside London that professed to training the most skilled governesses.
Mayfield Academy. Lady Devonshire insisted that she’d write her sister, Miss Darby with all due haste and have several women journey into town to meet with Damon.
It hadn’t been difficult to convince Flora to host the potential governesses at her home while Damon assessed each.
He was determined not to make the same mistakes he had with Payton.
His children’s next governess would be prim, proper, and above reproach—and of a mature age. Her pedigree didn’t matter overmuch as long as she did not admit to any vices or unsavory habits.
In another stroke of favorable luck, Catherton had sent his RSVP and would attend Damon’s card evening. Things were back under control, and it would only be a matter of time before a new governess was secured, and Damon would convince Catherton to relinquish his quest to discover Payton’s identity.
The journey through town to Flora’s townhouse in St. James’s Square passed in the blink of an eye, and before Damon was aware, he was ushered into the Wittenbottoms’ salon where Flora waited with her lady’s companion, Primrose.
Damon hadn’t known of the companion’s existence before he dined with Flora and the children at Wexfector’s.
He suspected that there were other aspects of his sister’s life he was unaware of, just as he kept much from her.
“Good morning, Flora.” He nodded before turning to her companion. “And to you, too, Miss Primrose.”
Flora’s companion hardly noted his greeting, her head bent low as she plied a needle with red thread through sheer white fabric, working on what appeared to be the petals of a rose.
“Damon,” Flora greeted hoarsely as if she hadn’t spoken in some time. “Miss Darby will be arriving any moment. Can I offer you a refreshment before they arrive?”
Miss Primrose set her stitchwork aside and hurried to the tea cart to pour two steaming cups before Damon could respond. She dropped one lump of sugar into each along with a quick pour of milk before returning to hand Flora and him their cups.
“Thank you.” Damon took a nearby chair, selecting it because it did not directly face his sister but the windows at her left, affording him a view of the roof lines across the street where a chimneysweep lugged his pail and broom toward a waiting stack. “And, thank you, Flora, for assisting me.”
“What happened to the dark-haired lass you hired last month?” she asked. He felt, rather than saw, her glare narrowed on him as if she were assessing him for weakness. “She was all the children spoke of the other day. What is her name?” Flora tapped her chin and glanced toward her companion.
“Miss Samuels.”
“Ah, yes, thank you, Primrose.” Flora returned her attention to Damon. “Whatever have the children done this time to send another governess running?”
Damon could not lay the burden at his children’s feet this time, nor could he admit that it was his mistake that’d sent Payton running. “The decision was mine, as it were, not Miss Samuels’.”
Flora stiffened. “I see, now.”
Dread laced through him at the thought of Flora seeing anything where Payton was concerned.
“She was unqualified,” Flora said with a confident nod. “I suppose I should have seen it long before this point.”
Damon breathed a sigh of relief. It was difficult to keep anything a secret in London; however, his connection to Payton would need to remain just that—a secret.
“I would not say unqualified, dear sister,” Damon mused as if it were of little importance why Miss Samuels was no longer his children’s governess. “Mayhap unprepared for such a daunting role. She is rather young herself.”
“And rather handsome, too.” Flora slapped her knee with a chuckle. “Girl should be setting her sights on finding a suitable husband before she grows long in the tooth. If you ask me, Damon, I’d say you did the woman a grand favor.”
Damon wasn’t asking Flora, although it was difficult to deny.
Payton was at the age when a woman should be setting her sights on starting her own family, not watching after another’s children.
There was no need to close his eyes to visualize her with a dark-haired babe on her hip and a smile upon her face.
She’d been wonderful with Joy, and supportive of Abram’s rather eccentric tendencies.
She would do the same for her own children.
His heart squeezed until his chest ached at the very real possibility that he would not see her again, let alone happy and content with a family of her own.
A soft knock sounded on the door, and they all turned when the butler entered.
“Miss Darby has arrived to see you, my lady,” the Wittenbottom servant proclaimed.
“Very good, Vernon. Please show her to the green salon.” After the butler had vacated the room, Flora turned to him with a smile. “I am certain Miss Darby will not disappoint with her selection.”
She said selection as if the decision had already been made—a governess found.
“I do look forward to speaking with her choices.”
“I doubt that will be necessary.” Flora stood, Miss Primrose bolting to her feet to follow, but his sister shook her head. “Please wait here. Damon and I will see to Miss Darby.”
Flora’s companion sat on the lounge, and Damon longed to change places with the woman. “Yes, my lady,” she mumbled.
Damon held out his arm for Flora, and they departed the room, making their way to the green salon. His sister, seemingly at ease, strode confidently at this side, while Damon had a sinking feeling that he was being led to the Tower.