Chapter Four #2
Miss Johansson laughed, and even though Dina felt tense, she could not hear anything but sincerity in the woman’s tone.
As though it was truly interesting to her to hear about Dina’s limited life experience.
But why would Miss Johansson be interested in a governess of no consequence?
The carriages leaving the church began to rattle past them, and they were forced to move farther to the side of the road, walking on the matted grasses rather than the hard-packed earth of the road.
“I do not mind London, though I would not like to live there year-round,” Miss Johansson mused. “We keep a house in Town, so I was quite familiar with the city when I had my first season. What took you to London?”
“I served as a nurse to Rebecca for a few months after she was born. Then returned to Braemar to care for my grandfather and teach at a girls’ school there.”
“And did you enjoy teaching?”
“I enjoyed the students.” She kept to herself that she’d been teaching farmer’s children in a dirt-floored schoolroom. An English woman like Miss Johansson would find that shocking and primitive.
“You seem to enjoy working with Mary’s children very much.”
“Indeed,” Dina said, unable to resist the softening that always occurred when she thought of her charges.
“They are delightful girls,” Miss Johansson said. “Well-mannered and pretty too. You have done well by them.”
“Thank you.”
“I am curious,” Miss Johansson said as they reached the drive that led to the Jennings’s house and took hold of Dina’s arm again.
“Did you see David at all during your time in London? I know you had been playmates as children, but did you renew your acquaintance when you both found yourself in Town?”
Dina felt a crackling in her chest as the suspicion she’d almost forgotten came back with a punch.
She’d meant to get information about Miss Johansson and had somehow become the one facing the questions.
She tried to debate her options in regard to formulating an answer but realized that Miss Johansson likely would not have asked if she did not already know the answer.
Why she cared about whether David and Dina had reconnected in London made Dina wary.
She kept her voice even as she answered. “He came by the house some.”
“And you continued the friendship you had from childhood?”
“As much as possible despite our differing circumstances.”
“Hmmmm.” Miss Johansson seemed to be thinking a great deal on this limited information.
They walked in silence for several steps as the house came into view around a bend in the drive. The trees on either side kept the wind in check, but Dina felt the first ping of rain on the back of her neck. “Ah, well, we have arrived safely and before the carriage.”
Miss Johansson looked over her shoulder as though to check for the carriage, then faced forward, a satisfied smile on her face. “David had been certain I could not walk faster than the carriage could drive; he owes me two shillings.”
Miss Johansson stopped walking, pulling Dina to a stop without releasing Dina’s arm. She turned to face her.
“David looks at you, you know,” Miss Johansson said, her focus intent on Dina, though her smile remained cheery and casual.
Dina felt a flush she could not control bloom in her chest and was glad she had a high collar on her dress. She could not think of any response.
“He is very attentive to you when you are in his company,” Miss Johansson continued.
Dina’s mouth was dry as she formulated an answer. “I think I remind him of Scotland, and perhaps happy times when his father was alive and he had such freedom.”
“He has freedom now,” Miss Johansson said, cocking her head to the side as she continued to watch Dina’s face. “He can make any choice he likes, you know.”
Rather than dance away from the implication, Dina caught it and held it tight.
“I’m not sure what you might be implying, Miss Johansson, but I can assure you that David and I, though once close, are merely acquaintances with a shared cousin now.
I have not seen him in six years, have not corresponded with him, and pose you no threat.
” The words sounded so much harsher said out loud, but she kept her chin up and her gaze focused, intent to nip whatever concern Miss Johansson had in the bud, though she had little grounds to be jealous with her own secrets still hidden away.
Miss Johansson continued to look at Dina a few seconds longer, then began walking toward the house again, pulling Dina with her.
“I really do wish you would come with us tomorrow, Miss Cameron. We are going to visit the abbey and take a picnic. I know you said you have a good deal of personal business to manage on your day off, but could you not spare a few hours? We need more young people to balance out all the more . . . seasoned guests.” She wrinkled her nose at the last.
Dina shook her head. The idea of watching David and Miss Johansson together for hours felt as inviting as chewing walnut shells, especially after this odd attention Miss Johansson was giving her.
But . . . Mr. Littlefield would be there too, which meant she would have the chance to observe him and Miss Johansson. “Is the entire party going?” she asked.
“My mother is not”—she glanced toward the sky—“and Mr. and Mrs. Havershorn as well as Mr. and Mrs. Donner will be staying behind to play bridge. Everyone one else will be there, however.”
That meant Mrs. Macarthur, who Dina wished to avoid if possible, would also be present.
“They’ve already ordered both carriages to be readied, so there’s an extra seat.” Miss Johansson made a pouting face that somehow made her more beautiful. She squeezed Dina’s arm. “Please come, Miss Cameron. It will be so much fun.”
Dina doubted it would be any fun at all, but it could be an up-close view of the three players in the puzzle she wanted to solve.
Needed to solve so that she could think about something—anything—else.
What kind of friend would she be if she ignored this chance to shore up her investment in David’s happiness that she had already endured such pain to ensure?
Rain began to create darkening spots on her pelisse while Miss Johansson continued to look at her with her heart-shaped face full of expectant hope.
This was very confusing—her feelings for David, Miss Johansson’s feelings for Mr. Littlefield, David’s feelings for Miss Johansson.
But time with all of them was likely the best opportunity available to help her sort it all out.
“I suppose I could—”
Her words were cut off by a fierce embrace from Miss Johansson. She pulled back almost immediately, hands on Dina’s shoulders and eyes bright. “Excellent. Tomorrow, then. Be ready by eleven, straight up.”