Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“No, Fred, you do not cuss loudly. A lady is expected to remain calm at all times and speak only in polite terms at a society function. I’ll add to that, you really shouldn’t speak like that at any time.”
Frederica made a face that expressed her displeasure at Eliza’s words.
“Oh, pooh to that,” she muttered. “I refuse to speak in a polite, well-modulated voice if one of my siblings annoys me. They will laugh hysterically.”
“So, I cannot talk to a gentleman first without being introduced by someone?” Matilda mused. “That sounds excessively silly.”
“Do not talk like a man is another silly rule,” Anna added. “How is a lady to talk like a man when she’s not one?”
“It’s not easy, I’ll give you that, and while some of the rules do sound silly, unfortunately, they are the rules that govern you when you enter society, so if you don’t adhere to them, it will be quite scandalous.” Eliza winked at the girls, and they giggled.
She’d been at 11 Crabbett Close for ten days now, and other than the large, gruff, and extremely rude Mungo, who she did her best to keep her distance from, her life was simply wonderful.
The ugliness of her arrival was a distant memory, and now she woke each day happier than she had ever been and ready to spend more time with these amazing Nightingales.
Open and generous, they were a real family, unlike any of the others she’d worked for. These people actually seemed to care for one another. It was a wonderful thing to witness.
Eliza didn’t know all their history, but knew something had happened to force the older members out of society. Fred had told her that the family had once been disgraced, but Eliza didn’t wish to pry further.
And the young adults she was in charge of were wonderful. Headstrong, but Eliza secretly loved that, when for so long, she’d looked after vapid young ladies who had been raised to be perfect society members.
“Fred, you will enter society next season, if you wish to do so.” That had been another surprise to Eliza. Bramstone and Ivy Nightingale would not force their nieces and nephews to enter should they not wish it. “But do you wish to feel comfortable or stand out for all the wrong reasons?”
Fred, Matilda, and Anna all thought about that.
“I don’t think I want to enter because I’m an orphan and I don’t have the right blood,” Anna said matter-of-factly, as if she was discussing the weather.
“It’s red, isn’t it?” Matilda asked.
“Of course it’s red, but I don’t know who my parents are, so that’s not good, surely?”
“Oooh!” Fred cried suddenly. “You could have royal parents.”
Anna rolled her eyes at that but laughed.
“Or they could be actors in a traveling show. Or circus folk,” Matilda said, looking excited over the prospect.
Whatever Anna decided would be supported by every member of this family. That was never in doubt to Eliza.
Which was the opposite experience to what had happened when Eliza moved into her uncle’s household, things were not discussed.
They were swept under the rug to fester.
But not here. In this household, things were gnawed on until there was a resolution.
She’d heard the arguments and heated debates, but there was always a conclusion, and any unhappiness was dealt with.
They were all different in their own ways. While Fred and Matilda were sisters and shared facial features, Anna was most like Matilda in nature.
Eliza caught her looking out the window.
“How about a walk around the close?” A break would help, as they appeared to be at an impasse.
She loved teaching them but knew they enjoyed their time with their tutor more, as they loved maths, geography, and similar subjects.
What she was teaching them, as far as they were concerned, was silly.
Eliza secretly agreed, and yet it was necessary.
She would ensure these three entered society and were noticed for all the right reasons.
“Yes, let’s walk,” Fred said.
“Excellent. You collect your outer clothing, and I shall meet you downstairs,” Eliza said.
She then hurried to her room on the floor above, and as she reached the stairs, Mungo was approaching. Damn, she didn’t have time to get up them before he arrived.
“Good day to you.”
He nodded.
“It’s polite to return a greeting,” Eliza said, gritting her teeth as she stood on the first step. It was better if she was at least looking at him directly and not tilting her head.
“You’ve been here for ten days and not worked out that I’m rude.”
His expression held the usual scowl that irritated her. Would it cost the man a lot to smile occasionally? His constant grumpy attitude was uncalled for.
“Were you born mean?” she said. No one was around, and he was beginning to vex her excessively.
He stiffened.
“Because manners cost very little, and throwing in the occasional smile will not ruin your reputation, Mr. Mungo. It is also good for the children to see it. You are one of the adults they strangely look up to—”
“Strangely?” The word came out coated in shards of ice.
Maintain strict formality with all senior members of the household. No undue familiarity, casual speech, or over-familiar conversation, and above all, never raise your voice.
Eliza rarely lost her temper or felt a need to yell at someone. This man had made her feel the need for both of those things constantly since she’d come into this household.
She stared into those blue eyes and wondered what lay behind the angry expression. Everyone was the way they were for a reason. What had turned this man into the rude person that stood before her today?
“Look,” Eliza gritted out, attempting to stay calm. “Clearly you don’t like me, for whatever reason, but all I am attempting to say is, would a smile or kind word cause you distress?”
“Are you questioning my behavior toward the young ones in this household?”
The words had come out with more than mere heat behind them. It was not how someone spoke when simply angered. Mungo was clearly outraged, Eliza thought. He didn’t like her taking him to task.
“I know those children better than anyone, so you’ll not tell me how to behave around them,” he growled, leaning in so close that she could see the small dark flecks in the bottom of his right eye and the faint white scar down the center of his forehead.
They stared at each other for long seconds. Eliza could run a finger down one weathered cheek to test the texture.
Absolutely not! Dear God, what am I thinking?
She saw him inhale deeply, and then he stepped back.
“You keep to your own business while you are here in this household and leave me to mine. These people are my concern, my family, and as such, I’ll watch over them.”
“I wish them no harm,” Eliza said, raising her chin.
“It’s an insult for you to question my loyalty to them,” he snapped back. “Were you a man, I’d take you to task further for inferring I have anything but love for this family.”
They glared at each other, and she felt something else sizzling in the air. She labeled it rage, but deep inside, Eliza knew there was more to this than that.
“You dare to say I’m insulting you when every word and look you send my way is exactly that?” She wouldn’t be the one to back down—Eliza had done more than enough of that in her lifetime. “You, sir, are a… a....” He raised a dark brow as she stuttered.
“Lost for words, Miss Downing, and you being a governess?” His smile was mocking now.
“You are a knave!” Eliza shot him a last fulminating look and turned but found she couldn’t move. Turning back, she saw he held a handful of her skirts. “Release me at once.”
“Watch how you step, Miss Downing,” he said, climbing onto the step she’d just left. He then said his next words into her right ear. “I’m watching you. One wrong move and you’re gone.”
“I-I should have left you in that cell,” Eliza snapped, hating how his closeness made her feel.
“I will not say the same for you of that day, as no woman should suffer as you nearly did, madam.”
And just like that, all the fight left her. “It was wrong of me to say those words,” she whispered. “But you provoked me. Now please release me, as I am due to meet the girls for a walk.” He did so, and she fled, taking the stairs up as fast as she could.
After plunging her face into the cold water in her basin, Eliza felt calmer. She then pulled on her jacket, scarf—having finally located it down the bottom of her bed—bonnet and gloves. Making her way back down the stairs, she saw no sign of the disturbing Scotsman.
She forced a smile onto her face as she saw the girls all wrapped up and waiting. “Ready?”
They nodded, and were soon stepping outside.
It was a cool day with a stiff breeze that Fred said was invigorating.
“Where are you lot off to?” Charles said as he arrived at 11 Crabbett Close. There was also Curiadh, the wolfhound who belonged to his sister Mrs. Hellion.
“Walking, Charles. Do you wish to join us?” Fred asked.
“Actually, I want to ask Miss Downing a question before you leave, if I may?”
Like the other men in this family, Charles was handsome, and unlike Mungo, he knew how to smile.
“Of course. How may I help you, Mr. Thomas?”
“As you likely know by now, I work at the Tuba newspaper. We are hoping to do some feature articles on women. I want to share with our readers what it is like to be a debutante or governess. Things that many don’t speak of.
We have thus far interviewed a woman who runs a boarding house, a seamstress, a midwife, a textile factory worker, an actress, and an opera singer. ”
“You want to interview me?” Eliza was flustered.
People did not show interest in her or what she did other than as a potential governess for hire, and she was happy with that.
She’d learned to be resilient and strong after her life had imploded, but she did not deliberately draw attention to herself.
“I would like to very much when you have the time.” He looked at her expectantly.
“Would my name be attached to the article?” Eliza didn’t think Mrs. Holton would appreciate that, but then, she could ask her, and perhaps that would once again put her in the woman’s good graces.
“If you have no wish for it to be, then we will not publish it. Perhaps we could sit down one day next week?”
Why did the thought of talking about her position excite her? Or was it simply gratification that someone seemed genuinely interested in her work? Eliza found herself nodding.
“As long as it does not interfere with her work!”
The barked words had Eliza looking toward the doorway behind her, where the fierce Scotsman now stood. He was true to his word, clearly, and watching her every move. Well, she would not show him how affected she was after their altercation on the stairs.
“Now, girls, this is what we would call unacceptable behavior,” Eliza said, pointing her gloved fingers at Mungo, who stood glowering down at her. “What should Mr. Mungo have said instead of barking those words rudely down at us?”
Ignoring the muffled laugh from Mr. Charles Thomas, she looked at the three faces before her.
“I’m sure Miss Downing will enjoy that, Charles, and perhaps a time could be scheduled after the girls have finished their lessons one day. Would you like that, Miss Downing?” Fred said, mimicking Mungo’s accent.
“Very good.” Eliza nodded at the girl.
“Or,” Matilda added in a snooty tone. “That sounds like an excellent idea, Charles. It’s important that people know the hard work governesses put in to get their charges in shape. I’m sure a time can be arranged that suits everyone.”
Charles was now laughing softly under his breath.
“Both excellent responses.” Eliza looked up at Mungo, whose brows were drawn together like thick drapes to shut out the cold weather. “Perhaps it is you who needs to come to my lessons, Mr. Mungo, and we can see about helping you communicate better?”
“Mungo!” he bellowed. “Not Mr. Mungo. I’ve told you that many times!”
“Do we bellow at people, girls?”
All three shook their heads solemnly.
“Excellent. Well, we shall leave Mr. Mungo to think about his behavior and take our walk. Perhaps giving him time to reflect will help him understand better that when you speak to people nicely, they respond in kind.”
“He’s always been like that, but he loves us very much,” Anna said. “But he does seem to be extra rude around you, Miss Downing, even considering you both saved each other.”
There were no secrets in this household Eliza had learned in the first few days of living with them. They were extremely nosey, so there was no point in trying to hide anything.
“I’ve not noticed the difference,” Eliza said, opening the gate and herding them through. “He appears to be rude to everyone.”
“Perhaps,” Fred said slowly as she looked at Eliza.
She tried not to blush, but felt heat creeping up her neck. Mungo was different with her because he wanted her out of the house.
“We’re used to his mannerisms now,” Matilda said taking pity on Eliza. “But he is a very kind man. He was there to save us.”
She shouldn’t ask, as it was not her right to pry into their past, and yet she found herself doing it anyway. “From what did he save you, Matilda?”
Fred shot her sister a look.
“Never mind. You do not have to tell me.”
“We don’t mind, and most everyone in society or Crabbett Close knows some of it, so even if you never asked, someone would likely tell you,” Matilda added.
“Our father was a bad man, and society turned on us because of him. It was Aunt Ivy, Uncle Bram, and Mungo who came for us. They took us away from London and the mean people and loved us,” Fred said.
Eliza had known there were secrets in this family, as there were in any, but she’d not fully understood the scandal surrounding the Nightingales until now.
“I’m so sorry you suffered,” she said, looking at the two older girls.
“But we are happy now, and that is what matters. Besides, I think this life is a great deal better than what it would have been,” Fred said. “And Mungo is part of the reason.”
“You have a wonderful family,” Eliza said.
“I love them all,” Anna added softly, but they all heard it.