Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
The morning air tasted freer, sweeter where it entered the room from an open window.
A chance, at last, a fair chance.
Adeline felt relief and triumph at Winston’s words.
But it was not as though she were destitute.
She was paid a stipend by Cordelia, and it met her needs.
She could continue to be Cordelia’s Lady-In-Waiting quite happily.
Except that until Briarwood was restored, there was little room for that position at Greystone.
The Duke employed a housekeeper who marshalled the servants, much as Adeline had done at Briarwood, where there was no housekeeper.
To be a governess was to have a position within the household.
And one that ties me to Greystone. To the Duke. Is that part of my happiness? He has shown me either naked lust or indifferent iciness. Why should I want to be close to him?
Winston’s suspicion had not crushed her.
She would have a month to prove herself worthy of Louisa’s care.
A month in company with Lousia would certainly be something to look forward to.
She was delightful company. Inquisitive, intelligent, adventurous.
Adeline had no doubt that the right governess would be able to have fun with such a charge.
And she hoped that she was that governess.
She decided to brave the maze of the house alone and skipped to the door. Opening it, she froze. Robert Grebe stood on the other side. His posture was coiled, eyes gleaming with menace.
“Mornin’, Your Ladyship. Fancy meeting you here.”
Adeline’s eyes darted up and down the hallway. Grebe chuckled.
“Don’t worry, miss. The Duke’s away, and there’s no one to overhear. Shall we go inside, just in case?”
Adeline remembered Robert Grebe. Had Winston told her that he was hiring the man, she would have produced an objection. He was an oppressor, particularly towards women.
“No, you will leave at once,” she said, keeping hold of the door and not crossing the threshold.
“Not until you hear me out,” Grebe said, moving closer.
Adeline’s hand tightened on the door, preparing to swing it shut in his face. Could she turn the key in the lock before he forced the door open again? She would have to try.
“There is nothing I wish to hear from you, Grebe.”
“You’ll want to hear this. Your father has been looking for you these last two years.
Private investigators, searches by local militia.
You did well to get this far from Harston, or they would have found you.
He even told the magistrates you’d stolen from him.
That’s how he got the county militia involved. ”
Adeline swallowed. The thought of being manacled and then dragged back to Harston was an unpleasant one.
“That is a lie.”
“But Lord Harston is persuasive. When he’s sober. And he still has some friends in the right places.”
“Look, what do you want from me?” Adeline demanded, “Just say it right out so I get deny you and get on with my day!”
She had decided to snuff the encounter out. If Grebe thought she was afraid, it would make him bolder. She didn’t want that.
“You’ll do me a service,” he said softly. “You will persuade His Grace to take me on. Else, I’ll tell him exactly who you are. Worse, I’ll tell your father.”
The blood drained from Adeline’s face.
Grebe’s smile widened. “You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
He looked up and down the hallway, checking that there was no help coming to the aid of his victim.
“How do you think I might influence a man like the Duke when he has decided on a course of action?” Adeline demanded.
Grebe leered, and Adeline’s face went scarlet.
“If I were you, I would leave this house with all speed, Grebe,” Adeline said, clenching her fists at her side.
His insinuation was clear enough, and it infuriated her.
She remembered the manservant but did not know him.
He was one of many employed at Harston. To her shame, she remembered the furniture more than she remembered some of the servants, especially those who worked for her father.
Grebe’s character was becoming clear, though.
“I’ll go, but I won’t be going far. You’ll talk the Duke into it.”
His eyes roamed up and down Adeline and, on impulse, she stepped forward and slapped him across the face with all the strength she could muster. He took a step back, one hand going to his cheek. His eyes darkened and he bared yellow, crooked teeth.
“Why you…!” he snarled.
“Adeline! Adeline! Your tea is getting cold!” Louisa’s voice came up the stairs, growing rapidly closer.
“You’ll be sorry,” he whispered and ran down the hallway.
Louisa appeared at the top of the stairs moments after Grebe turned a corner and was out of sight.
“Are you well?” Louisa asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Quite well. Let’s get back to breakfast, shall we?” Adeline said, forcing a smile and hoping it looked suitably genuine.
Louisa latched onto her arm and they went downstairs.
“It seems that I am to be your governess after all,” Adeline said, looking to dispel the bitter taste left by Grebe’s threats, “on a trial basis at least.”
“Oh, Adeline! That is simply wonderful! I think you will be the best governess ever! And I did not even think I needed or wanted a governess.”
“You need one. All young girls need one,” Adeline said, firmly. “There are things about being a lady that a father cannot teach you.”
“But if I had a mother…” Louisa said as they reached the ground floor.
“Then she would teach you. But in her absence, a governess will do.”
They entered the breakfast room. Cordelia munched on toast and marmalade, but Winston was not present. Adeline took her seat at the table.
“Grandmama, isn’t it wonderful! Papa has agreed to take on Adeline as my governess!” Louisa exploded as soon as she entered the room.
“Oh, that is wonderful. I am very happy for you, Louisa. Adeline is a marvelous companion, and I’m sure she will be an excellent teacher. Did you and Winston work out his objections then?”
“We talked it over,” Adeline said with a smile. “I think I have proved myself to him.”
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. “My, that is fast work. Once my son decides on something, he is very difficult to shift. You have done well to change his mind in a matter of one day.”
The look on Cordelia’s face, the tone of her voice, was different to anything Adeline had seen before. There was a bird-like watchfulness in her expression. A pause as she held a teacup to her lips, eyes steady on Adeline through the steam.
“Perhaps he was already on the fence, and it did not take much to push him off?” Adeline said.
Louisa giggled. “I like the idea of Adeline pushing Papa off a fence. Papa would not.”
“I think my son could certainly benefit from a woman in his life who is able to nudge him in the right direction,” Cordelia said. “That is a task you can help me with: find a suitable wife for Winston, and a permanent governess for Louisa, of course.”
“Of course. I’d be glad to,” Adeline said, wondering why the first task felt so uncomfortable.
She wished that Cordelia’s gaze were not so appraising.
She smiled, sipped tea, and nodded as though this was a purely academic topic.
After all, she had been jilted at the altar and was not a candidate to be a bride to any man.
As far as Cordelia was concerned, anyway.
Louisa simply shrugged, toying with a piece of toast on her plate. Adeline exchanged looks with Cordelia.
“Your father must have an heir,” Cordelia said. “Do you not wish for a brother?”
“Perhaps,” Louisa said slowly.
“Or perhaps you would prefer if it continued to be your father and you?” Adeline suggested gently.
“And Grandmama. And you,” Louisa replied.
“Let us see how I get on as governess first. You may not like me at all when I have to be strict with you,” Adeline said with mock severity.
“We’ll see,” Louisa grinned.
Adeline was glad to steer the conversation away from the notion of herself as a potential fiancée to Winston. She felt the heat in her cheeks at the thought.
He is too cold. Too untrusting. Too handsome. Too magnetic.
She realized that she had been frozen in a moment of time, held there by thoughts of Winston.
The Duke. How can a man be considered a possible husband when I do not even have permission to use his first name! Patently ridiculous.
“What was that, Louisa?” Adeline said, her mind returning to the room.
“Saturday is the village fete at Greytonwic. Will you come with us?”
“I would be delighted.”
“Grandmama, do you think Papa will come with us this year?” Louisa asked.
“We can only ask,” Cordelia said, “but you know how he dislikes such social activities. And he is very busy managing his estates.”
“But we are giving him three days’ notice,” Louisa protested.
“But surely as Duke he should attend,” Adeline said. “The people in the village will include many of his own tenants, will it not?”
The door opened at that moment, and Winston came in. He stopped as the words left Adeline’s mouth. His dark blue eyes came to rest on her, his expression cold.
“My tenants?” he asked.
“Adeline was just saying that the village will include many of your tenants, Papa, and it would be a good reason for you to attend the fete with us,” Louisa said, hopefully.
The ice melted, and Winston took his seat, running a hand over Lousia’s head fondly. He sat and shared a glare between Cordelia and Adeline.
“I imagine many good reasons have been posited. You know I dislike such occasions, Mother.”
“I think it would be good for Louisa,” Adeline said, feeling as though she were speaking to a different person than the man who had sat on the floor of her bedroom with her.
“You are taking your duties seriously,” Winston said.
“I am, and I do.”
“Please, Papa…” Louisa began.
Adeline cut her off firmly. If she were to act as the girl’s governess, she did not think that she could also be her best friend. And Winston might take her seriously in the role if she showed some firmness. She gently put a hand on Louisa’s arm.
“Louisa, it is not for a child to persuade her father. Particularly not when he is a Duke. Let's not harangue him.”
Winston’s eyes narrowed, and he opened his mouth to speak. Then, he closed it again.
I do believe he intended to gainsay me. If I said the sky was blue, he would argue with me!
Adeline looked at Winston with an open face, inviting his frostiness or his hostility. She would accept both.
I will prove to you that I can be a useful addition to this household. An indispensable one. I must if I am to survive the damage that Robert Grebe could do to my standing.
“Very well. I will attend in the morning only. I will not spend all day there. I have too much to do.”
That was enough for Louisa who launched herself at her father and hug him. Adeline caught Winston’s eye as he smiled in response to his daughter’s excitement. He wiped the smile immediately. But Adeline had seen it. He was human after all.