As they approached the gates of Everleigh, Christian decided he had a newfound respect for his maid, for his new governess, for the lady who’d breezed into his life mere hours ago.
Good lord. He’d known her for less than a day and yet could not deny the strange sense of a
ttachment. It was all rather baffling.
Rose stopped at the fork in the path. To the right were the stables, to the left, the entrance to the servants’ quarters.
“Thank you, my lord, for coming to my aid at the manor.” She tried to disguise the smile that touched her lips as she bobbed a curtsy.
Christian should have used the opportunity to insist she never go there alone again, but he was suddenly captivated by the dusting of freckles on her nose.
“You should not be outdoors without a bonnet.”
A frown marred her brow. “But I don’t own a bonnet.”
How was that possible for a woman of her previous standing?
“Oh, yes. I recall there was an unfortunate accident on the road and someone stole your luggage.” It was a ridiculous story, though it begged the question what had happened to her possessions?
“Mrs Hibbet thought you might not hire me without references.” Suddenly her countenance grew sombre. It was as though someone had thrown a black veil over her face to dull its brilliance. “In desperate times people often resort to desperate measures.”
Curiosity burned. The sudden need to know everything about Rose proved to be overwhelming. But he sensed her retreat. Whatever terrible things had happened in her life, clearly, she had no desire to speak of the events.
The need to rouse a smile took hold, too.
“As the governess, you would have a private apartment.”
The corners of her lips twitched, and he felt like the richest man alive. “Is that a ploy to encourage me to accept?”
“Perhaps.” He smiled as he struggled to contain the odd sensations filling his chest. “Are you tempted to accept?”
“Not on the basis of the superior accommodation. But if you give me your assurance that I am free to deal with the children as I see fit, you might persuade me.”
“I expect some tutoring as part of their timetable.”
Rose pursed her lips. “Trust me, my lord. It will be a very enlightening week.”
“Only a week?” A mild sense of panic gripped him at the prospect of her leaving. Perhaps he was coming down with the fever. It was the only explanation to account for his erratic emotions.
“We agreed to assess the situation once the week was out,” she reminded him. “You might want rid of me by then. Now, I promised Mrs Hibbet I’d be but an hour and she has a list of jobs as long as a bishop’s stole.” Rose offered a parting curtsy. “Good day, my lord.”
“Good day, Rose.”
Christian watched her walk away. Something told him she had no intention of staying at Everleigh any longer than necessary. But where would she go? What would force a woman to abandon the prospect of a secure home and a regular income?
If he had any hope of making her stay, he had to find out.
Chapter Six
The private apartment allocated to the many governesses previously employed at Everleigh was located on the second floor, next door to the nursery. Mrs Hibbet insisted Rose move into the room right away. The housekeeper’s urgency stemmed from the need to prevent anyone else from catching the strange fever that had affected every member of the household at some point or other in the last two years.
“Rose is to be your new governess,” Mrs Hibbet said, “just for the time being.”
The children stood in the middle of the nursery and stared, their expressions solemn.
“We don’t want a governess,” Jacob replied. He spoke with the self-assurance of a boy of twelve, not one swiftly approaching eight. “We want you to be the maid. We want a maid’s help that’s all.”
“What is the difference?” Rose failed to understand the child's point. “Both are merely titles. I hope to be your maid, your governess and your friend. If you will allow it.” She turned to the housekeeper. “Thank you, Mrs Hibbet. But I shall be fine on my own with the children.”