The Mysterious Governess (Daughters of Sin 3)
“Adding to your consequence. You should be grateful to me. The Lamonts will never look at you in the same way, wondering what business you have with the esteemed MP, Lord Debenham.”
“I just pray I never see him again,” Lissa murmured, stroking the fronds of a large potted palm before smiling up at him, “for he was the only man I danced with at Lady Stanley’s ball, and no one must ever know I left the house and did such a thing.”
Mr. Tunley cocked his head and looked at her with renewed interest. “You danced with my employer? One of London’s most...dangerous bachelors?” The gleam in his eye faded and he sighed. “I hope you didn’t prefer him over me. That would not be wise, and I’m not saying that only because I’d prefer you favored me. The fact is, I would caution any young lady against falling in love with my employer, even at the risk of my job.”
Lissa stared at him against the backdrop of exotic greenery and London’s gray London skies through the window in the background. She’d sensed something she hadn’t liked when dancing in Lord Debenham’s arms, chaste though the contact had been.
“Dangerous? Pray, why is he dangerous?”
“So you know nothing of Lord Debenham? Of his vendetta against his late cousin’s husband, Sir Aubrey, whom he accuses of being the ringleader in the plot to assassinate Lord Castlereagh?”
“Good heavens!” Lissa cried, shaking her head. “But surely it’s Sir Aubrey who is the man to beware? At least, that’s what Lord Debenham told me.” She narrowed her eyes. “And why work for a man you clearly do not admire?”
Mr. Tunley looked abashed for the first time as he played absently with the frond of an overhanging fern for Lissa had not invited him to be seated. She was too nervous for that. “Needs must, my dear Miss Hazlett. I could ask you the same. Why work for a family you clearly have no respect for? I’ll answer it for you. Because where else could you go? As for myself, I’d need a very compelling reason for leaving my present employ without my reputation being tarnished. I’m afraid Lord Debenham would not be kind in letting me go. So, I make myself absolutely indispensable to him. He’d be lost without me, and that’s a fact.”
He grinned suddenly. Lissa liked the way his smiles lit up his face, as if he possessed a great radiance within. “Deuced coincidence that you danced with him. Not that—as you say—you want the Lamonts to find out about that.” He looked thoughtful. “Or, to in fact, see Lord Debenham in case he says something.”
“That’s not likely, for I rarely leave the house except to take the little girls to the park. However, Master Cosmo hopes to render His Lordship’s likeness, which means he plans to make some awful sketch and then have me fix it up. His mother thinks it a splendid idea.” Lissa smiled, tilting her head and feigning entreaty. “I don’t suppose you could find out for me whether Master Cosmo’s request was conveyed to Lord Debenham? It would help to know so I had something to convey when I returned to the drawing room where the family is no doubt agog to hear what you’ve had to say.”
Ralph stroked his chin, thoughtfully. “I’ve been on business about town all morning so I’m afraid I have nothing to report. Nor will I have anything to report in the future as I see how unwise it would be to communicate further with you. The Lamont family will not tolerate their governess entertaining,” he shrugged, “a follower—dreadful word, that is—and I do not wish to make things difficult for you.”
Disappointment flooded her though she knew this was ridiculous when she’d only just met the young man.
“You see,” he went on, “I’m in great danger of liking you altogether too much, but as I have nothing to offer, our love is doomed.”
She tilted her chin, glad he’d been able to inject humor into the situation. “Mr. Tunley, we have met but once. There has never been talk of...”
“Love?” He looked abashed. “No, it’s true. Ah well, until last night I’d never met a young lady I believed I could hold in such high esteem. You were brave as well as beautiful, even with blood all over your face. I couldn’t sleep for thinking about you, only now I’m in danger of appearing ridiculous. You seem far too sensible to believe in instant attraction.”
Lissa dropped her eyes. “No,” she whispered.
“No, what?”
“No, I’m not too sensible to believe in that.”
“Oh...”
Clearly her whispered admission had taken him by surprise. For a moment he was lost for words. Then he grinned. “Well, it’s quite unfair to make you fall in love with me when, at the risk of repeating myself, I’ve already said I have absolutely nothing to offer you.”
He took her hand and bowed over it, the touch of his lips causing a tremor to travel all the way up her spine.
“And so I bid you adieu, my fair Miss Hazlett, with the greatest of regrets, but wishing you all the happiness in your life that a maiden as bold and beautiful, yet modest, deserves.”
Rising, he tapped the parcel she now held. “Tell them this is for your father, a country solicitor or some such, with whom Lord Debenham does business. How’s that for cunning? It’ll satisfy their need to know what our meeting was all about while adding to your consequence.”
Lissa watched him bow his way out of the door and disappear from, she presumed, the rest of her life.
A great sense of tragedy weighed heavily on her—until it was replaced by pleasurable astonishment when she unwrapped the parcel in Maria’s room a short while later, intending to return the beautifully cleaned gown to its rightful place. For as the wrapping fell away, a beautiful silver comb encrusted with tiny, sparkling gems of colored glass tumbled to the floor.
Attached to it was a card on which was written: Always remember the man who would have rescued you from more than just a hackney accident, had it been possible –Ralph Tunley.
Her delight was sudden and brief but the crushing disappointment that followed was more long-lasting. She tossed the
card and comb on the bed in order to concentrate on ensuring the gown was perfect. Only when she’d reassured herself on that score did she return her attention to the lackluster message—and find that more words had been written on the inside of the fold.
If you ever need a knight in shining armor—albeit a poor one—you can find me through Mrs. Nipkins, mantua maker to the nobility, Coopers Alley, Soho.
***