The Wicked Governess (Blackhaven Brides Book 6)(28)

Twenty minutes later, having refreshed herself and changed into her slightly less dull gown, she straightened her shoulders, picked up the packet of invitations, and went downstairs in search of her employer.

Caroline always preferred things to be straightforward and open. And yet, even as she sought to make them so, she was aware she now had her own secrets. She could never reveal the effect he had on her. She didn’t even know what it was. She just hoped it would pass, for it was entirely uncomfortable. And totally wonderful.

I’m addled. I’m madder than all the Benedicts put together and I must pull myself together.

With this stern admonition to herself, she raised her hand and knocked smartly on the study door.

“Come in,” said the distracted voice beyond.

Had she really hoped not to find him? No, but she wasn’t looking forward to the difficulties of the coming interview.

Opening the door, she walked into the study. From the hearth, Tiny didn’t trouble to even lift his head this time, though he did thump his tail on the floor a couple of times by way of welcome.

His master kept on writing busily. “I thought it would be you,” he observed as his pen flew across the page. Impatiently, he dipped it in the ink and scribbled another couple of words, added a definite full stop, and all but threw the pen into its stand before he rose to his feet.

“Miss Grey,” he acknowledged. “My train of thought tends to wander these days. I need to write it down while it’s still lucid. What can I do for you?”

She set the packet of invitations on the desk in front of him. “Lady Tamar gave me these for you and your family. And me. They are invitations to a party at the castle.”

His lip quirked. “I shall not stop you going.”

“You are kind. But I wanted to talk you about taking Rosa.”

“No.”

“That’s not really a discussion,” she observed. “Sir, I do not wish to simply drop her in there and leave her to cope alone. I have a plan to build up her tolerance and even appreciation of company.”

To her surprise, he gestured her to the sofa and came out from behind his desk. He limped over to the decanter and poured a glass.

“No, I thank you,” she said hastily when he cocked an eyebrow in her direction.

Taking his glass, he sauntered over to the sofa and sat beside her before taking a mouthful of brandy.

“Very well,” he said wryly. “Now I’m ready.”

So, she outlined her proposal to introduce Rosa gradually to greater intimacy with Helen and then with her sisters, and to the castle, all before the party which she hoped Rosa might actually enjoy, even for an hour or two.

He was frowning by the end, though not, it seemed, from anger. “And you think that this will somehow encourage her to speak?”

“I don’t know,” she replied. “But I think it might help. It strikes me that she is too…comfortable not speaking. Here, we don’t just accept her silence but largely understand her meaning. She doesn’t need to speak. My highest hope is that she will recognize how much more fun her relationships could be if she joins in normal chatter. But even if she doesn’t, if it doesn’t happen so quickly, she will at least be more comfortable in company.”

“And if the company is…unkind to her?”

“Unkindness is something we must all get used to. But in this case, I see no reason why anyone would be. The Conway girls are very good natured, and in Blackhaven, even other children tend to follow the castle’s lead.”

He waved that aside. “Children’s unkindness is one thing.”

Caroline stared. “You cannot imagine adults would be unkind to her?”

“I cannot imagine you have not encountered unkindness in adults,” he retorted. “If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t be here.”

She flushed. “I am the governess. Rosa is a gentleman’s daughter.”

He fixed her with his harsh gaze. “You don’t know anything about this gentleman.”

“I know a little,” she said with difficulty. “And I suspect more.”

His eyes narrowed. “Such as?”

She held his gaze. “That you are an officer, a soldier.”

He never blinked. “What makes you think so?”

“Colonel Fredericks, who is an old family friend of Lady Tamar’s, thought he recognized your name. Are you Colonel Benedict?”

He threw the rest of the brandy down his throat and stood up. “I was. So the story is out.”

“I don’t believe so. Colonel Fredericks is a man of understanding and discretion. Of necessity, I gather.”

He flung over to the decanter and sloshed another generous measure into his glass. “And Lady Tamar will tell no one such a juicy piece of gossip?” he mocked. “She would have to be inhuman!”

Caroline frowned, uncomprehending. “I don’t believe it is juicy gossip to discover a man is a respected officer who escaped a French prison.”

He stood by the sofa, staring down at her. “Is that what he told you?”

“Isn’t it true?”

He threw himself onto the sofa. “So far as it goes. Did he say nothing else?”

“What else is there?”

“Family scandal,” he said bitterly. “That is what I’m trying to protect Rosa from. That is why we came here to the middle of nowhere and why I never use my former rank.”