More Than a Governess. Sarah Mallory
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in the hallway of Bouverie Street, Mr Pettigrew seemed to believe that he had somehow engineered the whole thing himself, and had solved the problem of providing for his cousins at very little expense. He was therefore able to wave them off with perfect good humour. Mrs Churwell shed a tear at the thought of them all going so far away, and even pressed one last slice of fruitcake upon Thomas. He devoured it on the short journey to Burlington Street, explaining to his sisters that he would not wish to carry it with him into the Major’s house, in case his staff thought it a slight upon their hospitality.
There was no sign of the Major when they arrived and they were greeted by the housekeeper who led them upstairs. She introduced herself as Mrs Hartley.
‘The master sends his apologies that business takes him out this morning, but he has asked me to ensure you have everything you need, miss.’ She opened the door of a large apartment on the second floor. ‘The master thought this might suit you, Miss Wrenn—there’s a bed made up in the corner for your sister, and another in the adjoining dressing room for the young gentleman. It is for less than a week, but the Major thought you might prefer to be together, being in a strange house.’
‘Yes, thank you.’ Juliana looked around her in surprise. She had expected to be tucked away in an attic room, yet this apartment bore all the trappings of a guest chamber. ‘The Major is most kind.’
‘That he is, miss. Now, your trunks are on their way up, so I shall leave you to unpack.’ She gestured towards the round table by the window. ‘I shall send up a light luncheon for you shortly, and Nurse will bring the Misses Collingham to the schoolroom for you at two o’clock.’
When the housekeeper had gone, Thomas let out a low whistle.
‘Lord, sis, this is much grander than I thought it would be.’ He opened the door to the dressing room and peered in. ‘My own room, too!’
‘Yes, well, enjoy it while it lasts,’ said Juliana, taking off her bonnet. ‘I expect there was no room for us with the servants and he was obliged to put us in this guest room. But do not expect such luxury when we are travelling, or when we reach the Major’s Lancashire estate—remember I am a paid employee.’
‘And what are we?’ piped up Amy, bouncing on the edge of her bed.
‘You are to be travelling companions for his nieces.’ She sat down beside Amy and pulled the little girl on to her lap. ‘He has two little girls: one is twelve years old, the other eight, just a little younger than you, Amy.’
‘Huh, I hope you don’t expect me to play with girls!’ declared Thomas, pulling a face.
‘I expect you to behave like a gentleman, sir. The Major also has a son, some years older than the girls. I haven’t met him yet, and he is not one of the schoolroom party, so perhaps we will not see much of him.’
Thomas shrugged. ‘I don’t see how we can avoid it, if we are all travelling together—’
He broke off as a large corded travelling trunk was brought in by two liveried footmen and, under Juliana’s instruction, the two children spent the remaining time until luncheon unpacking their clothes and putting them into the chests of drawers and the big linen press that Mrs Hartley had told them they could use.
At two o’clock Juliana made her way to the schoolroom, Thomas and Amy hard on her heels. As she reached the door, Gwendoline’s voice could be heard quite clearly coming from the other side.
‘But we do not want her, Nurse! Why should we have a governess now, what can she teach us while we are travelling? Why, if she tries to make me read in the carriage, I shall be sick! It would be much better to wait until we get to Lancashire—Papa can hire a proper governess for us there.’
Juliana grasped the door handle and rattled it before opening the door. She moved into the room, smiling as if she had heard nothing of Gwendoline’s tirade.
The young Misses Collingham were standing on each side of their nurse, an elderly, rosy-cheeked woman with curly wisps of snow-white hair peeping out around the edges of her cap. Juliana thought she looked a good-humoured creature, but just now her face displayed a mixture of mortification and embarrassment as she realised her charge’s outburst must have been overheard.
Juliana gave her a brief smile and turned her attention to the children. They, meanwhile, had realised that Juliana had not come alone, and were staring open-mouthed at Thomas and Amy.
‘I dare say your papa forgot to tell you that I would be bringing two travelling companions for our journey.’ She led her siblings forward and performed the introductions. Gwendoline and Thomas greeted each other with frosty politeness, while the two younger children merely stared solemnly at one another. An awkward silence ensued and Juliana was about to break it when Amy spoke up.
‘I have a doll, too,’ she said, staring at the handsomely dressed little lady that Wilhelmina was clutching before her. ‘She’s sitting on my bed at the moment. She is called Sarah. What do you call yours?’
Wilhelmina hugged her doll even closer. ‘Her name is Lady Arabella,’ she said.
Amy stared at the wooden figure in its brocade gown. ‘She’s very beautiful.’
Wilhelmina held it out. ‘Would you like to hold her?’
Amy glanced at Juliana, who nodded, then stepped forward to take the doll and the two girls moved off together, talking in low tones.
‘Well now,’ murmured Nurse with a smile.
‘A good start,’ agreed Juliana. ‘Thomas, perhaps you would help me by making a list of the books on the shelf over there. I am sure Nurse will help you to find a pen and paper. Miss Gwendoline, shall we sit down, and you can tell me just what you have learned with your last governess.’
Shortly before the dinner hour, Juliana was summoned to Major Collingham’s study. At the door she paused to shake out the skirts of her grey silk gown, the only mourning gown she owned, then she knocked and went in. Major Collingham was seated at his desk, but he rose as she entered. He did not smile as she approached, confirming her belief that his request had not been one of courtesy, more a command. He was dressed for dinner in a plain dark coat and biscuit-coloured knee-breeches, the snowy whiteness of his shirt and necktie contrasting sharply with the black cloth of his coat and his equally black hair. He motioned her to a chair.
‘I am sorry I was not here to receive you. I trust you have everything you need?’
‘Yes, Major, thank you. Our rooms are very comfortable, and more luxurious than I had expected.’
‘It was more convenient to put you and your family together. After all, it is only for a few days.’
‘Have no fear, Major, I shall not forget my position here.’
‘Is that comment designed to put me in my place?’
Her eyes flew to his face.
‘Not at all, sir, I—’
‘If I sounded impolite, I apologise,’ he said bluntly. ‘I am not in the habit of making pretty speeches. I understand that you have made your brother and sister known to my girls.’
‘Yes. The older ones are still painfully polite, but Miss Wilhelmina and Amy are already firm friends.’
‘Good. You may, of course, include your brother and sister in your lessons, if you wish.’
‘Thank you, Major. I would rather they were occupied and under my eye.’
He nodded. ‘Brasher tells me you signed the contract. Did you read it first?’
‘Of course.’
‘And?’
‘The terms are very generous. It is good of you to allow either party to terminate the agreement upon two weeks notice, should it prove necessary.’