His Wicked Embrace (8 page)
Read His Wicked Embrace Online
Authors: Adrienne Basso
“I still find it difficult to believe you do not have grave misgivings about working for me, Miss Browning.”
“I would not be here if I did, my lord,” Isabella stated softly, surprising them both with her answer.
Damien considered her carefully as Isabella anxiously awaited his response. He supposed she could have tried to shame him into offering her a job, since he was ultimately responsible for her losing her position with her former employers. She might have pleaded with him or even wept over her predicament, although years of listening to Emmeline's crying on cue had hardened the earl against a woman's tears. But she had done none of these things. Instead she forgave him for his boorish actions. Damien made his decision.
“You are hired, Miss Browning.”
The smile she gave him was dazzling. “Thank you, my lord. I promise you will not regret this decision.”
“I sincerely hope you are right, Miss Browning,” Damien replied with a frown, determined to repress the odd stirring he felt in his chest at her enchanting smile. The very last thing he needed was an attraction to his children's new governess. “I am sure you are tired from your long journey. I shall instruct our housekeeper, Mrs. Amberly, to show you to your room immediately.” He reached out and pulled the bell cord to summon the housekeeper.
Isabella hesitated. “I would like to meet the children first, please.”
Damien's frown deepened. This was an unexpected request. “I am certain tomorrow will be soon enough for introductions, Miss Browning. Besides, I wish to speak privately to my son and daughter before you meet.” The earl reached over and pulled hard on the bell cord a second time, not about to reveal that he had no idea where his children were at the moment.
Isabella curtly nodded her head in acquiescence. Damien could tell she was displeased by his reply, but with an effort she held her tongue.
After an uncomfortably long, silent wait, the earl's summons was finally answered. A short, dour-faced elderly woman entered the study and was introduced to Isabella as the housekeeper, Mrs. Amberly. The women exited the study as Jenkins entered it, and Isabella gave the valet a warm smile when they passed in the doorway.
“Judging by the scowl on Mrs. Amberly's face and the sweetness of Miss Browning's smile, I assume you have engaged a governess,” the valet remarked the moment the women were gone.
“Stop looking so smug, Jenkins,” the earl warned. “I can clearly see your fine hand in all of this. And I intend to hold you personally responsible if this little arrangement blows up in my face.”
Jenkins appeared unimpressed by the threat. “You worry too much. I predict the entire household will benefit from Miss Browning's presence, not just the children.”
“Hmmmm.” The earl was not convinced. “And speaking of my children, Jenkins, I require your assistance in tracking them down. It will be necessary for me to have a long talk with Ian and Catherine before they are introduced to Miss Browning tomorrow morning and I have no inkling as to their whereabouts.”
“They are most likely down at the stables with Fred,” Jenkins said. “I'll tell them you want to speak with them.”
Giving the earl an exaggerated bow, Jenkins left the study with a smug grin of satisfaction on his face.
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Isabella dutifully followed Mrs. Amberly up the long, winding staircase, attempting several times to engage the housekeeper in conversation. Her friendly overtures were met with unintelligible grunts and Isabella quickly abandoned her efforts. A less than warm welcome to a household was not an unfamiliar experience for her.
After taking numerous twists and turns down the long, narrow corridors, they finally reached their destination. Isabella glanced suspiciously at the housekeeper. The route they had taken seemed deliberately designed to disorient her, making it difficult, if not impossible, for Isabella to find the way back on her own.
The bedchamber was shrouded in darkness as they entered. Mrs. Amberly walked gingerly across the room, flinging back the heavy draperies and opening the leaded glass windows. Brilliant sunlight flooded the room, and the crisp, fresh air was a welcome relief from the musty odor. Isabella wondered if it would be necessary to sleep with her window wide open to dissipate the unpleasant smell.
Looking beyond the dust and grime, Isabella could clearly see that this had been an impressive room at one time. The heavy brocade draperies were a deep rose color and matched the delicate silk hangings around the canopied four-poster bed. The furnishings were of a style popular fifty years ago, but they were rich and elegant. The chairs and chaise were obviously designed for a woman; they were daintily proportioned and covered in silk patterned with blue, pink, and cream roses. The carpets echoed the same colors.
“There appears to have been a misunderstanding, Mrs. Amberly,” Isabella said, waving her hand at the misty particles of dust floating in the late afternoon sunlight.
“I should be occupying a bedchamber next to the children's sleeping quarters. I am their new governess.”
“There is no mistake, miss,” Mrs. Amberly insisted briskly. Pointing diagonally across the hall, the housekeeper announced, “The children sleep in that bedchamber. The majority of the rooms on the upper floors are closed off. They haven't been used in years.”
“If you're certain the earl has no objections,” Isabella said slowly, “this room will do nicely once it has been properly cleaned.”
Mrs. Amberly stiffened noticeably. “There is no time for cleaning today, miss,” the housekeeper responded in a voice that brooked no argument. “I'll send one of the housemaids up with bed linens when I get a chance. That's the best I can do. If you have a complaint, I suggest you speak directly to Lord Saunders. His bedchamber is next to the children's.” With a mocking smile on her thin lips, Mrs. Amberly left the room, leaving Isabella no opportunity to marshal a response.
The earl's bedchamber was across from her own! Isabella felt a moment of unbridled panic, but soon convinced herself she was overreacting. Mrs. Amberly had already explained that most of the upper floors of the house were closed up. And it was important that she sleep near the children. It was merely a coincidence the children happened to sleep next to their attractive, imposing father.
Wasn't it?
By the time the maid arrived with her bed linens, Isabella had restored her sense equilibrium. She was annoyed with herself for allowing her strange feelings about the earl and the vicious gossiping of Lady Edson to influence her common sense.
“I've also brought some rags with me, miss,” the pretty young maid said shyly. “After I've fixed the bed, I'll try to clean away some of the dirt and dust. As soon as I can spare the time, I'll come back with one of the other girls and give the room a thorough going over.”
Isabella was relieved to hear the friendliness in the maid's voice. Thank goodness all of the household staff did not share Mrs. Amberly's surly attitude. “Thank you. I very much appreciate your help . . . ?”
“Maggie.” The young maid made an awkward, off balance curtsy, her arms piled high with linens.
“Here, let me take those,” Isabella volunteered, reaching out for the stack of linens. The large pile of bedding reached her chin, and Isabella gratefully breathed in the sweet fragrance of dried lavender that emanated from the sheets. At least she wouldn't have to worry about smelling mildew all night.
“I've never been in here before,” Maggie remarked while pulling back the dusty bed coverlet. “ 'Tis a pretty room.”
Isabella nodded in agreement. She smiled shyly at the young maid, but her smile quickly faded when Maggie stepped out from behind the bed into the center of the room to tug on the edge of the coverlet. The pile of linens in Isabella's arms fell soundlessly to the dusty carpet. Isabella caught her breath in a stinging gasp and staggered slightly as she got her first unobstructed frontal view of Maggie.
The sweet-faced maid was tiny and very slender, except for her rounded and distended stomach. Though her experience in these matters was limited, Isabella estimated that it would probably be only a few short weeks before Maggie gave birth.
Chapter Seven
Isabella woke at sunrise the following morning. She dressed hurriedly, her ears tuned to the slightest sound outside her bedchamber door. Hoping for an opportunity to have a private conversation with the earl before being introduced to her new charges, Isabella listened eagerly for his footsteps. She was exceedingly curious about the earl's children and felt at a definite disadvantage since she knew almost nothing about them except for their sex and ages. She did not even know their names.
Isabella had first thought to question the servants about the children, but she had been so embarrassed and tongue-tied after seeing the maid in her very pregnant condition that all thoughts of the children had been promptly forgotten. The attractive young footman who brought her dinner tray last evening did not stay to chat, and Isabella had no contact with any other members of the household.
Although she had been expecting a summons, the knock at the door startled Isabella. She opened her bedchamber door expectantly, hoping to find the earl on the other side, but instead found the same footman from last evening waiting to escort her to the dining room for breakfast. Masking her disappointment admirably, she bade the man a pleasant good morning and followed him down the hall.
As Isabella and the young footman swiftly walked the complex route to the main dinning room, her apprehension mounted. Distractedly, she wondered how long it would take her to master the complicated maze of halls in the house, given her dismal sense of direction.
The dining room was already occupied when Isabella arrived, despite the unfashionable early hour. The earl was seated at the head of the table, his nose buried in a newspaper. Two young children were seated to his right; Jenkins was on his left. The sideboard was covered with a small array of tarnished silver platters that held the morning meal.
Isabella did hot even question the homey arrangement of having the earl's valet sitting down to breakfast with the family. She had already learned that Jenkins occupied a unique position in the household that went well beyond that of a normal servant.
The room was silent as Isabella observed its occupants. Then the children suddenly noticed her presence. They immediately put down their spoons, ceased eating their breakfast, and openly stared at her. Isabella's spine tingled as mild tension began stirring in the room. Apparently the earl felt it also because he slowly lowered his paper and peered over the top. When he beheld the new governess hesitating in the doorway, he scowled slightly at her.
Isabella ignored the earl and turned toward the children. She pasted on a smile, hoping it conveyed the right amount of friendliness, and bravely stepped into the room. No one spoke a word. The floor boards creaked loudly with each step she took, but she boldly marched forward until she reached the unoccupied chair next to Jenkins.
“Good morning, Miss Browning,” Jenkins called out cheerfully, as Isabella seated herself. “I trust you slept well last night.”
“Very soundly, Mr. Jenkins,” Isabella lied. She murmured appropriate greetings to the children and then focused her attention on the earl. He had already resumed his intent perusal of the morning paper, but Isabella was not about to allow him to hide behind his newspaper for the duration of the meal. She cleared her throat loudly and stared boldly at the top of the earl's head, the only visible part of his anatomy.
After a few awkward moments, he tentatively lowered his reading material.
“Was there something you wanted, Miss Browning?” the earl challenged, a touch of annoyance in his deep voice.
Isabella's violet eyes sparkled with fury, but she did not indulge it. The earl was being particularly difficult this morning, but he was not her first concern. Isabella inclined her head pointedly toward the children, waiting impatiently for the earl to grasp her meaning.
“Oh, yes, of course,” he responded. “Miss Browning, these are my children, Catherine and Ian. Children, this is Miss Browning, your new governess.”
The brief introductions completed, the earl snapped his paper loudly and once again buried himself behind it. The children shifted their attention from their father to their new governess and stared at Isabella as though she were some strange, exotic creature.
Eventually Catherine, the older of the two, mumbled an incomprehensible greeting while staring rudely at Isabella. Ian did not speak at all, but his small face gleamed with undisguised curiosity. Isabella flashed them a warm smile, which caused them both to quickly lower their heads and resume eating their breakfast.
Isabella was disappointed with their reaction but she took it in stride. Not an encouraging beginning, to be sure, but she had endured far worse. The first time she had met the Braun children, young Robert had thrown a screaming tantrum. At least the earl's children had remained calm, if somewhat unresponsive.
Damien observed the entire exchange from behind his raised newspaper. He was inwardly pleased that Isabella did not make an issue of Catherine and Ian's lackluster greeting. Damien's children were independent by nature, as well as circumstance, and would certainly rebel at being fussed over by a stranger.
Feeling for the first time that he had made the correct decision in hiring a governess, Damien threw down his newspaper and stood up.
“If you are going to work with me today, Jenkins,” the earl said, “I suggest you change your clothes. I plan on completing the new section of stone fence on the eastern borders by darkness.”
The Grange was a working, productive agricultural estate, and all the men who served within the house also worked out of doors when needed, including the earl.
“I thought I would stay in today and help Miss Browning get acquainted with Whatley Grange,” Jenkins announced, ignoring the earl's frown.
“That is most kind of you, Mr. Jenkins,” Isabella said diplomatically, “but I am sure one of the other servants can show me about the house. Besides, I shall be spending the majority of my day with Catherine and Ian.”
Jenkins wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin and rose from the table. “If you are certain you do not need my help, Miss Browning, I suppose I must accompany the earl today,” Jenkins replied in a disappointed tone.
“How kind of you, Jenkins,” the earl muttered sarcastically under his breath, as Jenkins walked past him. The valet chuckled softly.
After Jenkins left, the earl turned a critical eye toward his children and their new governess. Catherine and Ian were still glued to their seats and Isabella was pushing her food absently around on her breakfast plate.
“I shall see you all later this afternoon.” He strode to the door, but turned toward them before he left the room. Staring hard at Ian and Catherine, he admonished in a strong voice, “Children, behave.” Then he closed the door with a resounding bang.
A great amount of the tension eased from the room with the earl's departure, and Isabella felt relaxed enough to finish her meal. The food was mediocre and not very hot, but she was hungry and within a few moments her eggs, kidneys, and toast were gone. Daintily brushing the remaining crumbs from her fingers, she looked across the table at the children, who had long since abandoned their meal in favor of watching her consume hers.
“After you have finished your breakfast, children,” Isabella began in a soft voice, “you may show me around the manor. I don't think I have ever been in such a large house before.”
Catherine and Ian exchanged quiet glances, then nodded in agreement. “I don't want any more porridge, do you?” Catherine questioned her younger brother. When the little boy agreed that he too was finished, they stood up and moved away from the table. Carefully picking up their plates, they began walking toward the door.
“What are you doing?” Isabella asked, curious at their odd behavior.
“We are carrying our dishes into the kitchen,” Catherine answered.
“I see,” Isabella replied, although in truth she had no idea what was going on. She had never seen any of her charges lift a dish from the table, dirty or otherwise. There were always a bevy of servants to attend to every domestic need. “I am sure the kitchen staff appreciates your assistance, children.”
“What is a kitchen staff?” Ian whispered to his sister as he followed close behind her.
Catherine shrugged her shoulders and replied in a loud whisper, “I don't know. I guess she means Mrs. Amberly. Or maybe Maggie and Fran.”
Deciding to follow the children's lead, Isabella picked up her cutlery and dirty dishes and trailed dutifully behind Catherine and Ian. The kitchen was empty. The children walked without hesitation to the large, scarred oak table in the center of the room and placed their dishes upon it. Isabella imitated their actions.
“What about the rest of the dirty dishes on the table? Do you usually clear all of them?”
“No,” Catherine answered. “Just our own plates.”
“All right. If you are finished in here, you may take me on a brief exploration of the house,” Isabella requested in a cheerful voice.
Again Ian and Catherine exchanged meaningful glances, but they did not protest.
“What do you want to see?” Catherine asked.
“Perhaps we can start with the schoolroom,” Isabella suggested.
“What is a schoolroom?” Ian whispered to his sister.
With an effort Isabella managed to refrain from answering Ian. Since the boy addressed his question to his older sister, Isabella did not feel it was prudent to offer an explanation. She knew that she needed to gain the children's trust and confidence before she could effectively establish a relationship with them, and Isabella instinctively sensed that they would not react well to her sudden interference. Catherine and Ian appeared to be extremely close and dependent upon each other, and any unrequested information thrust upon them by the new governess could be perceived as a threat to their sibling relationship.
“We don't have a schoolroom, Miss Browning,” Catherine declared bluntly.
“Oh, I am fairly certain a house this size has a schoolroom, Catherine,” Isabella countered gently. “I imagine your father used it when he was a young boy. I am sure if we search together, we shall find it.”
Catherine seemed dubious, but willing to try. “I know where Father's study is,” she volunteered. “It is across the great hall and three doors over.”
“I too have been in your father's study,” Isabella said, pleased that Catherine appeared to know a few of her numbers. “Although I am not certain I could find my way to it on my own.” She smiled encouragingly. “Generally the schoolroom is located on the upper levels of the house. Shall we climb to the top and search there first?”
At Catherine's acquiescent nod, the trio set out on their quest. As they climbed the numerous steps, Isabella could not help but notice the dusty furniture, abundant cobwebs, tarnished brass wall sconces, worn and stained flooring, and areas of soot-blackened walls. It was obvious The Grange had been neglected through the years and had not had a thorough cleaning in a very long time.
The children paused when they reached the third floor landing. “Molly, Fran, Ned and Joe, Penny, Maggie, Fred and Norman all live up there,” Catherine explained, pointing toward the fourth floor.
It took a few moments for Isabella to realize Catherine was showing her the servants' quarters. “In that case, I believe we should begin our hunt on this floor. All right?”
Catherine reached for her brother's hand and admonished in a mature voice, “Stay close to me Ian. You don't want to get lost up here.”
The little boy nodded solemnly and tightly clutched his sister's hand. Isabella was touched by their need and trust in each other. She followed quietly behind them, assisting with a stubborn latch or stuck door as needed. At the fourth door they located the schoolroom.
“Here it is,” Isabella declared brightly, as she crossed the sunny, dusty room. She struggled mightily with the window hinges, finally succeeded in opening several of the leaded glass windows. The warm, fresh air helped to displace the musty odor.
“I am sure that after a good scrubbing, the room will be quite adequate,” Isabella said. She continued exploring the room while Ian and Catherine watched in silence. Reaching into a wall cupboard, Isabella found several slates and a few pieces of chalk.
Mentally, Isabella began compiling a list in her head of supplies that would be needed. Writing tablets, ink, watercolor paints, drawing paper, primers and other appropriate books. Isabella hoped the castle's library would hold many of the reading materials she needed. She always enjoyed reading aloud to her charges, especially at bedtime.
Ian and Catherine also began exploring the room, and Catherine gave a loud shout of enthusiasm when she discovered a large tin box filled with toy soldiers.
“Aren't these wonderful, Ian?” Catherine said excitedly. “They are ever so much nicer than the other soldiers we have. With all of these soldiers, we shall have much larger battles.”
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