How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,4

is just for a brief time. She has lost so much of all she knew. I just want to help her in any way I can."

"And I am sure your presence is a pillar of normalcy in her current turbulent situation. I have no wish to take that from her if I can help it," Lord John paused, ensuring that Betsy was up the stairs and out of earshot. "Her parents, if I may ask?"

"Mrs. Smelting wasn't feeling well. It was suggested that they spend some time in Bath. They were only meant to be gone for a month or two. There was a carriage accident. I am not entirely sure on all the details, only that it happened on a road parallel to the ocean cliffs. The carriage was sent down the cliffs, and neither survived the fall." Miss Thatcher spoke softly, struggling to hold back the tears in her eyes.

She sniffed once before adding, "I wish such a thing had never happened to them. They were such good loving people, to each other and to Betsy. It's all been quite a nightmare I can't seem to wake up from."

Lord John, despite having just met the governess, felt a strong desire to go to her and comfort her in her grief. Still, his propriety got the better of him, and he remained standing where he was.

"Yes, this is quite a tragedy that I don't think I have yet fully processed. Frank and Elisabeth were two of the best people I knew."

Chapter 2

Bridget Thatcher did her best to keep a smile on her face and a cheerfulness in her tone as she settled Betsy into their quarters for the evening. Though on a fashionable street and of a good size for the circumstances, the London home didn't seem to host is occupants very often as of late.

"Only the one room is ready for guests," Mrs. Smith had explained in a slightly apologetic tone. "I had hoped to encourage Lord John to prepare a few of the other rooms in case of visitors, but he would not have it. Lord knows what we will do if His Grace or even the dowager duchess herself come to stay."

"I am sure they will be more than satisfactory for our needs," Bridget assured the housekeeper. "The possible company you speak of, that is Lord John’s older brother and their mother?"

"Yes, do you know them? Perhaps you met them during your time at the Smelting residence?" Mrs. Smith enquired as she opened the door just to the right at the top of the stairs.

"No, I'm afraid I never had the pleasure. Mr. and Mrs. Smelting only spoke of them in passing as far as I heard, and don't know much about them," Bridget stated, entering the room.

She took a pause to look around the quarters. Betsy immediately went for the bed, which took up a good portion of the room. She was quickly reminded that her skirts were still wet, and if she would like a warm bed tonight, she should keep away from it for now.

Bridget was happy to see the room was already filled with warmth from a glowing fire in the hearth. A steaming water basin waited for their use while a maid tucked a warm bedpan beneath the cover’s folds at the base of the mattress.

"This is Mary. If you require anything, she will be happy to fetch it for you," Mrs. Smith said, motioning to the girl, who looked to be not more then sixteen.

Mary bobbed her respects and quickly left the room.

"She's a shy thing, but she does good work," Mrs. Smith confided in Bridget. "Now, things are a bit relaxed at the moment with just Lord John present. Breakfast can be had downstairs when you choose, as long as it's before eleven o'clock. I should warn you that if the duke or his mother decide to spend time here, things will be on a tighter schedule."

Bridget nodded her understanding. Though she had never met the duke, and gleaned little from the Smeltings, Bridget had overheard the staff discussing his character. The Duke of Ludford was said to be a very stern man who took little time in pleasure and kept his responsibilities in the highest regard.

Though these descriptions were not altogether slanderous or harmful towards the duke, Bridget had always sensed some fear in the way the staff spoke of the man. She was sure that he must be a very demanding and intimidating person to cause such