How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,5

a reaction in those who barely knew him.

"I'm not entirely sure we – well, at least I – will still be present should the time come, but I thank you just the same for the information," Bridget responded before bidding the housekeeper goodnight.

It was the first time she gave voice to the uncertainty of her situation a loud. It felt as if a rock sunk to the pit of her stomach at the notion. As of yet, Bridget had had very little time to consider her own circumstances and instead had focused all of her attention on seeing to the needs of Betsy.

With the same notion still at the core of her being, she forced a pleasant smile to her face and hurried the child over to the basin to wash and prepare for bed.

Betsy had always been such an easy good girl. It was no surprise that even in such strange circumstances she quickly readied herself, slipped between the covers, and fell fast asleep. Bridget took the time to curl and ribbon the girl's damp hair before bed, and now brushed one of those fallen ribbon curls from the child's sweet face. She looked as much an angel in sleep as she did during the waking hours.

Having put the child to bed, Bridget made her way to the only seat in the room, which she had placed next to the fire. Her hair was still matted to her face, hem still sodden and chilling her stocking legs. She sat in this condition studying the flames as she deeply pondered her future for the first time.

Naturally, if Bridget had any say in the matter, she would stay with Betsy. She had started with the child three years ago, but in Bridget's mind, there were so few happy memories before this. Betsy had been her first pupil since leaving her training at Miss Heartfelt’s Seminary for Pious Young Ladies.

Even at the thought of the place, Bridget unconsciously tugged on the long sleeves of her dress. It was no surprise to Bridget that she had so little fond memories before Betsy. She had arrived at Miss Heartfelt's when she was only six and had never seen the outside world again until her twentieth birthday, and subsequent employment acquired.

Bridget was sure that her hesitancy in leaving Betsy was more to do with the fact that she feared to return to a life of misery, sadness and constant railings from superiors. She did her best to assure herself that families like the Smeltings with children such as Betsy were not the anomaly but the norm. She was sure to find another employment and love the child and enjoy her time just as much as she had done with them.

Hesitating in her thought, Bridget looked back at the sleeping child. In all honesty, she wasn't sure if that notion was altogether right. Even worse, if it was, she wasn't entirely sure she would still be willing to give up Betsy despite having other good prospects.

She was sure that her desires to stay with Betsy were purely selfish. Yes, she was the only living soul left from Betsy's past life, and Bridget liked to think that made her a necessary comfort. But the reality was that she was at the place her parents knew she would be best looked after. The child's expression at seeing Lord John was proof enough to Bridget that Betsy's new life would have just as much joy and happiness as her past.

Lord John seemed to keep well-meaning staff who knew the family well and already started to warm to the little girl. Bridget knew that of all the possible situations after the death of parents Betsy had been one of the few to end up in a good place.

That being said, it was still a strange situation that the child had been given to Lord John to look after and not the dowager duchess or her eldest son, the duke. Certainly, propriety would suggest that one of them would be most suited to ensure the best life for Betsy.

Bridget took a moment as these thoughts raced through her mind to consider what she had surmised of Lord John so far. His unseen person had been the focus of many of her nights since the Smeltings' death. She had heard enough about him from her employer to have a relatively good image of him in her mind's eye.

Still, even with the physical and character description formed from the Smeltings' observations, it had