How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,73

have been feeding you in the first place? That is nonsense! And what is this about stealing from Mrs. Smelting?”

Bridget let out another sigh, though this time it was shaky. Mrs. Smith was a nice woman, but would she be understanding when Bridget explained that she did, in fact, steal from her previous employer?

After laying out the whole situation, making a point to explain that she had taken it for Betsy and not herself, Bridget showed her the items inside the drawer.

“That’s not really stealing,” Mrs. Smith asserted.

“I am sure it is in the eyes of the law. It belonged to the inheritor of the estate. They told me I could take nothing save the items in Betsy’s room and my own personal belongings. I took things I was not meant to take.”

“I suppose that is true. I can’t imagine the new owner would object. Who is it?”

“I’m not entirely sure. There was money set aside by a solicitor for Betsy, but everything else went to whoever inherited the estate. Perhaps it was Mr. Smelting’s business partner. I know that Mr. Smelting was an only child. Perhaps it would have gone to the duke?”

“I expect if he took the time to make a will and outline his desires should his untimely death come, he made plans for his fortune. I would doubt they would go to the duke. They are well off enough on their own,” Mrs. Smith surmised.

“Another cousin, perhaps?”

“I would guess it’s more likely that it would go to pay off debts he might have, and the remainder would go to his business partner of the company you say he partly owned.”

“So perhaps it is this person that realised the possessions were missing and is coming after me?”

Mrs. Smith considered this.

“But then, why not contact the police right away or at the very least demand their return. Not once did they request that they be given back. It seems the only desire of the writer is to remove yourself from Betsy and this house.”

“Perhaps they have concerns for the child. They think I am ill-suited to be around her. They only wish to keep me from poisoning her,” Bridget stated with dripping sarcasm.

“Perhaps...” Mrs. Smith mused. “There must be more to it, however. I suppose you have yet to show this letter to Lord John?”

“He doesn’t even know about the jewellery or the picture. I was worried he would come to the same conclusion as the mystery writer.”

“We both know that Lord John is not quick to judge like that, not to mention it hasn’t escaped my eyes that he cares deeply for you.”

Mrs. Smith nudged Bridget as she spoke, and Bridget couldn’t’ help but blush.

“But what if he doesn’t understand? What if he sends me away? I couldn’t bear to leave Betsy, nor could I bear to be without him,” she added in a soft tone.

“You once told Lord John to have faith in himself, in his ability. Do you not have the same faith in him?”

“I do. It is in me that I am fearful. I am not one worth the trouble he has already gone to on my account. How could I ask him to involve himself in this as well?”

“I won’t push the matter,” Mrs. Smith said gently, “but I know that he will not think ill of you if you tell him, but the choice is yours. As for the house’s staff members, I could never see any of them rifling through your belongings, or Miss Betsy’s, let alone write such a foul letter.

“It must be the inheritor who has done so. But you say you don’t know who they are? It’s curious that a complete stranger would go to such lengths to scare you and not even request the items returned.”

“Perhaps there is a way to find out who the inheritor is. If I could talk to them and explain things, I am sure they would see that my intentions were good.”

“I have a brother who works in a solicitor’s office that deals with wills and the like. I am sure he will know what to do. I’ll reach out to him today and see what he thinks.”

“If you could perhaps be very minimal with the details?” Bridget asked, keeping her eyes down on her hands.

She felt so ashamed for so many reasons. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Lord John of her mistake now. She knew he was kind and would never consider her a criminal, but he already had so