Mr. Gardiner and the Governess - Sally Britton Page 0,34
boys on the far side of the meadow, making up for his youth with his energy.
And closer to where the groundskeeper had directed a small stream through one end of the meadow, little Geoffrey played with the youngest children under the watchful eye of nurses and governesses alike. Truly, the servants and governesses were only present in case some calamity befell a child that their mothers did not wish to worry over.
Alice enjoyed the fresh air of the outdoors, and watching the children scamper about with their friends gave her joy as well. On beautiful afternoons such as this one, all seemed right with the world.
A voice from behind Alice startled her.
“Might we join you, Miss Sharpe?”
It was Lady Josephine and her companion, Miss Arlen.
Given that there were three other young ladies trailing behind the duke’s daughter, Alice had to quell her surprise at once. Instead, she gestured to the ground near her. “You are most welcome, my lady, if you do not mind making the earth your chair.”
Lady Josephine sat at once, with hardly more than a single flounce to adjust her gown’s skirt, she was quite at home sitting upon the grass. The other ladies fretted a little more and appeared as bewildered as Alice was that the governess had been sought out.
“I have wanted to speak to you more about my father’s project. Those flowers were beautiful, and last night at dinner, Mr. Gardiner told me how impressed he was with your skill.”
One of the other women, eldest daughter to the baron, if Alice remembered correctly, gasped rather loudly. “Never say Mr. Gardiner meant the governess assisted him? I thought he meant some other lady of the neighborhood.”
Given that “the governess” sat not five feet away, Alice wondered if the girl had ever been taught manners.
“I am afraid he meant me.” Alice checked the ribbon of her straw sun bonnet, then leaned back a little more against the tree. “I am glad he found reason to be pleased with my work. I must admit, I have enjoyed the undertaking more than I thought I would.”
Lady Josephine opened her mouth to speak, her eyes bright with questions, when another of the other women released a dramatic sigh.
“Mr. Gardiner is ever so handsome. Do you get to spend much time with him?” Given the young lady’s rosy cheeks, and the way her two friends started giggling, Mr. Gardiner had to be a topic of interest to them.
“Not very much at all. He sends me the sketches, and I paint in the color.” Alice glanced toward Miss Arlen who appeared rather amused. “He is rather busy, I think, with collecting his own subjects to study.”
“Oh, yes. The insects,” the third young lady said, shuddering.
“Do forgive me.” Lady Josephine snapped open her fan and gestured with her free hand to the three women who had followed her about the meadow. “I do not believe you have been properly introduced to my guests. This is Miss Finchley, Lord Addington’s daughter.” The baron’s daughter, all prim and rosy beneath her bonnet, nodded tightly. “Miss Maria Hepsworth and Miss Hannah Hepsworth. Their father is a part of my father’s political party, in the House of Commons.”
The two Hepsworth sisters nodded rather proudly.
“My friends, Miss Sharpe is the governess for my younger sisters and brother, but I am quite comfortable saying she is a lady whose acquaintance I enjoy.” Such a statement, from a duke’s daughter at that, was an unqualified recommendation. And, perhaps, a warning for the others to mind their manners.
Alice did not hold back a smile of gratitude as she spoke. “You are most gracious, Lady Josephine.”
Miss Arlen spoke before the ensuing silence, with the three guests appearing rather stunned, could grow awkward. “Your bonnet is most becoming, Miss Sharpe, and much more practical for the sun than my silly covering.” She touched the insubstantial brim of her hat. “I do keep meaning to re-trim it. Perhaps that is something we ought to do tomorrow, my lady.”
“We are looking for more amusements for ourselves,” Lady Josephine said to Alice, shrugging one shoulder. “But I do enjoy redressing bonnets. We have any number of supplies for it, too. Ribbons and silk flowers aplenty.”
The conversation ebbed and flowed around Alice, with her contributing rarely. Perhaps Lady Josephine had meant it as a kindness to seek Alice out, but the Misses Hepsworths and Miss Finchley suffered no qualms in leaving Alice out of the conversation entirely.
After a time, Miss Arlen spoke directly to Alice, her