there for many years as a dresser.”
“I have no siblings that I know of, Madame, and my mother is unknown to me, as well,” Callie answered. “I am sorry I cannot solve your riddle for you.”
Madame de Beauchamps sighed sadly. “Alas, it is my curse that I never forget a face and yet rarely remember a name. Let us choose the fabrics for each of these dresses, no?”
*
They’d left Hoby’s shop after William had been measured for boots and any other footwear he might need. They were walking back up Piccadilly toward the Arcade where Miss St. James had taken the girls. William walked beside him. He didn’t hold on to the boy, but he did keep a close eye on him. Had he never realized how dangerous a London street could be? Horses, carts, costermongers—there were hazards in every direction. Every loud noise had him fighting the urge to snatch the child up lest he dart in front of an oncoming carriage or get trampled under the feet of the crowd.
“Montgomery!”
Winn heard his name and dared take his gaze off William long enough to identify the source. Burney. A curse bubbled inside him, but he wisely held it in check. The last thing he wanted was to get into another argument with Burney about his bloody scheme. He liked the fellow, but investing in Burney’s less than upstanding cousin was a surefire way to lose money and sour friendships.
“Hello, Burney,” Winn replied.
“Who’s this?” Burney asked, gesturing toward William.
“My name is William and I can speak perfectly well,” the boy replied.
Winn gave him a warning glower. “Burney, this is my nephew, William. He has only recently arrived from Spain.”
“Wills’ son? I’ll be dam—delighted to make your acquaintance, young man,” Burney corrected quickly. “I knew your father quite well. I was at school with him. Will you be off to Eton, then? You’re almost of an age!”
“William’s education has been somewhat unorthodox, living in Spain as it were,” Winn replied. “I’ve hired an excellent governess for the children and once William is properly prepared, then we will discuss school. For now, I think I’d like to keep the children closer to home until they, and I, feel more settled with our current arrangement.”
“Children?” Burney guffawed. “There’s more than one? You need to get yourself a wife, Montgomery! Best way to handle children is to let a woman take care of them for you! Children, indeed!”
“You could marry Miss St. James,” William offered helpfully.
Winn felt his blood run cold. The last thing he needed was Burney, who was likely still trying to get in the good graces of Averston after that last debacle, to become curious about his governess who—he was almost entirely certain—was the rightful heir to the Averston fortune. If Burney ever saw Miss St. James and put two and two together, it would be disastrous and possibly even deadly for her. It was certainly a long shot in Burney’s case, given that he was not the swiftest of fellows. But as the saying went, even a broken clock was right twice a day. “I cannot marry Miss St. James, William. She is your governess.”
Burney chortled. “Many a gentleman has made a worse choice than just a governess! At least she’s respectable. Of course, most governesses of my acquaintance don’t inspire men to make them unrespectable, do they? Plain, if they’re lucky, and uglier than a mud fence if they’re not!”
William took a step forward. “I don’t like you. You laugh very loud and I think you’re talking about Miss St. James in a manner that isn’t very nice.”
Burney blinked at that, then laughed harder. “I say, he’s a right knight in shining armor!”
And that was when William kicked him. He drew his foot back, let it fly forward and caught Burney right in the shin. Which wouldn’t have been so bad if Burney had been wearing boots. But he wasn’t. He was wearing trousers and a pair of leather slippers which meant that kick was felt and heard by everyone around them.
Burney howled in agony, William balled his fists up ready to leap to the defense of his governess and all Winn wanted to do was not have anyone, anywhere wondering about who and what Miss St. James was in order to create such a stir. “Time to go, William. My apologies, Burney,” Winn said and then hoisted William under his arm and took off at a brisk pace.
He could hear Burney calling after him, “Blast him!”
“I don’t like