How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,2
moment to respond.
"Miss Betsy, please, have a care. Remember what we discussed," the lady reprimanded though not at all in a harsh manner.
Betsy gave a gasp of remembrance before taking a step back to stand politely before the gentleman. She stood tall for just a moment before curtsying most politely.
"I am pleased to see you again, Lord John," Betsy said in a memorised fashion.
Lord John bowed in like fashion, though struggling to keep a smile from forming on his lips, and responded in like greeting. Truly Lord John was astounded at how much the child had grown and changed. It had been at least four years since he had seen his very favourite cousin, Lieutenant Frank Smelting, his wife Elisabeth, and their little girl, but still, he struggled to grip how fast the time had passed.
"And I presume you are Betsy's maid?" Lord John asked, turning his attention to the woman behind the child.
"I am her governess, Miss Bridget Thatcher. I was charged with seeing her safely to you, sir."
"I am not sure that I could say your task was done quite well as you both are here at an extraordinary hour and nearly soaked through. Could you have not taken a care to hire a carriage."
"I did, sir," Miss Thatcher replied, raising her chin just slightly. "Unfortunately, the man must have misunderstood me and deposited us at the wrong address. He left before I could call him back. We have been wandering about the streets for the last hour or so, attempting to find your residence. It was impossible to hail another carriage in such a downpour. I am just glad that we found you in the end."
"Well, in that case, I am glad to hear that it wasn't a lack of common sense on your part that has caused such a dangerous situation for Betsy. Though I should not expect Frank to hire someone that he didn't consider the highest quality, so I apologise for my accusation."
"No apology necessary, sir," Miss Thatcher replied.
Lord John could easily see that this lady was of a good sense of mind despite his first assumption and understood his own concern for the child. He invited both of them to sit, Miss Thatcher insisting that Betsy take the sofa closest to the fire without hesitation, and studied the lady for a brief moment.
She was dressed in not a fine dress, but one taken care of to look nice. It was of a solid grey fabric covering almost every inch of her body down to the wrists and ankles. Her hair was pulled back in a tight chignon with what he had guessed was once properly placed ringlets around her face.
Her face itself was kindly looking though not the most handsome he had seen in his life. It had a slightly angular shape with a pointed chin and a sharp nose. Still, her eyes, large as a doe, were soft blue-green against the harsh lines giving her a sweet and kindly aurora.
"Perhaps you could make it clear to me why Frank felt the need to send his daughter and governess to me?"
Lord John never expected those eyes to grow bigger, but they seemed to double in shock at his question.
"Did you not receive the solicitor's letter? It was sent just over a week before our arrival."
"I am afraid I received no such letter. Is there something wrong?" Lord John asked, starting to get a sense of foreboding.
Miss Thatcher glanced at the child seated next to her, with a look of pain at having to repeat the words of the letter in Betsy's presence.
"Lieutenant and Mrs. Smelting are…they are…" Miss Thatcher had trouble producing the words.
"Mama and Papa have gone to heaven," Betsy finished solemnly.
"What? How?" Lord John blurted out. Looking at the child, he corrected himself, "Never mind that. What is to become of sweet Betsy?"
"You see, that is why we are here, sir. Lieutenant Smelting made it very clear in his will that his final wish is that you would take charge of Miss Betsy. As I have been with Betsy for the last three years, she knows me well. I thought it was only fitting that I stay with her for as long as I'm allowed."
Miss Thatcher finished her words, putting an arm around the girl’s shoulders. Betsy cuddled up to her comforting embrace effortlessly. Lord John could easily see that the love between the two was much more than merely a teacher and student.