More Than a Governess. Sarah Mallory

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      Nurse and the children were gathered in the schoolroom when Juliana went in, and she found herself facing a row of expectant faces.

      ‘Tomorrow,’ she announced, ‘we are going shopping. We shall make a list of everything we need for the schoolroom; we seem to be especially deficient of books.’ She saw their horrified looks and burst out laughing. ‘Do not look so shocked, it will not be so bad, I promise you.’ She swept Amy up into her arms. ‘There will be plenty of time for playing games, too.’

      ‘Miss Sevenoaks said games were for babies,’ scoffed Gwendoline.

      ‘Then I pity her pupils,’ chuckled Juliana. She looked around as the door opened.

      A young man walked in. Despite his light brown hair he was so much a younger version of her employer that Juliana guessed immediately his identity. His first words confirmed it.

      ‘My father said I should come up and make myself known to you. I am Giles Collingham.’

      Juliana immediately brought her brother and sister forward to be introduced.

      ‘You have been with your friends today, I understand?’

      ‘Yes, which is why Papa has said I should join you for dinner, and get to know you, since we will be travelling together.’

      ‘Oh, poor you.’ Juliana gave him a sympathetic smile. ‘How dull for you to be consigned to the schoolroom.’

      Giles coloured a little. ‘Yes, well, it is not so bad, you know.’

      ‘I am sure you would prefer to be dining with Papa when you know who is with him,’ put in Gwendoline as they took their places for dinner. She cast a quick, triumphant look around the table. ‘Sir Richard Mondwyck! Nelly told me he walked in, bold as brass, and directed Fraser to set another place for him.’

      Nurse tutted. ‘Now, Miss Gwendoline, you should not be listening to servants’ gossip, nor repeating it, neither.’

      ‘I’ll wager Aunt Louisa will be in high dudgeon,’ grinned Giles, ignoring Nurse’s mild strictures.

      ‘Oh, he will turn her up sweet,’ returned his sister, giggling. ‘She thinks he is a charmer.’

      ‘Enough, if you please,’ said Juliana firmly. ‘Such talk shows little respect for your aunt or your father’s guest.’

      Giles flushed and Gwendoline scowled across the table at her governess.

      Wilhelmina looked up. ‘Sir Richard was in the Peninsula with Papa, was he not, Giles? But he was only a mister then.’

      ‘He was knighted last year, for services to the country,’ said Giles. ‘Father says he is an intelligence officer, collecting information against our enemies.’

      ‘A spy!’ Gwendoline’s eyes grew round.

      ‘If he is, then it is perhaps best we do not talk of it,’ responded Juliana. ‘Wilhelmina, shall I help you with your napkin?’

      Juliana thought back to Sir Richard’s visits to her father, the bound notebooks and closeted meetings. Suddenly, it all seemed to make sense.

      While the soup was being served there was a sudden clatter to Juliana’s right, where Wilhelmina was sitting.

      ‘Oh, dear, Minna,’ said Nurse. ‘You have dropped your spoon.’

      ‘I’ll get it!’ Gwendoline was out of her seat and racing around the table.

      ‘Gwendoline, there is no need,’ Nurse expostulated mildly. ‘Really, dear, do stop waving your arms, your napkin is almost in Miss Wrenn’s face.’

      With mumbled apologies Gwendoline returned to her place. Juliana picked up her spoon, but as she was about to dip it into her soup she stopped. There, in the middle of her bowl, was a small, black beetle.

      She heard Wilhelmina stifle a giggle. Across the table, Gwendoline was addressing herself to her food, a picture of innocence. Juliana put down her spoon and began to talk to Nurse on some unexceptional topic until the soup bowls were removed and she could help herself to one of the other dishes on the table.