Page 24 of A Loving Governess in Disguise
The Duke of Somerset’s revenge did not go as he had planned.
He had tried to slander the family, but before he could do any real damage, a very scathing edition of a scandal sheet came to bite him. It entailed many aspects of his life, from the way he used blackmail to the times he had engaged in corruption to get his way.
It also just so happened to detail the fact that he had a child, a son, with a lady who once been his servant. At the news that she was expecting, he had sent her away to the country, never to see her or his child again.
Euterpe finished reading the scandal sheet that Emma had handed her, placing it down and smiling. He would not be jailed for his crimes, as he was too powerful for that, but his reputation had been destroyed to the point that the ton would shun him, and that, in turn, would lead his finances to decline as his business partners would leave him.
“This is a work of art,” she sighed wistfully. “Truly, a genius has written this.”
“A genius? Do you truly believe that?”
Something in the way Emma had said that made Euterpe tilt her head, studying her carefully.
“Do you enjoy writing, Emma?”
“I do. It has been a passion of mine for some time now.”
“Yes, I can see that. I must say, though, that I never expected you, of all people, to be writing gossip.”
Emma blushed, but she did not argue with her.
“Come, we must leave soon if we are to travel a good way before we stop for the night.”
Euterpe nodded, following her to the carriage. It had been two weeks since her courtship had begun, and he had already made the long journey to her three times. She wanted their marriage to be an equal partnership, so it would only be fair if she travelled to him in return.
She had not seen Ella yet, and she wondered if the little girl had lost trust in her after all that had happened. Even so, she longed to see her again. She was a wonderful little girl, and she could not wait to see her again.
When she did arrive, Ella ran to her immediately and leapt into her arms as though no time had passed at all.
“You are home!” she exclaimed. “I thought you would never return.”
“As did I,” she confessed, “but that is over now. I am here with you.”
The little girl took her hand and pulled her inside, and Euterpe followed her happily. They went to the library, and Ella showed her all the books she had read while Euterpe was away, and though she thought that the child’s abilities could no longer surprise her, she still was by the level at which she could read.
After that, they began wandering the household as though the duke was not there at all. Eventually, of course, he did make his appearance.
“There is no need for you to stop work,” Ella pouted. “Euterpe is perfectly happy with me. Isn’t that right, Euterpe?”
“I am very happy to be with you again, yes. It would be nice, however, to spend time with both of you.”
She seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding.
“I will allow it, but I want a tea to be brought. I must practice my etiquette.”
“Very well.” Edward laughed. “But you are not to pour the tea yet. It is too dangerous.”
“Do you see how difficult he is?” Ella laughed. “I cannot believe that you are to be married.”
Euterpe and Edward looked at one another sharply. He had not yet proposed, which was at Euterpe’s request. She did not want to marry him until they had spoken with Ella and she had promised them that it was what she had wanted. That was partly why she had come to visit them.
As they sat in the drawing room with the tea, Edward nodded to her, her sign to ask Ella what she thought.
“You know,” she began, “we are not yet engaged. We have discussed it, but I cannot accept a proposal without your permission.”
“Why?” she asked through a mouthful of cake. “I am not your father. Then again, from what I have heard, you do not care much for what he thinks either.”
They all laughed, Euterpe shaking her head.
“What I mean is, it is important to me that you are happy. I know that you liked me as your governess, but being your aunt is another matter entirely. I want to be certain that this will please you.”
“Of course it will!”
“I have told her this,” Edward sighed. “But she wanted to hear it from you.”
“Very well. I shall tell you. Euterpe, it would be an honour to be your niece. It is thanks to you that my uncle can smile again and that he can ride in carriages. Did you know that we have been to town this week, and the park? You have changed him, and I like it, and I want you to be his wife. I hope that is enough for you.”
Euterpe felt the tears welling in her eyes. At last, she felt quite ready to be the Duchess of Cambridge, but before that could happen, she would have to be proposed to. Eloise would be pleased when it happened, too, as she had decided to wait for Euterpe to marry first, as she was the eldest.
“Might Euterpe and I leave you be for a while?” the duke asked Ella, and she nodded without looking up from her tea.
They left for the garden, and as they walked, Edward cleared his throat repeatedly as if wanting to say something but not being able to.
“You need to say the words.” Euterpe giggled. “I understand that you are finding difficulty with all this. In all honesty, after all that has happened, I will simply be glad to be your wife. We do not need to do all this.”
“Yes, we do! You deserve to have all the happiness that I can give you, and if that means that I find my voice, then so be it. I simply want to be in the garden first, as I have something to show you.”
Euterpe followed him with curiosity, and soon, they came to a small clearing. He had rows of tulips planted there, and her breath caught in her throat.
“How beautiful,” she gasped. “How did you do all this so soon?”
“Eloise told me how to do it when I visited you. She had read a book about it, and she explained the process. I could have had my gardener do it, but I wanted to try it for myself. As it would seem, I am quite good at it.”
“Indeed you are. It is beautiful.”
“Good, because I wanted everything to be perfect for this moment. Euterpe, I have loved you since the moment we met, even if I did not dare admit it to myself. You are the kindest lady there is, and you have a heart larger than the body it is confined to.
It just so happens that you are also the most beautiful lady as well, and I cannot believe that you came into my life. I needed you, and I still do. I miss you when you are not here and when I am not with you, and I do not want to be apart from you anymore. I never want to be away from you.”
Somehow, he had managed to keep his tone measured as he spoke. At last, he had found his words, and Euterpe thought they were the most incredible ones she had ever heard. He was perfect, the only gentleman for her, and she could not believe that of all the ladies in the world he had chosen her.
“All this to say,” he added, after a breath, “that I know this is to be expected and that I have been unable to surprise you with this, but …”
He then got down on one knee, pulled a small box out of his pocket, and opened it to her.
“Euterpe, will you marry me?”
She almost forgot to accept it as she threw herself at him. She managed to gasp a quick ‘yes’ as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her tears of joy falling onto his cheek. He, in turn, took her by the waist and held onto her tightly as though he never wanted to let her go.
Euterpe knew that he would not.
***
When her wedding day came a second time, Euterpe could not have been happier. This time, when she looked at herself, she could only see a face smiling back at her, an exquisite gown clinging to her skin. Emma fussed around her, fixing her hair for the hundredth time and asking if she needed more rouge. Euterpe couldn’t help laughing, thinking about how much had changed in mere months.
There was still difficulty when it came to her mother and father, but they were doing all they could to make things right again, and Euterpe knew she could not hate them. Eloise had been much the same, especially now that she could have an engagement of her own.
Thankfully, Euterpe’s betrothal to the duke had given them a lot of power, and though nobody in society particularly agreed with Eloise’s match, nobody dared to say a word. They were happy, and that was what mattered.
As if on cue, Eloise entered, her hand behind her back.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Ready. I wish to leave now, but it is too early for that.”
“Yes, that tends to happen when you begin to prepare an hour in advance.” She laughed. “I was given this a few days ago, but I was given strict instructions not to give it to you until now. I must admit, I was quite surprised when I saw it, but it would appear that it belongs to you. Here, it would seem that you will need this today.”
She handed Euterpe a letter along with a small pouch before slipping out of the room again. With a curious look, Euterpe opened the letter.
Dear Euterpe,
I cannot wait to see you! I am entrusting this letter and this gift with your sister. I have been taking care of something for you, and I thought that today you might like to have it returned to you.
My uncle does not believe in superstition, but ever since I found this, it has brought me luck. After all, it brought you back to me. Thus, I think on your wedding day you might be nervous, and so this should help.
“I will see you soon. I cannot wait for you to be my aunt.
Yours Faithfully,
Ella.
Euterpe smiled, already knowing what she would find inside the pouch. She opened it, tipping the locket into her hand. Emma gasped beside her.
“Eloise’s locket! How did you– when–”
“It is as Ella says. There is a good deal of luck in this necklace. I suppose I should wear it, yes?”
Emma nodded, fastening it around her neck.
The hour that followed felt endlessly long, as all she wanted to do was go to the chapel and marry Edward. She longed to be Euterpe Balfour, the Duchess of Cambridge, and she willed time to move faster.
At last, she could enter the carriage and leave for her wedding. She rode with her father, who looked at her with such pride that she forgot all that had happened for a while. When they arrived, she took his arm, and they waited to walk down the aisle.
“I am so proud of you,” he said softly. “You have taught me so much, and I shall miss you when you are gone. I could hardly think at all when I lost you, Euterpe.”
“I know, but it is over now. This is not you losing me; it is you helping me become the happiest lady I can be. Besides, we shall visit you, and you may come to see us whenever you wish.”
Her father nodded, and then the time came for them to walk. She thought that her nerves might appear then, but they did not. She was simply happy to be starting her new life, and it could not come soon enough.
Their guests rose to their feet, all looking at her, but she only saw Edward. He truly was so handsome, and as she drew nearer, she at last found Ella, who was wearing a beautiful blue dress and waving at her. Euterpe gave her a quick wave back, making the little girl beam.
The ceremony began, and Euterpe tried to enjoy every minute without willing it to be over so that she could be his wife. As the vicar spoke, she at last felt the fluttering in her chest that she had been waiting for. It was not nerves, exactly, but it was similar. The first glimmer of her love for her new life, she thought.
The time came for the vows to be exchanged, and Edward said his perfectly for a man who claimed not to be good with his words. Euterpe could feel herself begin to cry, and she had to blink back her tears as she spoke hers. She promised always to cherish and obey him and that she would be by his side until death did them part, and of course, she meant every word.
When, at last, they were announced as husband and wife, all those in attendance rejoiced for them. It had been a tumultuous romance, but standing at the altar, Euterpe could honestly say that she would never have had it any other way. It had been worth all the difficulty, as it had led her to the man she loved.
After the day’s festivities had passed, and they were returning to Cambridge with Ella, Euterpe sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. Ella was asleep on her side of the carriage, Edward having removed his coat so she could have a pillow. She looked like an angel, which beneath all her tricks and clever words, Euterpe knew she was.
“Was that the wedding you had dreamed of?” Edward asked gently.
“Yes,” she nodded, leaning upward to kiss him. “And I have dreamed of the life that you and I shall lead in equal measure.”
THE END?