Page 6 of A Loving Governess in Disguise

Chapter 6

Little Isabella, Euterpe decided the same day she arrived, was not an easy girl to care for.

She had been the very picture of an angel before the duke, but no later than five minutes after he left, she became another thing entirely. They went to a room with a desk and a quill, Isabella frowning the entire way.

“Shall we begin with your studies?” she suggested, but that was met only with a scowl.

“You,” she said accusingly, pointing her finger at her, “are only here because I say so.”

“Yes, that was what your uncle said to me. Thank you for choosing me.”

“I did not choose you for any reason. I am simply tired of seeing ladies in my home, one after the other.”

“In any case, you did choose me, and I thank you for it.”

If she remained placid, she hoped, the little girl would change back to how she had been a few mere moments before.

“I shall make something very clear to you, Miss Pembroke. You are a servant. You are not family, and this is not your home.”

Euterpe stepped backward. This little girl was clearly trying to hurt her feelings, but when she looked at her, her face contorted in anger, all she saw was a very hurt little girl. She wanted to take her in her arms and soothe her, but she considered the prospect of having her hair ripped out in return and thought better of it.

“I know this is not my home, and I am more than aware that I am your governess and nothing more. This is your home, as you say, and I do not want to change that.”

She softened a little at that.

“Then I can learn some things, I suppose.”

“Wonderful. Shall we begin with your reading?”

“Yes, but do not give me those horrid little books Matilda insisted I use.”

“Matilda?”

“One of my other governesses. She forced me to read every one, but they were too easy for me. I hated them.”

“Ah, you read well, then? You should only be reading small books and passages at your age.”

“Yes, but I was always read to, so I also started reading them myself. I am quite accomplished.”

“Yes, and your vocabulary is very good, too. Very well. What would you like to read?”

“A fable. I enjoy those. I also like a special version of Shakespeare that my uncle has in the library, but he only lets me read it occasionally.”

“He likely fears that you will finish it too quickly,” she mused, which the little girl nodded in approval of. “Let us find you some fables, then.”

They went to the library, and Euterpe noticed that the little girl walked very maturely. She did not skip or hum to herself like a child would. Instead, she stood tall and walked with purpose. It was sad to see, for even though it showed an undeniable accomplishment, it was proof that she had not been able to be a child.

But she was not there to make her a child, she was there to help her become a lady, so she did not mention it. Once in the library, she gave Isabella the choice of any book she wanted, and she seemed grateful that it was not chosen for her.

In truth, it was easier for Euterpe to let her decide than to search a library that she did not know of. Once Isabella had chosen it, they found a nice bright corner by a window, and Euterpe listened to her read. She was, truly, a very gifted child and finished the story with ease.

It would have been nice if she had not been aware that there were eyes on her.

The valet thought he was well hidden, but she heard him cause a floorboard to creak, and he had thus made himself known. She was being studied like some exotic animal, but though it caused her irritation, she chose to ignore it. It was, after all, her first few days with them, and with the way things had happened with the other governesses, it was to be expected that they would be wary.

The following morning, she took Isabella to practice her writing. The girl complained that copying letters and simple words was beneath her, so Euterpe told her to write short passages instead.

“I do not see how that is helpful,” Isabella huffed. “I can already write very well.”

“Then might we do something else?”

“No!” she squeaked, “I mean … could you show me how to write your name?”

“My name? Surely you are capable of that.”

“I do not know if I will spell it right, and I do not like to make errors.”

Euterpe sighed, but she was smiling as she did so. The little girl was, beneath her little outbursts, still a little girl, and she could nurture that. She took the quill, dipped it into the ink pot, placed it on the page, and …

The ink was strange. It was watered down, not behaving at all like ink should. She furrowed her brow, dipping the quill in again and wondering if she had somehow done it wrong. However, the faint giggling before her told her that this was no simple error.

“What is it?” Isabella asked. “Do you not know how to do this? Perhaps you are not a very good governess after all.”

Euterpe looked from the girl to the page and noticed that the ink was not black but a strange purple colour. Without thinking, she poured some from the bottle into her hand and saw the unmistakable hairs of a blackberry, small pieces sitting in her palm. At this, Isabella laughed raucously, seemingly victorious. Then, Euterpe noted, she looked at her as though waiting for a punishment.

And as tempting as that was, Euterpe would not give her the satisfaction of that.

“Are you not going to scold me?” she asked, eyes wide.

“Of course not. I thought it was quite entertaining. You certainly have a talent for this, don’t you?”

“I … well …”

“Isabella, I understand that you are good at reading and writing and consider all of this a chore, but I must first try to understand how good you are so that we can do something beneficial for you. I assume you wish to improve, yes? That is why you refuse to do the things that a seven-year-old such as yourself should be doing, is it not?”

She received a hesitant nod at that.

“Then we shall decide what you can do together, yes?”

“Yes, please, Miss Pembroke.”

Her new name still did not hit her ears nicely.

While Isabella took her music lesson that afternoon, playing the pianoforte at the level expected of a girl of eleven no less, Euterpe decided that enough time had passed without her trying to find her sister, and the guilt lodged itself in her throat. She had a few hours to herself and would use them wisely. She returned to her room to prepare for an outing, only to find a letter on her desk with her name on it, which she opened.

“ To Miss Pembroke,

You may wonder how I have come to write to you. That is not important. What is important is that you leave this household and come to me at once.

I find myself in dire need of assistance, and it is something that only you can help me with. You simply must abandon your post and take up the one I am offering you. I assure you, your reward shall be plentiful.

Do pack quickly and make haste on your way to the docks as my ship departs at first light. And do not trouble yourself with returning to your current employment, for what I have in store for you is far more interesting.

Yours in great urgency,

L. Gulliver, Esq .”

Euterpe smiled at the note, knowing precisely where it had come from, and placed it back on her desk. She left for town without thinking to notify anyone; they all had their own matters to tend to and did not have the time to help her with hers. That was just as well, she thought as the carriage rode over the bumpy path, for she wouldn’t have known the first thing to say if she were to explain her situation.

On her journey, she tried to think of a plan to find Eloise. Cambridge, if she were there, was not the largest place, but it was not the smallest either. It was most unlikely that she would simply find her while wandering around there. She had to think of another way.

As she stepped out into the square, she was greeted by bustling streets and people from all walks of life talking to one another and purchasing various items. It was unlike London, and even unlike Somerset, where they lived outside of the social season. It was more personable, and she longed to be a part of it, but she had to remember just what she was there for.

It was difficult to navigate the unfamiliar streets, and each time she thought she had found her place, she turned another corner and found that she had not. It felt like an impossible task, but she was quite determined. However, she noted that people were eyeing her carefully, as though they knew she was not where she was supposed to be.

She shook the thought from her mind, trying yet another busy street. They were likely watching her because she was lost, and she looked it.

Suddenly, she saw a small lady dressed in pink, a bonnet tied on her head, walking away from her. She was on the arm of a taller gentleman, who did not seem to be a member of the ton.

Could it be? she wondered as she began to chase after them.

The lady was the right height and had the right frame, and her dress was eerily similar to one of Eloise’s. Euterpe caught up to them, and without thinking, she placed a hand on the lady’s shoulder, turning her around.

“Oh, El, I cannot believe that I found you–”

It was not Eloise. It was a lady with a light tan, with deep brown eyes and hair of a similar colour. She was looking at Euterpe as if she were some madwoman, which Euterpe supposed she might have been.

“My apologies,” she said quickly, running away.

It was not a good start to her time in Cambridge, but there was no use in dwelling on it. There were far more important things to worry about, namely why the pink gown had been so similar.

She wandered for what felt like hours until she gave in, sitting on a bench. She was rigid, trying to think of something to do, but eventually, she gave in, slumping into a most unladylike heap on the seat.

“Is everything alright?” a man’s voice came.

Euterpe looked up to see an older man smiling at her kindly.

“You look familiar,” he continued when she did not respond.

“Oh, that is not possible. I am not from here.”

“I can see that. You have passed my shop six times that I have counted.”

Her cheeks flamed.

“I am visiting for a while and wanted to spend some time in town, but I cannot seem to make head nor tail of where I am supposed to go.”

“Then why don’t you come with me? You can visit my shop, though you do not need to purchase anything, and then I can show you the town myself once my assistant arrives.”

Euterpe knew it was unwise to leave with men she did not know, but he looked kindly enough. She followed him to his shop, which was warm and smelled faintly of dust. He seemed to sell old items of varying worth, and it was almost like a cave filled with treasures.

She looked around, but when she saw the jewellery, she froze. There, in the middle of the display, was a silver oval-shaped locket, an E engraved on the front. Her heart stopped, and she felt faint. This was not simply a locket; it was Eloise’s. She was certain of it.

“Has something caught your eye, Miss?” the gentleman asked.

“Yes. Would you mind showing me this?”

He opened the display, handing the locket to her. She studied it carefully, which was when she found a single chestnut coloured strand of hair in the clasp.

“When did you receive this?” she asked.

“Two days ago, I believe. Yes, that’s right. A young lady came in, a little younger than you. She had a case filled with this sort of thing and some gowns. I must admit, I thought it was strange just how many things she wanted me to purchase, but she claimed to want to start her life anew, and I did not question her after that.”

A new life without her possessions. Euterpe felt her hands grow clammy, a chill running through her as she realized why she had seen that gown before. A less fortunate young lady had taken it after Eloise had abandoned it. She had loved her jewellery and her gowns, Euterpe recollected. She said they made her feel like a princess. Why would she rid herself of it all so quickly?

Unless, she wondered, Eloise had no choice in the matter. She knew that her mysterious gentleman did not come from money, nor did he have any incoming titles or fortunes, but she hadn’t thought it could be so dire that she would have to give her most prized possessions away.

“Is everything alright?” the man asked, snapping her attention back to him.

“This young lady … what did she look like?”

“Like you, I must say. The two of you could have been twins.”

She winced at the comparison.

At last, the man seemed to understand what was happening, and concern spread across his face.

“That is why you are here, isn’t it?” he asked.

“You mustn’t tell anyone. She has been gone for days now, and I simply must take her home.”

She clutched the locket to her chest, the metal warming in her clasped hands. She could feel the tears forming in her eyes, and she willed them not to fall. She had to be strong.

“Take the locket,” he replied gently. “Truly, I did not give her much for it, and I don’t believe I will easily find a young lady that would like a locket that was so personal to another. It is yours. Should she return, I will try to learn more about her.”

She could have collapsed into a heap then and there, but she did not. Instead, she thanked him profusely, and at that moment, his assistant returned, meaning he could lead her back to the carriage.

Her mind raced as she returned. She hadn’t found Eloise, but she had learned more about where she was. If nothing else, she knew that she was indeed in Cambridge, and her assumption had been correct. She tried to see the good in that.

What she saw instead, as she walked towards Cambridge Manor, was a furious duke. He was holding a letter, and as she drew nearer, she realized exactly what it was.

“Who wrote this?” he asked.

“Your Grace, I–”

“Go to my study. Now.”

She followed him without another word.