Page 7 of An Unforeseen Kiss (Captivating Kisses #4)

E den added up the sums with her pencil, scribbling figures for the cost of their journey from Cumberland to Kent.

She had kept a running total of what she had spent and would present the information to Lady Traywick when they arrived at Millvale.

The carriage jostled her, so she paused a moment, looking across at her two charges.

Lady Verina was ten and six, while Lady Justina was a year younger.

The girls were asleep, their heads resting against one another.

Oh, how she had come to love them. They had been ten and eleven when she had come to Traywick Manor, having lost their father and brother in a carriage accident when they were but two and four years of age.

Neither remembered much about these two loved ones, having been so young at the time of their passing.

They were close to their older brother, Lord Traywick, who had inherited his father’s title at the tender age of ten.

Though the earl was away at university for much of the year, he would join in on the girls’ lessons at times when he was home for the holidays or accompany the three of them when they went out riding.

Lord Traywick had one year left at university, and then he would join his mother in town for the Season each year.

She thought it would be good for the girls to have their brother as an escort to the various social events when they made their come-outs.

The earl could also look closely at the suitors his sisters attracted.

Verina was a very pretty girl, and by the time she made her come-out, Eden thought she would be beautiful.

Verina was also a little too trusting, so having both her mother and brother guide her through the Season would be ideal.

Justina, on the other hand, was strong-willed for one so young.

Eden did not envy Lord Traywick having to rein in his sister when she was introduced into Polite Society.

If she were this opinionated and stubborn at ten and five, Justina would be quite hard to handle by the time her own come-out occurred.

Sighing, she thought how she had never been able to make her own come-out.

After she retreated to the dower house with Mama, the new Viscount Brownley, barely one and twenty, had made it perfectly clear to them that they were a burden he had no interest in bearing.

Mama had spoken up, telling Brownley that she would not be around much longer, which had silenced the entitled dolt.

Shamed, he had retreated, not calling upon them again until after Mama’s death five months later.

It had been a difficult time. Not only did Eden have to watch her mother slowly slip away one day at a time, Brownley provided nothing for them.

Polly had come with them and stayed in the dower house, helping Eden to physically care for her mother.

Both she and Polly had also split the housekeeping between them, and Eden had learned to become self-sufficient.

Cook would send meals when she could, but for the most part, she merely sent food, which Eden and Polly, between them, had learned how prepare.

When she sent word of Mama’s death to the house, Brownley had finally visited.

Eden had sternly told him that he would pay for Mama’s burial in the Snow family plot, and so Mama was laid to rest next to Papa.

Her cousin also told Eden she had one month to vacate Brownstone lands.

Knowing this was coming, she had actually obtained employment.

Eden, using the last of the pin money she and Mama had saved, took the mail coach to Carlisle in Cumberland.

She had continued her correspondence with Miss Barnes, her former governess.

While Miss Barnes thought the Lake District beautiful and enjoyed teaching her two young charges, the governess missed Kent—and the local vicar.

Mr. Mason convinced Miss Barnes they were meant to be man and wife, despite both being in their early forties, so when Eden found herself in need of employment, Miss Barnes suggested that her former student take her place in Carlisle.

The governess even spoke to Lord Kessley, her employer, about the arrangement, and he had agreed.

Miss Barnes remained with Eden for a week, helping her settle into a new household and her role as governess to two young girls. Then she departed for Aylesworth and her vicar.

Only then did the trouble begin.

It had nothing to do with governessing and everything to do with Lord Kessley.

Eden took to teaching and quickly grew fond of the earl’s two young daughters.

She also liked Lady Kessley, a timid creature who liked to read and sew.

The countess gave Eden two hours each afternoon to herself so that she might spend time with her daughters.

She had enjoyed that free time in the beginning.

Strolling in the gardens. Reading in the library.

Even going out on horseback. But Lord Kessley began showing up wherever she was.

At first, she was polite to him. After all, he was her employer.

Then he began overtly flirting with her, and she tried to remain cold and distant, not wanting to encourage his advances.

Still, he pursued her, trying to charm her, which she was having none of.

He finally caught her alone in the gardens one afternoon.

She had seen a guest arrive and go into the viscount’s study and felt safe enough to walk the gardens.

She had taken to staying in her cramped room and reading there each afternoon, trying to avoid his company.

That afternoon, though, she was eager to get some air with the viscount being occupied.

His guest must have left soon after his arrival—and some servant must have revealed where Eden had gone—because Lord Kessley showed up while she sat in the gazebo.

At first, he had asked about his daughters’ progress, and she was lulled into thinking he truly cared for them.

When his questions turned more personal in nature, she rose, telling him she was uncomfortable and wished to return to the house.

He had caught her as she hurried away, slamming her against a tree.

Pressing his body against hers, the bulge in his breeches hard.

He had forced kisses upon her, kisses she neither wanted nor liked.

When his tongue slipped into her mouth and his hand went under her dress, Eden had had enough.

She bit him. Hard.

He had jerked away, raging at her. He had even slapped her, the sting painful. Eden had raced away, panicked. Hurrying to her room, she had locked the door, studying her image in a small hand mirror. The imprint of his hand remained for a good while, even as dread built within her.

Knowing she could not stay in this household any longer, she packed her things, waiting for the summons she knew would come.

She had returned to the schoolroom, the girls jabbering away, and Eden tried to conduct a new lesson, hoping to keep things normal.

The housekeeper herself had appeared in the doorway of the schoolroom, telling her that the earl had requested her presence in the library.

The woman’s eyes held sympathy in them, and she realized that this was not the first time a governess had been dismissed.

Both Lord and Lady Kessley waited for her, the countess wringing her hands, her gaze focused on her lap, not wishing to meet Eden’s eyes. The earl smirked at her when he addressed her.

“It has come to my attention that you are lacking, Miss Snow,” he began.

“Your former governess, Miss Barnes, had a great deal of experience. I was reluctant to let her go and have you as a replacement, seeing as this is the first post you had ever held. Against my better judgment, I allowed Miss Barnes to leave and decided to employ you for a trial period.”

Nothing about a trial period had ever been voiced, and she raged inside as the viscount rewrote the past.

“While I know my girls have already developed tender feelings for you, you are not a good fit for them and are not meeting their educational needs,” he had continued. “You are to be immediately dismissed. I see no need to provide references when you have done such a poor job.”

“It will be almost impossible to gain another post without references,” she had said. “Neither you nor Lady Kessley has expressed any doubts about my performance. Until now.”

He had eyed her maliciously. “I am sure it is hard for you to recognize how you might come up short, Miss Snow. Lady Kessley and I wish for better for our girls. I will graciously have someone take you into Carlisle tomorrow so that you might catch the morning mail coach.”

The earl had eyed her, defying her to speak. Though she had received her first quarterly payment, he mentioned nothing of the upcoming one due her. She doubted even if she asked for a portion of it that he would acquiesce.

“Then I will finish this afternoon’s lessons,” she said, her head held high.

“You are not to see them again,” Lord Kessley said, cutting her to the quick.

“Not even to say goodbye?” she asked.

“You are done. Go to your room,” he ordered.

Eden had done just that, crying quietly, worrying who the next governess would be.

The housekeeper had a tray sent to her room for dinner, and she picked at it.

She had very little money and no idea of where to go.

With no reference from Lord Kessley, it would be next to impossible to find employment.

The next morning, Lady Kessley had come to Eden’s room. She gave her a few pounds and apologized, saying she knew nothing was her fault. That her husband had already run off two other governesses. Miss Barnes had been older, past forty, and the countess thought that had solved their problems.