Page 4 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)

There was a polite tap on the door and the footman came in to announce that the carriage was waiting to convey them back to Fenchurch Manor. He had quite forgotten about the massive dog, which had been waiting patiently outside the front door for his young owners to emerge.

‘That animal is not coming inside my carriage. He can run behind.’

The children exchanged glances and sighed in unison. ‘That is what Mama always says and it is a great disappointment to all three of us,’ Elizabeth said sadly.

* * *

When Viola had received the note from Mr Sheldon her first thought had been to order her carriage and drive over there immediately and retrieve her errant children.

Then she reconsidered. The children were rarely wrong in their assessment of a person’s character and if they wished to stay she trusted their judgement.

After all, had they not been correct to distrust the previous governess?

The wretched woman had falsified her testimonials and she never would have discovered this if the twins had not insisted she wrote to the three people concerned.

Miss Brown had been dismissed without references and she had allowed the children to run wild for a few weeks.

There were half a dozen new candidates coming for interviews.

This time the women would spend a day with her children so they could be involved in the choice.

Every reference had been checked before inviting the governesses to come.

This meant that whoever the children preferred could be appointed without fear of disappointment.

Allowing the two of them to roam free for so long was perhaps not the wisest move, but she had felt guilty that they had been obliged to endure inferior teaching for several months before she had believed their complaints.

At three o’clock she saw a carriage turn into the drive and hastily moved away from the window in case she could be seen. She took her place on a comfortable chair in front of the fire and her mother bustled in from wherever she had been to join her.

‘I wish to meet the gentleman who has been able to entertain my grandchildren for several hours. I wonder what it was about him that persuaded them to call there?’

‘I am surprised Brutus did not return hours ago. One can be very certain that he was not allowed inside the house so, unless he found refuge in the stables, he will have been outside in the elements.’

‘He has a thick coat; he will come to no harm. Did you honestly think he would leave the children?’

‘I suppose not. No doubt Mr Sheldon will be shocked to find he is allowed inside this house as if he were a lapdog.’

‘What you do and do not do, my love, is no concern of anyone but yourself.’

‘I shall order tea and almond biscuits to be served. It has been so long since I had a morning caller I have quite forgotten the procedure.’

‘As all our neighbours were close friends of your obnoxious husband they can hardly be surprised that you did not wish to see them once he was dead. I do wish that you had someone of your own age with whom to converse, my dear. You spend all your time with children and old people.’

She smiled. ‘Old person, Mama, as there is only one of you.’

A further twenty minutes passed before the carriage pulled up outside.

The tea urn was already in place, but she had dismissed the maid and decided to serve this insipid beverage herself if it was needed.

Nursery tea would be waiting for the twins so they would be sent straight upstairs.

It was Mr Sheldon she wished to converse with.

A footman stood in the doorway. ‘A Mr Sheldon to see you, my lady.’

There was no obligation on her part to stand but her innate good manners made her do so.

She was glad she was on her feet as the gentleman who strode in was enormous.

He must be a foot taller than herself. He was also a prodigiously handsome man and that would not go unnoticed by her mother, who had remained seated.

‘My lady, I must apologise for keeping your children with me for so long. I do hope you were not worried by their absence.’

‘I was not, sir, as you had sent me a note to that effect. Would you care to be seated and take tea?’

‘No tea – I thank you for the offer. I am not fond of it. I prefer coffee.’

She caught the eye of the footman and he vanished and would return with a jug of freshly brewed coffee in no time at all.

‘Allow me to introduce you to my mother, Mrs Alston. I shall pour tea for her as she is very fond of it.’

He bowed to her mama. ‘I am delighted to make your acquaintance, ma’am.’ Then he flicked aside his coat-tails and took a chair opposite the one she had been sitting in. He was assured, obviously well used to moving in the best circles, which was more than could be said for herself.

‘Lord Thomas is a musical genius, my lady, and it was his talent that kept us busy these past hours. I am a musician and composer myself and would like the privilege of teaching your son. He is eager to have lessons with me if you agree.’

She didn’t hesitate. She trusted this man on sight. ‘They are without a governess at present so he can come at whatever time suits you best. However, I am in the process of appointing another and, once she is in place, he must have his piano lessons with you when his schoolwork is done.’

‘Then I shall expect him at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.’

The footman placed the silver coffee pot on the table next to the tea urn. Whilst she busied herself pouring tea he was conversing politely with her mother.

‘As you see, Mr Sheldon, we now have coffee. Can I tempt you to some of these freshly baked biscuits?’

‘No, coffee is all I require, thank you.’

She was in the process of pouring him a cup when disaster struck.

Brutus, on seeing Mr Sheldon, bounded forward and nudged him firmly in the back.

His hand flew up knocking the coffee jug from her hand and sending a scalding arc of liquid into the air closely followed by the priceless cup and saucer.

The hot liquid landed on the dog who yelped and continued to whine and frantically attempt to bite his back. One might have expected her visitor to have been appalled but instead he snatched up a vase containing hothouse blooms, tipped them onto the floor, and then emptied the water over the dog.

He dropped to his knees and, regardless of the immediate ruination to his smart jacket, rubbed the dog dry with the tails of his coat. The whining ceased and Viola joined him on the floor in order to examine any damage that might have been done.

‘Is he badly burnt?’

‘No, the cold water prevented that.’ He rose smoothly to his feet and offered his hand.

Without hesitation she took it and he pulled her to her feet. He was so substantial that she felt like a child beside him. She had never before regretted the fact that the good Lord had made her a little over five feet tall, but now she wished she was not so petite.

She was about to apologise for the dog when he snapped his fingers and pointed to the door. To her astonishment the dog trotted out and she heard the ever vigilant footman opening the front door to let him into the garden.

‘Good gracious! I never thought to see the day that that animal would heed anyone but the children.’

‘He will do better in the cold.’

‘Of course he will. I must thank you for your prompt action. You saved my dog but have ruined your jacket.’

He smiled and it quite took her breath away. ‘I have other topcoats, my lady; do not concern yourself. However, if you will excuse me, I shall depart. I am not comfortable in your drawing room as I am.’

He bowed to both her and her mama and then took his leave. The room seemed strangely empty after his abrupt departure.