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E lizabeth sat with the children in the parlor, and Lord Ashton and Lady Isabella were to arrive that morning. She could sense the excitement in the children, but Elizabeth felt anxious about the meeting.

Lady Martha smiled at her with assurance, sensing her discomfort.

When the couple arrived, the children threw themselves into their father’s arms, and Elizabeth stood silently watching the reunion.

Lord Ashton was a tall, lean man. At the moment, his attention was on his children, and he seemed oblivious to everything else.

Elizabeth observed his wife’s face. There was an evident scowl on her face on seeing the bond between her husband and the children. When she realized Elizabeth’s eyes were on her, she immediately corrected her expression and looked at her mother-in-law.

“Now, children, allow me to greet my son,” Lady Martha cried.

“I hope you had a pleasant trip,” she said, looking lovingly at her him.

“We did. But we have missed you all so very much,” Lady Isabella said with feeling.

“Let me introduce you to our new governess,” Lady Martha said, and Elizabeth stepped forward.

“It is so good to have you at Ashton Park, Miss Smith. My mother has nothing but praise for you,” Lord Ashton said with enthusiasm.

Elizabeth immediately realized he was not the sort of man she had imagined him to be. There was something innocent and pleasant about his appearance that had a striking resemblance to his mother.

When introduced, Lady Isabella said nothing to Elizabeth, and Elizabeth could immediately sense her hostility. She formally addressed the children and shook their hands.

“I am tired and wish to rest,” she said to her husband.

“Oh! You must, indeed. I will accompany you upstairs,” her husband said with concern.

“Philip, Edmund, and Emily have been impatiently waiting to show some of their work. I think you can spare a moment and give them your feedback,” his mother said firmly.

Elizabeth realized that Lord Ashton was the type who could be easily persuaded.

“Yes! I will,” he said, glancing remorsefully at his wife.

If at all his wife was displeased, she hid it well. She left them and headed upstairs. The rest of the party left for the study room.

Lord Ashton was impressed with his children’s progress in a month.

“This is incredible. They have learned to write the alphabet. I remember Emily had a lot of difficulty with them. Thank you, Miss Smith.”

“They have put in a lot of hard work, sir. They deserve all the credit.”

“These drawings are wonderful, too,” he said, admiring the rainbow his daughter had drawn.

“Miss Smith allows us to draw at the end of each lesson. Papa, she even taught me to draw a tulip,” she cried with excitement.

Her father kissed her lovingly.

“It looks beautiful, my dear. I am so happy to see your progress. Now, I can give you all the gifts I brought,” he said.

He thanked Elizabeth again and took the children.

“I know you were apprehensive about meeting my son; do not worry. He trusts me with the children, and I can make decisions when he is not around,” Lady Martha said.

“I was. I am still worried about the consequences if your son becomes aware of who I really am.”

“Do not worry. Even if I tell him, he will share the same sentiments about the matter as I do. But I cannot say the same about his wife,” she said with a hint of annoyance.

“I understand,” Elizabeth replied.

Lady Isabella did not join them for dinner, and Lord Ashton informed them that she was tired. The children did not seem to miss her company.

Elizabeth observed their bond with their father and realized why they missed him so much.

Lord Ashton asked her many questions about her interests, wanting to know more about her. Elizabeth realized that he had never asked about her connections in town. She assumed his mother had asked him not to.

“Well, I am glad you took the position here, Miss Smith. I hope you are comfortable here.”

“Very much, sir,” she replied gratefully.

“So, Edmund tells me Georgiana is here. Why is Fitzwilliam still in town?”

“He mentioned in his letter that he had some important business to take care of. I cannot imagine how lonely the poor girl must feel. She stayed here a couple of days ago and enjoys being in the company of Miss Smith.”

“I am certain she does.”

Conversation flowed steadily, and Elizabeth felt at ease. He somehow reminded her of Sir William. His demeanor was friendly, and she could see that he was kind-hearted, resembling his mother.

The day passed swiftly, and they did not see the couple for supper. Elizabeth assumed they took their meal in their chambers. The next morning, Elizabeth sat with the children for their lessons, and Edmund seemed disinterested.

“Your mind seems to be elsewhere today, Edmund. What is the matter? Are you feeling unwell?” she asked.

“Mamma scolded me this morning.”

“What did you do?”

“I did not do anything. I was playing with Papa in his room, and she scolded me for disturbing him.”

Elizabeth did not know what to make of his words.

“Did you disturb him?”

“No. Papa said I could play in his room for a while. Then, when he left for his bath, Mamma came in and said that I was a bad boy because I was disturbing him. But I did not disturb him; I was just playing,” he said with tears in his eyes.

“Come here,” she called him and wiped his tears.

“You did not do anything wrong. Maybe she did not know your father permitted you to play in his room. You are a very good boy and should not cry for such things,” she said, pacifying him.

Emily watched both of them with displeasure.

“I wish our own Mamma was still here. She would always come to our room in the morning and wake us up,” she said with sorrow.

Elizabeth looked at the small girl with sadness.

“All right, we can do something interesting once you finish this lesson. Can you both finish these soon?”

“We will, we will,” the children cried with excitement.

As promised, Elizabeth took them out into the gardens.

“What are we doing here?” Edmund asked with excitement.

“Well, the gardener has given us some seeds. We will plant them right here,” she showed them a spot near a tree.

“This is not exciting,” Edmund replied with disappointment.

“This seed is your responsibility. You have to make sure that it grows into a plant. Once it grows and flowers, I will give you both a gift,” she said.

“I want a gift, Miss Smith,” Emily cried in excitement.

“Then, here you go,” she said, handing them some seeds.

Edmund joined as well. By the time they had finished, both the children enjoyed playing in the soil, but their clothes were muddy.

Elizabeth led them inside the house, and they saw Lady Isabella in the hallway.

“Good God! Why are you both looking like this?” she shrieked.

“Miss Smith, let us play outside,” Emily said proudly.

Elizabeth sent the children along with their nanny to change. Once they went up the stairs, Lady Isabella looked at Elizabeth in anger.

“Who permitted you to take the children out and behave like hooligans?”

“I beg your pardon, Lady Isabella, they were gardening.”

“Gardening? Is that something appropriate for their age? Do you even see how soiled her dress is? What sort of a governess are you?” she cried without hesitation.

Elizabeth controlled her anger.

“I have already discussed it with Lady Martha. She approved taking them outside as a part of my teaching pattern. I agree; her dress got dirty. Next time, I will ensure that they wear something appropriate for such an activity,” she said calmly with a smile.

“You have no right to take them out. You are an employee here, just like the others. I noticed your behavior because you act as if you were a member of the family, and I hear you dine with us too. Don’t you know your limits?

Even if offered, you should have declined, considering your status in life. ”

“I take meals with the family not because I enjoy the luxury. It allows me to spend more time with the children, which helps me as their governess. Whatever status you may assume I do not have is none of my concern. I suggest you take up your concerns with Lady Martha,” she said, again smiling sarcastically, and walked away.

She witnessed the surprise and shock on Lady Isabella’s face as she left her.

What an arrogant woman.

Inwardly, she felt some gratification in arguing with her as she somehow enjoyed it.

She did not know why, but Lady Isabella reminded her of someone in character and behavior. She also remembered the numerous insults she had faced in the past from someone similar.

Yes! She has a stark resemblance to Mamma.