Page 2 of The Governess Teaches A Duke (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #34)
Chapter One
Miss Maribel Lewisham slammed shut the heavy book she had been reading from. The resounding smack echoed throughout the room, and the two boys in front of her fell silent. Her younger brothers stopped pushing each other and looked up at her.
"We are sorry, Mari." It was bad enough to have one set of those sweet brown eyes turned up at her in an apology, but both was too much, and she shook her hand fondly at the incorrigible pair.
Being the sister of five brothers, she had seen this look many a time.
The twins, Frederick and Richard, were bundles of energy but their terrible attention span only helped her work on the patience she would need as a governess.
As she had with their brothers, who were now of age to be working men themselves.
John was now a clergyman, Matthew was studying to be a solicitor, and Liam had joined the church.
"I will accept your apology if one of you can recount what I was just talking about."
Looking to each other, they whispered for a moment before responding.
"You were reading a story about the Greeks battling," offered Richard.
"Close—”she withheld an eyeroll“—but not quite. I was reading you a piece of Roman history, from their greatest statesman, Cicero, and his time in exile.”
"If you start again, we promise to listen this time, Mari," Frederick assured her with his sweet smile.
"Very well. Sit down, and I will begin."
Opening the book, she flicked through to find the page she had been on.
"Mari, a letter has come for you."
This announcement from her mother made her forget her own decorum, and she dropped the book to the floor with a thud as she squealed in delight.
"I am coming, Mother. Please let it be an offer of employment!"
Running to find her mother, she almost collided with the poor woman when she entered the kitchen.
"Slow down, Mari, where are your manners?" Mrs Lewisham scolded.
Snatching up the letter, she saw that the heavy wax seal was rich and imprinted with a lion crest. She ripped the parchment open and then quickly closed it in excitement.
"It is from the duke!"
Maribel had applied to a governess role for the Duke of Avondale's daughter and had been eagerly awaiting a response. Pausing for a moment, she tried to calm herself, her good sense reminding her it may not be the answer she wanted. Taking a deep breath, she opened the letter and read the contents.
Miss Maribel Lewisham,
The Duke of Avondale, Thomas Denby, seeks your employment in the position of governess to his daughter. Please come prepared, including any belongings you need, as if a suitable fit, you will be required to start immediately…
An interview? With a duke? She had assumed a steward or the butler would be conducting the interview. The duke himself? And to move in straight away!
"Mari, what is it?" her mother asked anxiously, knowing how much this news would mean to her.
'The Duke of Avondale wants to interview me. He, himself. A duke!"
"Freddy, our Mari is going to meet a duke," Richard stated in awe.
"This is wonderful news, Maribel! Wipe the concern from your face. You are educated and well-mannered. And he may be a duke, but title aside, he is just a human. Like you. Like us."
Maribel nodded her head slowly. Her mother spoke true, of course.
But it did not make her any less nervous.
She was aware of the Duke of Avondale for reasons aside from his need of a governess.
The women of the ton found him a most desirable marriage partner, and season after season, he had not taken a bride, despite being widowed for the last eight years.
She had heard he was charming and attractive but also cold and rigid.
That was the natural state of a duke though, was it not?
Maribel hugged her mother and brothers, telling them she needed to go prepare, but really, she wanted a moment alone.
As eager as she was for this opportunity, the reality of leaving her family was starting to dawn on her.
Throwing herself on her bed, she looked up at the wooden ceiling and tried to calm her racing thoughts.
One at a time , she told herself, always frustrated when she could not catch a single thought.
Instead, when her emotions heightened, they flurried around her mind like a blizzard.
Shaking her head with such vigour that her bonnet flew off, she took the opportunity to knead her scalp, massaging away some of the tension.
She heard a self-important meow and looked to the door as Mr Whiskers strolled in, meeting his haughty expression.
“Mr Whiskers, I shall take you with me.”
The black feline, short-haired and sleek, had been her closest confidante for six years. She had found the kitten asleep in the barn atop a bale of hay. When she had gently nudged him, one eye had opened and he had released a menacing meow. They had been inseparable ever since.
“Enough with the dillydallying! It is time to prepare.”
Mr Whiskers was well-accustomed to her change in moods and paid no mind as she went from procrastinating to pacing and gathering her wits. The moment she had been waiting for had arrived.