Page 20 of The Governess’ Unlikely Suitor (The Dashworth Brothers #2)

B reakfast was a chaotic affair at Glanmore House.

All the family ate together and since the incident in the library, it seemed to Kate that she was expected to join them; somehow, having found Charlotte, she had become, if not quite family, then at least a trusted guest. The whole affair was less formal than an evening meal.

Every member of the household helped themselves to food, talking over one another with rapid exchanges that were sometimes difficult to follow.

Only Tobias was silent, like a giant rock in the centre of a rushing stream.

In the few mornings since she had started to attend these gatherings, she always found herself sitting opposite Edward.

She would allow herself to glance at him occasionally, to take in the way his fine clothes fitted his body or how his dark hair sometimes fell across his forehead.

Mostly, she busied herself in enjoying the delicious food served.

Charlotte always chose an uncle to sit next to and, for a reason Kate had yet to discern, liked to put Dolly on her chosen uncle’s head.

Today it was Edward’s turn. After their shared afternoon in the music room, where he had tried to teach Kate how to play the piano, she had barely been able to stop thinking about him.

The way he had moved, the sheer talent he had displayed, had consumed her thoughts.

They only saw each other at breakfast. He hadn’t sought her out and she had not looked for him, promising herself that if she kept their contact to a minimum, her feelings would not grow into something she could not control.

So far, her plan was working, although it was hard to keep her eyes off him this morning while he was entertaining his niece.

She had never worked in a house where a child was given so much loving attention.

It was lovely to see, which was, of course, why she was watching so intently.

Charlotte appeared to use his head as a jumping-off platform for Dolly, who was being made to jump from Edward’s dark hair, to his shoulder and then perform a series of elaborate acrobatics, before returning to the crown of Edward’s head to start the process again.

When Dolly swooped and dived, Edward made impressed noises like he truly believed the toy was performing such feats by itself.

Charlotte would laugh delightedly, as if her uncle were the funniest man alive.

After several of these manoeuvres Edward caught Kate’s gaze and shot her a sheepish smile.

She smiled back and for a quick moment, the rest of the chatter and the scrape of cutlery on plates fell away and it was just the two of them.

That was until she noticed Christopher smirking at her. Face burning, she dropped her eyes, staring down at her plate. Her plan only worked if no one else suspected how she was beginning to feel. Becoming the object of ridicule or pity was something she intended to avoid like the plague.

‘Lady Albrighton has invited us all to a ball next week,’ Emily announced, a thick cream card in her hand.

‘As much as I would like to go, I am very busy that evening,’ said Christopher.

‘You do not even know the date.’

‘Alas, my calendar is so full, I know I will be unable to make it.’

‘Full of doing nothing,’ muttered Edward as Dolly did a nosedive in front of his face, landing beside his plate.

‘The ball will be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to more people, Kate,’ said Emily, ignoring the brothers.

From their many conversations, Kate knew Emily was not fond of balls, and for her own part the thought of entering a room full of strangers and being expected to dance in front of them was about as appealing as running naked down the street.

‘It is quite all right, Emily. I do not need to attend any balls.’ She popped some bacon into her mouth, the salty goodness so delicious she did not think she would ever get used to eating it.

‘Nonsense,’ said Emily, placing the card down beside her plate. ‘Mr Wright is a perfectly pleasant man but I do not think you have developed a tendre for him and you are not going to find a husband here. No, we must go. I am sure you will have many admirers and will be able to take your pick.’

Emily’s statement seemed to clang around the breakfast room, stopping every conversation immediately.

Even Dolly sat still atop Edward’s head, as though waiting to see what would happen next.

The bacon in Kate’s mouth turned solid and she chewed it frantically, desperate to say something, anything to end the cavernous silence.

Emily carried on, seemingly unaware of Kate’s desperate awkwardness.

‘I know I said you need not have a husband, and I still stand by my statement, but it turns out I do like being married myself.’ She smiled fondly at her husband; Edward and Christopher rolled their eyes in tandem like they had rehearsed the move.

Normally, Kate would have smiled at their action, but she was too dismayed by the turn the conversation had taken.

‘And’—Emily carried on, ignoring the brothers once more—’if there is someone out there for you, then I should like to help you find him. ’

Kate swallowed, her mouth dry. ‘But…’

‘It also means we can go shopping for new dresses.’ Emily leaned over and squeezed Kate’s hand, which Kate knew had turned icy.

‘I am really looking forward to picking out the perfect fabrics for you. I have never really had anyone to go with before. Do say you will; it will be a treat for both of us.’

Charlotte chose that moment to begin talking to her uncles, thankfully drawing their attention away from Kate’s conversation with Emily.

Sticking to her resolve not to look at him, Kate did not turn to see if Edward was still being used as a climbing apparatus for a doll or if he was following what was being said between the two women.

The tendons in her neck ached with the effort of not giving in, but she found she did not want to see what he thought of her gaining suitors.

If he did not care, it would hurt, but if he did…

that might be worse for her heart in the long run.

Kate waited until Charlotte began babbling in earnest before she leaned towards her friend.

Speaking quietly, she said, ‘Emily, I cannot go to this. It is not only that I have nothing to wear; if someone asks me to dance, I will make a fool of myself. I have only ever been to a few provincial gatherings when I was much younger. I have not danced in years and years.’

Emily gently squeezed her hand again. ‘I would never force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Heaven knows how miserable I was, standing on the edge of ballrooms in all the years I was searching for a husband. I would not wish that peculiar sense of dreadful unease on anyone.’ She patted Kate’s hand before returning to her breakfast. ‘How about we take it one step at a time? Finding the perfect outfit that fits you like a dream will be fun and you and I need to attend the dressmaker’s anyway.

You could do with some more day dresses for receiving callers.

Then, Freddie and I can teach you how to dance.

If, at the end of it all, you still do not want to go to Lady Albrighton’s ball, then we will not go. ’

Kate bit her lip. ‘But you will have invested so much effort by that time, I will feel awful if I let you down.’

‘Honestly, Kate, I was a disaster in the ballroom. I did not know what to say and my limbs are so long and gangly, I was always tripping myself up when I walked about. I always felt people were talking about me and that they were not saying kind things either but wondering why I was still a spinster after four seasons. I spent most of my time hiding behind plants.’

Kate waited for her friend to say more but Emily took a bite of toast instead.

‘Was your speech meant to be inspiring?’

Emily waved her hand dismissively. Swallowing her food, she said, ‘No. Balls can be hideous. I understand that more than most. I told you my story to show you how nothing you could do would let me down.’

‘You really hid behind a plant pot?’

‘Pots, as in more than one. I was very awkward. I am very awkward, but I think a ball might be better for having you there.’

Kate’s heart squeezed at the sweet admission; the countess, not seeming to realise the compliment she had just given, continued to eat her breakfast. Lovely though the sentiment was, Kate did not see how her presence would change her new friend’s evening.

‘I am afraid I do not think my being there will improve anything.’

‘No. I suppose you do not.’ Emily put her knife and fork down.

‘You are a lot of fun, Kate. Having you come to live at Glanmore House has been a pleasure I did not realise I needed.’ She smiled softly, glancing at her husband, who winked back at her, a thousand private words exchanged in a simple gesture.

‘That is really very…’ Words failed her.

Kate had never had a friend outside of Simon.

Life had not allowed for one. If someone had told her she would find that person in a countess, one who was in line to become a duchess, albeit tenuously, she would not have believed it.

And yet here she was; life had led her to this point and she could either hide in her empty rooms or experience every moment to the full.

In a way, she would be defying Chorley, becoming everything he had tried to destroy in her.

If Emily wanted her to go to a ball, then she would.

She stabbed the remainder of her bacon. ‘I think I should like to go shopping for a ball gown. I have not owned one before.’ And she could sell it when all this was a distant memory.

She had yet to touch the pin money the duke had been giving her and she could probably afford one dress out of it.

Although, she had no idea how much one would cost. It need not be a waste; she need not feel guilt.

‘And learning to dance would be a useful skill.’ One she would probably never get to use again, but it might become a lovely memory.

She might even meet a man who would take her mind off Edward and his strong, competent hands—one better suited to her station in life.

‘Let us hope you are better at dancing than you are playing the piano,’ said Emily, clearly fighting a smile as she resumed her breakfast.

‘I thought you were asleep.’ The urge to look at Edward, to see if he was listening to their conversation, to see if he was about to add something, was so strong, her whole body ached with the strain of not looking.

‘The way your fingers managed to make even the most beautiful instrument appear like an elephant had escaped from a menagerie and landed on the keys was quite exceptional. It kept me on the edge of wakefulness despite my exhaustion.’

‘You are very rude.’

Her friend laughed and Kate risked a peek at Edward. He was watching them both, a faint smile on his lips, but when he caught her looking, he turned away.