Page 26 of The Governess’ Unlikely Suitor (The Dashworth Brothers #2)

K ate fiddled with the silver chain around her neck, watching the goings-on in the room in front of her.

Freddie was clearing a space in the centre of the Blue Lounge, as Emily pointed to where she wanted things to go.

Edward was sitting at a pianoforte Kate had not previously noticed, probably because it was the same colour as everything else and blended in with the room’s other contents.

She wondered if someone had made the instrument specifically for this room or whether the family had painted it to fit in with the rest of the decor.

She had never seen one such a startling colour before.

Edward was shuffling through sheets of music, his back to her.

He’d stood when she’d entered but had only glanced at her briefly before turning away again.

It was like their times together had never happened.

As if they had not sat next to each other in the music room when the pads of his fingers had run over the skin of her hand.

Or they had never knelt together on the floor of this room, him reassuring her the spilt tea was fine.

In those moments she almost believed he felt the same intense connection as her, but now one could almost believe they were strangers.

It was only the heavy thud of her heart when she looked at him that gave her away to herself.

Walking to the sideboard, she ruffled the pages of a newspaper, pretending to read the front page in great detail.

It was for the best that Edward had gone back to avoiding her.

She had been evading all mention of dance practice, because she did not want to put herself in a situation where she might have to stand in his arms, knowing that would give rise to a whole host of new fantasies that would taunt her with their unlikeliness.

Besides, her visit with Young Pete last week had reminded her of where she came from.

She was a governess and not a wealthy one.

When all this was over, and unless she could think of another plan, she would have to go back to her previous life.

There would be no more fruit tartlets and boxes of unworn bonnets in her cupboards.

There would be no giggling with the countess or stolen moments with a dark-haired handsome man.

This visit to the Dashworth world was only ever going to be a brief interlude in her, hopefully, long life.

Enjoying it while it lasted, making some lasting memories, she must always keep in mind that it would all come to an end.

The interactions she had with Edward were to be savoured, but she would not pine for him; that was pointless when they would never be more than friends at best.

After her first trip to see Pete and Silas, she had gone back whenever she could.

The long walk through London was doing her good.

It gave her time to think, time when she was not overwhelmed with the glamour of the house in which she was living nor depressed about the young brothers’ plight.

It allowed her the space to ponder a future when all this was over, to decide what she really wanted.

A very tentative plan was forming in her mind, a plan which did not involve going starry-eyed over handsome men but which was practical and well suited for her skills.

She had moved on from the idea of using her pin money for food and clothing and on to something bigger, something which would involve trying to make a difference to children like Pete.

If she could get funding, and Emily might be able to help her, she might be able to set up a school for disadvantaged children or something similar.

The idea of being able to make a difference to the lives of some children was exciting.

When left alone, she was making plans, working out what she would need to acquire in order to achieve this lofty dream.

It was a wonderful distraction from the man who ran hot and cold with her but whose smile she was having a hard time not thinking about.

Edward would go off and marry someone of his own class and she would work.

The two of them could never be more than acquaintances anyway. He was not for her. She was not for him.

But now she would enjoy this moment with these friendly people. She would try her hand at dancing and she would laugh and maybe gain a new skill.

Looking up from the newspaper she had not read or taken in a single word from, she tugged at the long gloves she was wearing.

The material reached her elbows and was uncommonly uncomfortable.

After a few moments of trying her best to rearrange them suitably, she held up her arms, addressing the room at large. ‘Why do I have to wear these?’

‘In case a man becomes overwhelmed by the sight of your skin.’ Edward’s gaze flicked to her hands and then away again to a spot on the wall behind her.

Stretching her arms out in front of her, she tried to will the gloves to become more comfortable from the sheer force of her mind. ‘What happens to him if I take them off and he accidentally catches a glimpse of it?’

Edward rubbed his chin as if giving her question serious thought.

‘Women always wear gloves, so I have never seen it happen. It must be bad though, because no one breaks the rules. Perhaps unfortunate men exploded with ardour all over the place before gloves were introduced as a protective measure.’

Her laughter shot out of her, a bark of amusement rather than a dignified giggle. He grinned at her, clearly pleased with himself at making her respond in such a way and the invisible tension between them eased.

‘A terrible fate indeed! I will keep the gloves on at all times, because I should not imagine Lady Albrighton would like her ballroom covered in bits of disintegrated men.’

His smile widened and she wiggled her toes, delighted he was engaging with her. ‘What dances am I going to learn?’ she asked, but it was not Edward who answered.

Emily bustled towards her. ‘I thought we would go over the basic steps of all of them, cotillion, quadrille, waltz and…’

‘There is no need for her to learn to waltz,’ Edward interrupted.

‘Why not?’ Kate asked. She might like Edward but she did not like his tone.

‘Because…’ He paused, glancing up at the ceiling like he might find an answer there.

‘Because’—he began again, not addressing Kate but rather Emily, which was irritating in the extreme—’she will need permission to be able to perform it and I do not see how we shall get it by the ball, which is only two days away. ’

Emily waved her hand, dismissing Edward’s words. ‘There will hardly be anyone there. It will be a private affair and no one will question whether Kate is allowed to waltz or not.’

Edward spluttered something Kate couldn’t hear and which Emily ignored.

‘I should like to learn it. It sounds very romantic.’ She hadn’t given it any thought before, but somehow the knowledge it bothered Edward made her happy.

Edward muttered something else, something that sounded close to a growl, but she really didn’t see how it was any concern of his whether she waltzed or not.

She raised a questioning eyebrow at Emily, who smiled slyly. ‘Edward is merely being grumpy. I think it is because Lotte said Tobias was her favourite uncle. The others are all smarting a little.’

‘The man does not talk,’ protested Freddie from where he was still moving furniture. ‘How can he be her favourite?’

‘She is very young,’ added Edward. ‘She does not understand what she is saying.’

‘Perhaps she likes that particular attribute in an uncle. I know I would.’ The words were out of Kate’s mouth before she could think about whether she should say them.

They were undoubtedly rude, ruder than any she had ever used to anyone in the Dashworth family.

She waited for their anger as the silence crept on, the pause that seemed to go on forever, and then the two brothers burst out laughing.

Kate sagged in relief as Emily grinned at her.

‘Are you ready?’ Emily asked over the men’s laughter.

‘I am, but before we begin, I should confess that I can remember nothing from when I danced all those years ago.’

Emily nodded as if she had expected such a thing.

She was probably remembering the cacophony of noise Kate had made while seated at the piano.

Emily need not be overly anxious; Kate was better at moving to music than she was at creating it.

‘Do not worry, I will start as though you have never danced before. I thought we would begin with a cotillion. The steps are quite simple and a lot of it is repeated over and again. If you go wrong, your partner can steer you in the right direction. It is also a good one for you as the dancers swap partners throughout, giving you the opportunity to speak with four different men.’

‘Four! I do not know what I would say to one.’

‘Oh, always ask men about themselves. I believe it is their favourite subject and you should not run out of conversation that way. With some, all you have to do is murmur, “Please tell me more,” and after that sally you will only have to nod every now and again to keep everything flowing nicely.’

‘You do realise we can both hear you,’ said Edward wryly.

‘Of course, I do not mean you two. You are obviously what all men should aspire to be like.’ Emily winked at her and Kate bit the inside of her cheek.

Contrary to the impression she had just given, Kate had spoken to many men from different walks of life. Some were loquacious and some silent like the duke. Chorley had used words to terrorise. However, she could make conversation if she had to.