Page 107 of The Governess Who Stole My Heart

Simon reached out his hand. “John, you’ve done so much for me already. I owe you my life. I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough. And I am so ashamed of the way I treated you…” He turned to Susan. “And to you, Susan, I am, also, so verysorry.”

Susan needed to keep back the tears and didn’t speak but justnodded.

“I think we’d better go,” John said. “You still have a long recovery. I’ll check in with youlater.”

“Thank you all for coming,” Simon said, and lay back against thepillows.

* * *

The surveyors were still stakingout the railway right of way. It would be some time before John would be able to ship the wool using the train. So his immediate responsibility was to ship the wool to market using the shipping service his family had used for many years. The shipping had been delayed by his trip to London, but now he urgently needed to make the necessaryarrangements.

He was at his desk writing out the details for the shipment when Standish came into thelibrary.

“The post, Your Grace,” he said offering a number letters on a silversalver.

“Thank you,Standish.”

John took the letters and placed them on the desk to look at later, as he wanted to finish the inventory for theshippers.

However, one letter caught his eye and he picked it up and openedit.

7thNovember,1830

Your Grace, the Duke ofLennox,

It seems like months since we met, but I know it has only been a few weeks. But fondness knows no time, and I long to see you onceagain.

And as you so kindly offered to host me, should I be in the region, I should like to take you up on your kind offer and ask if I might visit for a short week or two, starting thisThursday?

I am staying with Lady Briddlesworth of Houghton House at present, and I could not leave the area without taking advantage of your generoushospitality.

I so long for us to take up where we left off—your enlightened instruction on your family—our burgeoning friendship—and exploring the wonders of HaverfordEstate.

I know you are a busy man and I promise to be as discrete and unobtrusive as possible on your valuable time. However, I believe we might have many satisfying evenings of pleasant conversation to look forwardto.

You may send your answer to Lady Briddlesworth, Houghton House, Travistock,Kent.

Your Ardent andDevoted,

FionaFitzwilliam

John sat backin his chair and sighed. Yes, he had offered to have Miss Fitzwilliam visit again, but it could not be at a more inconvenient moment. Simon was still recovering, the wool was being shipped and he really wanted to focus on founding the new school for the villagers. Still, it might be lively to have an entertaining guest. And it might cheer Simon up as well. He needed to start reentering active life again, and Fitz might be just the one to help dothat.

He took out a piece of stationary and quickly responded to her letter in theaffirmative.

* * *

Susan thoughtit would be a nice gesture to offer to accompany Simon on a little walk outside if he was up to it. It had been a week since his arrival and she knew he was out of bed and beginning to attend the familymeals.

After supper one evening she went over to him as he was leaving the diningroom.

“Simon, I see you are regaining your strength,” she said. “Might you be interested in accompanying me on my walk some morning? I usually take various routes around the estate. However, we could make the walk as short or as long as youwish.”

“Hmm. That sounds interesting. I’ve not been outside yet and I believe it would be good for me. However, I think we should start with a modest walk and see how well Ido.”

“Of course. We will tailor the length to yourneeds.”

“What time do you usually go?” Simonasked.