Page 116 of The Governess Who Stole My Heart

Susan sighed and placed her hand on his arm. “John, please, I need alittlemore time. It’s only been a day since we discussedthis.”

“Well the feelings for me, at least, go back a lotfarther.”

Susan agreed. “Yes, but I’m still dealing with my feelings for Daniel. Pleaseunderstand.”

John nodded. “Very well. I shall leave it up to you to broach the subject again when you’reready.”

“Thank you. Now I must fetch Elizabeth and get her ready forbreakfast.”

Just then Fitz appeared at the top of the stairway. She paused when she saw the two of themtogether.

“What a perfect day for riding,” she said as she started descending the stairs. “I certainly hope Simon’s in good health and spirits this morning. I so look forward to our ridetogether.

“Miss Fitz,” John acknowledged, as she passed them on the stairs without making eye contact witheither.

“My tea was tepid this morning when I awoke. I do hope the coffee will be hot,” she said and disappeared toward the breakfastroom.

* * *

It was nearlyeleven o’clock and Susan was going over the series of British monarchs withElizabeth.

“So many,” Elizabeth observed, “How do you ever keep them all straight? There’s the first and second of this king and the third and fourth of that one. This Plantagenet and that Lancaster. How do you ever make any sense ofthis?”

“It’s called history. It’s a new subject for you and gradually, over time, you’ll begin to understand when we study all of their stories,” Susansaid.

“Oh, I like stories. Let’s start rightnow.”

Clarissa appeared at the schoolroom door after knockingbriefly.

“Susan, might I have a word,” she asked looking a littleashen.

Susan went to her. “Are you ill? You don’t look too well,” sheobserved.

Clarissa was accompanied by Charlotte, who went inside the schoolroom as they remained in thehallway.

“What is it, Clarissa? Is it somethingserious?”

“Come with me to my rooms, I need to tell yousomething.”

They went to the rooms and, inside, Katherine was waiting for them with an even more distressed lookingface.

“Katherine?” Susan exclaimed, greatly surprised. What immediately flashed through her mind was that either her Mamma or Papa wasill.”

“Come sit with me,” Katherine requested. “Susan, we got a letter aboutDaniel.”

Susan’s face brightened. “Oh, is he cominghome?”

“No, Susan. We had a letter from the Admiralty. Daniel’s ship was lost in a terrible storm off the coast of Cuba. There were nosurvivors.”

A charge like lightning surged though Susan and she couldn’t speak. She sat staring blankly ahead. Katherine reached over and took Susan’s hands and she burst into tears as Susan remained dry-eyed. Clarissa stood behind them with her hands on theirshoulders.

“How is that possible?” Susan asked. “It was a brand new ship.” Katherine couldn’t answer. “There were noremains?”

Katherine shook herhead.

“Oh, my dear sister,” Susan said, taking Katherine into her arms and rubbing herback.

Katherine finally stopped crying and released herself from Susan’sarms.