Page 67 of The Nanny’s Handbook to Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes

Mrs. Temple regarded her for a long moment, as though weighing Emmeline’s words.

“You make very good points, Mrs. Chase,” she said at last, her expression stern.

“And I will take into account that the Fae gifted you the decalamitifying dust when you asked for it. They wouldn’t have done so if it wasn’t deemed a worthy cause.

That being said, it is a complex situation.

So complex in fact, and so unique, that before our interview—after I’d spoken with your duke and he admitted he knew about your magical abilities—I communicated with the Fae Realm.

” Her fingers lightly touched the edge of her silver and crystal mirror, and for a moment, the glass shimmered brightly as though a moonbeam had glanced across it.

“I spoke with Queen Maeve to be exact, to ask for guidance. In particular, should there be any other sort of consequence for your actions, beyond surrendering your Parasol Academy license.”

“And…?” Emmeline whispered as apprehension slid over her, making her chest tighten. She had no idea what those consequences might be. She’d never come across anything in the Parasol Academy Handbook that talked about such things.

Would she be fined in some way? Paraded in front of her former Academy peers and presented as an example of how not to behave?

Would her name be engraved on a plaque in the Academy proclaiming her to be the very-worst-Parasol-Academy-nanny-who-ever-existed?

Or what if… what if she were whisked away to the Fae Realm and incarcerated, never to see Xavier and darling Harry, Bartholomew, Gareth, or her own father and brother, ever again? Or worse, cursed in some way?

Oh God! What if she ended up with a donkey’s head like Bottom from A Midsummer Night’s Dream?

As Emmeline’s mind began to careen down all sorts of panic-paved paths, Mrs. Temple spoke and put her out of her misery. “It seems the Fae, and indeed Good Queen Maeve, have decided to be gracious on this occasion. So…”

Emmeline clasped her hands to her chest, as hope sparked. “Yes, Mrs. Temple?”

The headmistress’s expression, although still grave, was far kinder.

“Because there were extenuating circumstances, combined with the fact that the duke has sworn upon his honor that he will never reveal our secrets, surrendering your license, which is the usual consequence, is sufficient. No other action of a censuring nature will be taken.”

Emmeline almost sagged to the floor as relief washed over her. “Thank you, Mrs. Temple,” she whispered. “And please convey my heartfelt thanks to the Fae and Her Highness Queen Maeve for their understanding and consideration.”

“I will,” she said with a regal incline of her head. “Now, with regards to the matter of fraternization…”

Emmeline felt the blood rush from her cheeks. Oh no. She wasn’t out of the woods? “You-You warned me about your concerns in regard to the duke before I was sent to Kent, I know,” she stammered. “And I tried so very hard to stifle my feelings. I really did, but I fell in love and so did the duke—”

Mrs. Temple put up her hand. “I haven’t quite finished, Mrs. Chase,” she said.

The bright smile that suddenly curved her mouth was so unexpected, a feather could have knocked Emmeline over.

“What I was about to say is that, there is actually an exception to the ‘no fraternization’ policy in the Handbook .”

“There is?”

“Yes. It’s the True Love Clause .” Mrs. Temple put her leyspectacles back on, then opened the Parasol Academy Handbook and flipped to a page toward the end.

She scanned the text, pointed to a spot halfway down the page, then pushed the book toward Emmeline along with a spare ley-lens quizzing glass.

“You see, it’s written right here. In Chapter 26, Paragraph 30, Section 7. It says…”

Emmeline picked up the quizzing glass then read aloud, “ If True Love blooms between a Parasol Academy nanny or governess and her employer, any and all rules forbidding fraternization are forthwith null and void. Because True Love is rare and magical and should never be impeded or condemned. By the order of Good Queen Maeve .”

She raised her wondering gaze to Mrs. Temple. “How is it that I’ve never seen this rule before?”

The headmistress smiled. “I don’t make the rules, my dear Mrs. Chase.

The Parasol Academy Handbook , which was created by Good Queen Maeve, does.

And sometimes, certain sections, as well as spells, do not become apparent until they become relevant for a particular graduate.

Think of it as a ‘bespoke’ handbook. But you haven’t finished reading that section. There’s an additional sub-clause.”

Emmeline returned her attention to the book.

“ Any Parasol Academy nanny or governess who resigns from her commission because of True Love must surrender her license. However , she does not necessarily need to give up all Fae magical tools that support the care of children, if she has gone above and beyond in the line of duty. The Headmistress of the Parasol Academy may choose to gift said nanny or governess a spool of Fae thread so that she may sew her own magical pockets for her gowns. While magical items such as leyport keys or befuddling potions or leylenses or decalamitifying dust will no longer be available, regular items such as sweets and plasters and marbles and cough medicine will always be in ready supply when required. ”

When Emmeline looked up, Mrs. Temple was still smiling at her.

“My dear Mrs. Chase, despite the fact you bent, and on occasion broke, the Parasol Academy’s strict rules, I do believe you have gone above and beyond while serving as one of our nannies.

And as a result”—the headmistress withdrew an ornate silver box from another drawer in her desk—“I would very much like to give you this so that you might continue to weave metaphorical magic into the lives of children.” She inclined her head. “Discreetly, of course.”

With trembling fingers, Emmeline picked up the silver box and opened the lid.

And her breath caught. Inside lay a spool of fine silver thread that sparkled and twinkled like it was made of starlight.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she said, raising her eyes to meet Mrs. Temple’s, “except thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”

Mrs. Temple’s smile was as warm as a summer’s day as she rose and rounded her desk.

“You’re very welcome, Mrs. Chase.” And then to Emmeline’s surprise, the headmistress embraced her.

“I wish you and your duke well,” she said as she drew back.

“And if you should happen to invite me to your wedding”—she squeezed Emmeline’s hands—“I would be more than a little thrilled.”

“His Grace and I would both love to have you there,” said Emmeline with a heartfelt smile. “We’re planning on a small ceremony at St Paul’s in Knightsbridge followed by a wedding breakfast at St Lawrence House. We’re then going to honeymoon at Kingscliff Castle in Kent.”

And then she recalled what Mrs. Temple had told her before she’d attended her interview with the Duke of St Lawrence: I know you will be brilliant and simply perfect for this position.

Had the Parasol Academy headmistress known how this would all turn out, even then?

Surely not.

But as Emmeline took her leave, she was convinced more than ever that Mrs. Felicity Temple actually did have a little Fae blood running through her veins. It wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility. At least not the Fae Realm…

Xavier’s town coach was waiting in Sloane Square for Emmeline when she emerged from the Academy into the bright spring day. A catcall and a saucy wink from Horatio, who sat upon the top of the carriage, had her smiling.

Are you coming to our picnic in Greenwich Park? she asked her avian friend. The children would love to see you there. She was so relieved she could still converse with the loquacious raven, that even though she was no longer a Parasol nanny, her animal whispering abilities were still intact.

Of course , the raven returned, flapping his enormous wings before taking off and soaring over the roofs and spires of London. I’ll see you there…

Emmeline’s smile widened when her gaze fell upon Xavier, who’d just stepped from the coach.

How handsome he looked in his superbly cut black frock coat, azure silk vest, and matching paisley necktie.

Beneath his top hat, his hair was artfully tousled, several black locks tumbling rakishly over his brow.

In his gloved hands he held his silver-topped cane and his eyes wore an expression of frank admiration as his gaze traveled over Emmeline.

At moments like this, Emmeline was tempted to pinch the soft flesh on the underside of her wrist in order to remind herself that she wasn’t dreaming and she really was going to wed this beautiful, generous, exceptional man.

When she reached Xavier’s side, he kissed her cheek. “How did it all go, my love?” he asked as he handed her into his coach.

Emmeline beamed as he climbed in to sit beside her on the velvet upholstered seat.

“It went well, I think.” Perhaps that was a bit of an overstatement, so she added with a small laugh, “Well, better than I expected. Considering all the rules I’ve broken, I’m counting it as a blessing that the Fae haven’t cursed me with a donkey’s head. ”

Xavier’s eyebrows shot up. “Good God, I should bloody well hope not,” he said.

“But, you can tell me all about it on our way to Greenwich.” Once the door was closed, he knocked on the carriage roof with his cane to indicate the driver should move off.

On the seat opposite them lay a leather portfolio which contained his finalized plans for the Westminster Palace clock.

Today was the day he would submit them to the Astronomer Royal.

Emmeline was nothing but thrilled for him and she told him so.

“I couldn’t have done it without you, my darling,” he said in a low voice.

He reached for her hand and laced their fingers together.

“I made that plain to Mrs. Temple too. In fact, during our chat, I gained the impression that she isn’t quite the stickler you feared her to be.

I truly think she does understand the exceptional and challenging circumstances you were thrust into. ”

“You’re right. Mrs. Temple was more than understanding.” And then Emmeline filled her fiancé in on all the details of her interview with the Academy’s headmistress, including the unexpected gift she’d been given for going “above and beyond.”

“That’s simply wonderful,” said Xavier. “Although, it’s a pity you don’t have a magical pocket in this particular gown.

” He ran a finger along the line of pearl buttons securing the front of her bodice.

“Because I rather think you might need to use your Unsmirchify spell at some point this afternoon.”

Emmeline knew exactly what Xavier meant, but she couldn’t resist teasing him.

“Whatever do you mean, Your Grace?” she said with exaggerated innocence.

“I know Harry, Bartholomew, and Gareth are joining us for our picnic after your meeting with George Airy, but surely they aren’t that messy anymore.

Besides, I’m certain Mrs. Punchbowl won’t pack any ginger beer. ”

Xavier’s eyelids lowered to half-mast as he pulled off his gloves and tossed them on the opposite seat.

This was followed by his topper. “You know exactly what I mean, my darling Emmeline,” he said as he gathered her close, then pulled her across his lap.

His bare fingers flirted with the lace collar of her gown.

“The traffic is horrendous, so I rather think it’s going to take us well over an hour to get to the Royal Observatory. ”

“It will?” Emmeline slid her hands around Xavier’s neck and looked up at him through her eyelashes. “Goodness. Whatever shall we do to pass the time?”

Xavier removed her new bonnet—a lovely short-brimmed affair lavishly trimmed with lace and feathers and gentian-blue violets—and it landed beside his top hat.

“I can think of a few things,” he murmured huskily.

Then he cradled Emmeline’s cheek within the palm of his large hand.

“I adore you, do you know that? Even if I’d lost my clock design and my entire horological collection and even St Lawrence House, I’d still have this.

” His mouth curved in a beautiful smile.

“Time spent with you is more precious than anything else in the world.”

As Emmeline smiled into her husband-to-be’s warm and clear blue eyes, her heart swelled with infinite joy. How mistaken she’d been to ever think of them as cold. “When I’m with you,” she whispered, “all I can see is forever. I love you.”

“I love you too, Emmeline. Always.” And then Xavier slanted his mouth over hers and neither of them cared what the time was for quite a while.