you.”
That sounded all sorts of romantic, but really rather silly, and it didn’t ring
true to my ears.
Lawrence had had a different reason, although I didn’t have a single clue what
it could be. I smiled at Miss Gillbank and asked, “Why weren’t you at dinner
last evening?”
“I don’t eat dinner with the family,” she said matter-of-factly, one eye on
Judith.
“Actually, we had a fine time last evening. Perhaps you would enjoy yourself. I
cannot imagine that it would be much fun for you to eat by yourself.”
“No, it is not, but I have become accustomed to it.” She gave me a crooked smile
that showed her two front teeth overlapping just a bit. It was a charming effect.
“A governess is a strange creature, neither fish nor fowl. I quite enjoy
Brantley and Mrs. Redbreast, but they would be mortified at the notion of me
dining in the kitchen with all the staff.”
“Would you please be so kind as to join the family this evening, Miss Gillbank?”
“Thank you, my lady. I should be delighted.” She paused a moment, looking toward
Judith who was trying her best to pry the stick from between George’s locked
jaws. He was pulling and growling, his hind paws digging into the grass for more
leverage. It did him no good. Judith simply pried his teeth open and grabbed the
stick. I smiled as Miss Gillbank said, “I do have one lovely gown. It is simply
five years out of style.”
“It will be just fine. Perhaps soon we can visit York, and Amelia can take us to
the best shops.” I raised an eyebrow and said, without thinking, something my
grandfather said would make me infamous if I weren’t careful, “I presume my
husband pays you sufficiently?”
She didn’t take offense at that impertinence, just said, “Yes, certainly. I am a
very well-qualified governess, my lady. I will have you know that my services
are much sought after in these parts. I believe that just six months ago, his
lordship was compelled to pay me even more because Mr. Bledsoe wanted me to come
and instruct his six daughters.” She laughed and shuddered at the same time. “I
actually believe that he also wanted to marry me. Then he wouldn’t have had to
pay me any wages at all.”
She clapped her hand over her mouth, those rich brown eyes of hers appalled at
what had come out of her mouth.
I just laughed. “That is an excellent story. I imagine you are right about this
Mr. Bledsoe. He sounds quite officious.”
“Yes,” she said, and rose. “Judith, come along, poppet. It’s time we ventured
into the Far East again.”
Judith called back something that sounded vaguely like Chinese.
“Isn’t she marvelous? That is ‘good day’ in Cantonese.”
“I see that my husband believes in educating girls. That is rather forward-looking.
My grandfather was the same way. The only thing is, he preferred to teach me
himself, and depending on how you look at it, my education is very specialized
or bizarre.”
She laughed. “What makes it specialized?”
“I had a star named after me when I was eleven years old. Some night I will show
it to you. It is a lovely star, brighter during the fall months here in England.
It’s a star in Orion’s belt. I remember Grandfather hauling all his guests
outside and bringing me to center stage to point out my star. It’s called Andrea
Major.”
“What a wonderful man your grandfather must have been. He gave you your very own
star. Just imagine.”
After I left Judith and Miss Gillbank, I took George to The Blue Room, where he
could nap?after, of course, I had fed him. Belinda brought him some bacon and
some kippers left over from breakfast. George must have believed he’d gone to
his rewards. He was snoring before he was even completely asleep.
I went downstairs to lunch. I hoped that everyone had dined at least an hour
before. I still didn’t want to see any of them, except Amelia. I rubbed my
shoulder. It was beginning to ache, and my ribs as well. At least I hadn’t