Page 14 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
Shaking her head softly, Caroline again abandoned her meal to put her gifts away and refocus on her work.
* * *
“Moses?”
The Duke’s head snapped up as the voice he heard did not completely register until he saw the person that it was coming from. “Lavinia?”
His wife was standing there, dressed in a light blue morning dress, her golden hair arranged beautifully in curls and clasps. She still looked a little frail, but her stance looked solid.
He slowly stood, “Lavinia, my God, are you feeling better?”
“Yes,” she nodded, “I am. Do you care to take a walk with me through the gardens? I feel a need for fresh air and I would like you to be with me.”
“Of course,” Moses replied and rounded the desk. Taking her arm and folding it over his, he smiled at seeing her. “I am delighted you are feeling better.”
The soft perfume he smelled coming from her skin evoked an olfactory memory of a perfume he had brought her from Ireland and he smiled even more. She had taken the time to put it on—perhaps that was a good sign.
“I have not had a chance to be with Nicholas or Josephine,” the Duchess said softly, as they finally exited the mansion. “Forgive me, Moses. I know I have not been the companion you need.”
The Duke felt mired for a moment, “Lavinia, our marriage was—is—one of opportunity. I am blessed, though, that we have two wonderful children.”
The Duchess was tight-lipped. “Moses, the word opportunity is a prettier way of saying convenience. There is no love between us.”
Moses fought away a grimace at her frank works, “Love is overscored by loyalty, Lavinia. And I have pledged my life to take care of you and my children…” the word ‘my’ had slipped out before he could have censored them, “I meanourchildren, forgive me.”
“I suppose we both have our regrets, Moses.” His wife responded as they entered the garden and stopped at a perennial bush. “I have damned you to a loveless and unsatisfactory life.”
“Seeing our children grow, and taking care of the people who I am set above, is enough satisfaction for me,” he replied, as they moved on and deeper into the garden. “Honor and commitment rule over emotion. I have pledged to provide for you and our children for the rest of our lives by the inherent contract of marriage.”
Something flashed in her eyes, something that Moses dared conceptualize as crafty. The Duchess had just taken on—for a split second— an air of smugness. It was as if she had just won a chess match.
Moses faltered.What just happened? Did she just…trick me? But into what?
“I am very glad you said that, Moses,” The Duchess sighed, “Because… I am no mother and I think it is best…”
Moses waited, as, by the ominous pricking of his skin, he sensed that something pivotal was about to happen, “… to send our children to boarding school,bothof them.”
The Duke nearly lost his place where he was standing, as the shock reverberated through him. “Boarding school? Lavinia, no! Not for the both of them. Nicholas is already going in two years. We cannot send little Josephine to some school in parts unknown!”
“Then what do you propose we do?” The Duchess’ words were heated but Moses sensed a strange calm about them. Her eyes were level and if the Duke had thought about it just a moment more, he would have realized that she was goading him. That she was prodding him to fall into a trap and unwillingly, he did so.
“She has a governess, Lavinia,” Moses pressed, “She can stay here and when she’s of age we can send her to finishing school.”
The Duchess’ blue eyes flashed in anger but her words were deadly calm, “So you are rejecting my decision to favor a governess’, then.”
Instantly, Moses went on the defensive, “I am not rejecting your decision, my dear, but what is the sense of breaking up a good system? Josephine is advancing under Miss Robins’ tutoring and I believe if she continues to do so, she will be exceptional.”
The air between them went frigid with the icy look from the Duchess’ light blue eyes. But when she spoke her voice was calm, deceptively calm, “I suppose we will have to wait and see then, won’t we?”
The Duke’s frown was growing progressively deeper with every moment that passed. Something was strange, too strange. But his mind was too mired in trying to follow the twists and turns in the almost-argument he had just had with his wife and endeavoring to figure out the strangeness.
His hand rose to massage his now pulsing brow, “Lavinia, please, do not do this.”
“Do what, Moses?” the Duchess’ said quietly, with a sublime turn of her head, “Other than seeing where your true loyalties lie?”
“My loyalties lie with you and our children,” Moses stressed. “Josephine is fine where she is, please understand and see sense.”
Another stifled silence followed until the Duchess spoke, “I understand Moses, I fully understand.”
