Page 19 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
For now, she was going to bide her time and gain the trust of the Duke of Haroth. Marriage wasn’t completely out of the question, but she doubted she could achieve that either. Instead, she would wait patiently and think up some schemes to get her hands on his wealth.
Davina hadn’t been too pleased to discover that the duke had a friend taking over his finances, but she felt confident she could get Mr Eli on her side too. Who knew? Nothing was to be ruled out yet, not even some kind of trickery in using the children for her scheming deeds.
“Now is a good time to inform you, Phillip, that you have been invited to a garden tea party tomorrow,” she purred. As she looked over at the duke, she bit her lip seductively.
“Oh! That is good news,” the duke said. “I wondered when we would get started.”
“Fear not, Phillip, you are about to be re-introduced into English society, and it will do you good,” she told him. “Eli, you must come along too. As Phillip’s representative in business matters.” She grinned, showing all her teeth to Mr Eli.
“Somehow, I do not believe that my presence will go down well at an English tea party,” Mr Eli replied. “Unless you are comfortable with finger-pointing and long, harsh glares.”
“Nonsense, Eli, on the contrary, that is exactly what the duke needs,” Davina said, thinking how well she had them both under her control. “We want the duke to stand out, do we not, Phillip?”
“I am not opposed to it, and Eli, I have already told you that I care not a fig what the English gentry think of us,” the duke said to his friend. “Let them stare and gossip; we shall provide their boring lives with a little entertainment.”
“Bravo!” Davina clapped her hands together. “That is the only way to show that you mean business, Phillip. I commend your bravery.”
“We will not be rude intentionally, but I dare any to ignore me,” the duke said. “I will follow them around and then force them into a conversation. It is time for the Tilbury family to regain their footing for the children’s sake. Talking of which, it would be good for them to attend. Their governess and nursemaid can accompany them too.”
“Actually, Phillip, and I do not know why your governess did not mention it to you, but the young boy was looking quite ill when last I saw him,” Davina lied.
She had a scheme forming in her mind so that only she would be seen on the arm of the Duke of Haroth. She always intended to be seen with him whenever they were out in public view. That way, the gossipers would do their thing and spread the word about them being together. Meanwhile, she would become invaluable to him, so the governess was the last person she wanted in the mix.
“Oh, Miss Alice said nothing,” the duke called out, distress written on his face.
“Do not be alarmed, Phillip. I have every intention of looking in on him when we finish dinner,” she said, not wanting him to rush up to the nursery. “It cannot be anything serious, or surely your governess would have mentioned it. But it will be better if the children stay at home. There will be many more events for them to attend with you.”
“Yes … yes, you are most thoughtful, Davina,” the duke said. “I thank you for bringing this to my attention and for your diligence in going to see the child before he settles into his bed.”
“It is the least I can do, Phillip,” she replied, pleased with herself.
“It maddens me when I am not kept up to date with the children’s progress, or lack thereof,” the duke said, and she could see he was annoyed. “I will bring this up with Miss Alice and enquire why she did not see fit to mention it.”
“Yes, it is incompetence on her part,” Davina said, determined to cause the duke to feel angry with the woman who she felt a growing hatred towards. “What I mean is that the entire reason for her employment with you is …”
“Do stop, Davina,” the duke interrupted her. “I refuse to accept that the governess is incompetent in any way.”
“We French are great lovers of seeing that things are done correctly, Phillip,” Davina told him, though there was no truth in it. She just liked to do it to be awkward. “I must address you over this matter. It is an insult to my culture and the English culture too. Why do you allow your servants to be so lazy? I cannot understand it.”
“We are breaking no cultural values here, Davina. I am sure it is merely an oversight,” the duke insisted.
“It would be a great insult to my upbringing, Phillip,” she insisted. “Your father insisted that the servants know their place, and I am still bound by the principles that were taught me.”
“Well, my father is no longer the duke; I am. And you must tell me why you and your mother left Haroth Hall in your childhood,” the duke said unexpectedly. “I had all but forgotten that I even had a stepsister; I saw so little of you before I left England.”
“Of course, Phillip. We can discuss that some other time, but I was still a child myself. I know little of the decisions made by my mother as to why we went to live in London. But you know that I am always honoured to serve you in any way I can,” she said, hoping he might get the hint that herofferalso included his bed.
“It could be why Miss Alice excused herself from the table so early,” Mr Eli spoke up. “Because she was going to see to Lord Jacob.”
“Surely that makes the matter worse?” Davina stepped in. “If she is aware of little Jacob being ill, she most certainly should have informed Phillip.”
“Yes, you could be right, Eli,” the duke surmised, his brows knitted as he showed his irritation over the governess. “I can see no other reason why she left her plate untouched.”
Davina saw her chance and took it. “Might I suggest that you interview for a new governess? I know of some excellent French ladies who are far better qualified to educate the children.”
“That will not be necessary, Davina.” The duke shook his head. “I do not doubt Miss Alice’s qualifications, but it seems that she might lack communication. I will discuss my concerns with her; that should clear up any misunderstanding.”
“As you wish, Phillip, but many of the English nobility use French governesses for their children,” Davina pushed on. “It is quite fashionable, I do believe. They can teach the language more proficiently because it is their native tongue.”
