Page 46 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“You have proved yourself worthy in helping me adjust to the English lifestyle. For that, I thank you,” he said, not wishing to cause insult while the child was so close. “Which is quite a surprise, considering that you are French.”
“I am afemme francaise, Phillip,” she replied as they walked together. “Did you know thatFrench womenare known for their beauty? In my country, it is acceptable for men and women to be flirtatious with one another. Also, it was the French who invented etiquette.”
Phillip watched as Lord Jacob played a game with his stick, pretending to swordfight an imaginative enemy. That, and Lady Davina’s flirtatious mood gave him cause to smile.
“Ah, but I know, as well as you do, that English societal rules are quite different from those of the French.” He grinned. “We are far more reserved, whereas the French feel a need to gesticulate with their every emotion.”
Lady Davina laughed out loudly, causing Lord Jacob to stop in his tracks and look their way. For a moment, Phillip thought the boy might begin to sob, but his nanny came to his rescue. He knew that the children did not seem to like Lady Davina, and her devilish laughter had brought fear into the boy’s heart. Though he soon returned to his play again, with Nanny by his side.
“You do tease me, Phillip,” Lady Davina said with her usual deep, husky tone.
“We French do like a little drama; this is true. But the English are so dull with their reserved outlook. One thing I am not, Phillip, is dull,” she almost cackled the words. “Nursemaid!” she then yelled, looking over at Nanny. “Do keep the boy’s voice down; he will scare away all the birds. In fact, take him to find the butterflies; that will occupy his mind,” she ordered of Betsy.
“I cannot accuse you of dullness, Lady Davina; you are too spontaneous to be dull,” Phillip said, losing his faux smile as he stopped walking. “Can you tell me why I was not informed of the soiree we are to host this very night?”
Phillip was glad that Nanny had taken the boy further on so that he could speak with a harshness that wouldn’t worry the child.
“Oh, that little thing.” Lady Davina raised her hand, gesticulating as if to brush away his concern. “It is hardly a soiree. We are having a few important guests over for a light buffet supper, that is all. Why? Who has complained over it?”
“Me, Davina, I am complaining,” he said, looking straight into her dark eyes. “As I have said, your assistance has been most useful. However, I do not like having guests invited into my home without my knowledge.”
“Oh dear,” she pouted her lip at him in a mocking gesture.
“I do not take kindly to your belief that you have the freedom to organise my household,” he said, deepening his voice that bordered on anger. “In future, you will run your ideas by me first.”
“Why? Are you having to cancel another meeting?” she dared to question him. “I checked with your valet and the butler, and both informed me that you were free this evening.”
“Do not take liberties with my patience, Davina,” he snapped. “You are a guest in my home; please remember that fact. Now, if you will excuse me, I will go and collect Lord Jacob so we can return to the picnic.”
“Before you do that, Phillip, allow me to suggest that you need a woman who can run your household. You are far too soft with your servants. It is imperative that you are able to concentrate on your business. I can bridge that gap until you find yourself a wife,” she continued, showing no fear of his warning.
“It is true that I am not experienced in running a household. But I have trusty servants that can help me fill in any gaps,” he replied softly, determined to remain calm in front of his nephew.
“Yes, but they are not to be trusted,” she said, following in his trail as he went to get the boy. “We already know that one of them is a thief.”
“I would prefer that you never bring that incident up again, Lady Davina,” he said, going to take hold of Lord Jacob’s little, chubby hand. “Come, Jacob, let us go and get something to fill our bellies.” He smiled down at the boy.
“Well, that is foolish. What of the children?” she tried. “Servants cannot give advice, Phillip. They are not qualified to do so. They are there to serve and are not your equal.”
“What of the children? I have a governess and a nanny for assistance with them,” he snapped back, his patience wearing thin.
“Lady Beatrice no longer needs home tutoring, and Lord Jacob would be better with a male tutor,” she insisted. “I know these things because I have asked other English ladies to advise me on such matters. I would be happy to organise the children’s schooling, taking the burden from you. This is the way for English children so you must—”
“Davina!” Phillip called out, a little louder than he meant to. “Please! We are out on a picnic so that I can spend time with my nephew. For that, I am grateful you organised the trip. The boy has a male to influence him. He has me, so the present governess is more than sufficient. Do not interfere where you are not wanted.”
Even his harsh words didn’t put her off. He’d rather hoped she might leave them and return to the house, but that wasn’t to be. Instead, she went on about how important the guests were that would attend for supper. How it would be better for Lady Beatrice to be educated at a private school for young ladies. How this and how that …
Had Lord Jacob not been present, Phillip would have most certainly lost his temper with the accursed woman. Instead, for the sake of the child, he bit his tongue. For the rest of the picnic, he did his best to ignore her, turning his back on her as he took Jacob by the hand and led him to the lake’s edge to show him to throw stones into the water.
They chased butterflies together, and by the time he returned to the picnic table, Lady Davina complained about how dirty the boy’s clothes were.
“If a child does not get dirty, in my view, they have not had any fun,” Phillip told her.
“Nursemaid, take the boy back to the house for a good scrubbing,” she ordered. As she did so, she showed no fear, not even after Phillip’s warning words.
“Actually, Nanny, I will return to the house with you,” Phillip said, picking up the tired boy to carry him on his back. “We will go and visit your sister, Jacob, and see how she fares.”
“But we have not finished our picnic, Phillip,” Lady Davina’s voice echoed from behind him as he walked away.
