Page 13 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
Alice felt a tugging on her dress, and she looked down to see Lady Beatrice’s pretty little face looking up at her in confusion.
“What is it, child?” she asked, her mind still foggy.
“My legs ache. Can we rest now, Miss Alice?” Lady Beatrice begged.
Alice looked over at Betsy, who looked back at her in exasperation. She couldn’t understand why Betsy looked so annoyed with her, so she walked over to join the nanny and enquire what was wrong.
“Have I done something to upset you, Betsy?” she asked.
“You are not with us today, Miss Alice,” Nanny answered, putting Lord Jacob onto the ground so he could run off with his sister.
“Your head is in the clouds, and Lady Beatrice keeps asking why you lag behind so much.”
“Oh dear,” Alice said, realising she’d been so lost in her thoughts that she’d ignored her charges. “Let us stop and enjoy the little picnic that Cook has supplied for us, shall we?”
She’d been carrying a basket full of food so the children could enjoy their midday meal outside. Yet, she’d been so lost inside her head that she’d all but forgotten her responsibilities.
“Come children, let us lay out the blanket and enjoy a rest, shall we?” she called out, gathering Lady Beatrice and Lord Jacob together for their light meal.
Her mind still in a dither, she set out the blanket and opened the basket.
“Are you still not with us, Miss Alice?” Betsy asked, her brows raised as she stared at the item in Alice’s hands.
She was offering a huge lump of cheese to Lord Jacob, and he was about to take a bite when she pulled it away.
“Deary me, whatever has got into me?” she questioned herself, taking out a little knife to cut off a small piece of cheese for the boy.
“It is not healthy for the children to be out in this heat!” a familiar voice called out, and as Alice looked up, she saw Lady Davina gaining on them.
“That is why we have chosen to stop and rest in the shade, Lady Davina,” Betsy replied on Alice’s behalf, defending her.
“How dare you talk to me in that tone!” Lady Davina snapped at the nanny. “I was not speaking to you, so hold your tongue.”
Alice could see that Lady Davina had upset Betsy. She was about to say something to defend her friend when Lady Beatrice stood up and approached Lady Davina.
“Will you come and play with us, AuntDivvy?” Lady Beatrice asked, putting her little hand into the woman she was addressing.
“My name is Aunt Davina, child!” Lady Davina snapped at Lady Beatrice at the same time as she pulled her hand away.
“Teach the child to get my name right. That is your job, is it not? And keep children out of sight,” Lady Davina said, flashing her slitted eyes at Alice.
“It seems you are not very well qualified for your post, Miss Evans. You allow your charges too much freedom when they should remain in the nursery solely for their use. What if they were to be trampled by a horse or stung by a bee, hmmm! You give no thought to their safety. They belong indoors, and that is where I wish you to take them!”
Lady Davina’s voice gradually became louder as she spoke, causing Lady Beatrice to run and hide behind Alice, sitting on the picnic blanket. Not pleased that the woman had upset Lady Beatrice, Alice stood up and approached the aunt.
As she was about to speak harshly, it came to her mind that she hadn’t been herself since the encounter with the duke. Her thoughts caused her to step back, realising her station in life.
“We will take the children to eat their meal indoors, Lady Davina, if it pleases you,” she said, weakening in her resolve. “Come along, Nanny. Let us gather the food and take ourselves along to the nursery.”
Lady Davina marched away, but Lady Beatrice still sobbed in confusion.
“Come here, child,” Alice said as she sat back on the ground to take Lady Beatrice in her arms. The little girl’s shoulders shuddered, and she embraced her until her tears subsided. “There now, it does not matter where we eat our meal. We can still have fun, can we not?”
Lady Beatrice shook her head, but Alice could see she was still upset by the incident. “No, Miss Alice. My tummy hurts.”
“Then we need to make it better with an indoor picnic,” Alice suggested. “And what do you say we invite teddy for tea?”
Lady Beatrice nodded in silence, and Alice wiped her wet cheeks, kissing her.
