Page 8 of The Earl's Forbidden Governess
The silence of Wessex Manor was as unnerving as ever—perhaps even more so after meeting the elusive earl. Still, she pushed aside her discomfort, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand. As she approached the door of the schoolroom, a flicker of excitement stirred within her. Emily was easy to like, and she was looking forward to beginning the girl’s lessons.
To her surprise, Emily was already seated in the schoolroom when she entered, and the girl was practically bouncing with enthusiasm. Catherine frowned, then moved to the heavy curtains, carefully drawing them open and allowing the sunlight to stream in.
“Good afternoon, Lady Emily,” she said with a warm smile. “I hope you are ready to begin!”
“Oh, yes, Miss Winslow,” Emily said eagerly, her eyes sparkling. “I have been looking forward to this all day. I wanted to greet you last night, but Edward wouldn’t let me. He said I needed to let you rest first.”
Catherine could not help but smile. Emily was a bright spark of light in the demure manor.
“Well then,” she said, “Let us start by discussing what you have been studying up to now. What subjects interest you the most?”
Emily frowned and pursed her lips, glancing down at her hands before facing Catherine again. “Well,” she said hesitantly, “I do enjoy reading, I suppose. And I’ve had some lessons in French and drawing, but… truthfully, Miss Winslow, I haven’t had much formal education beyond that.”
Catherine tried her best to hide her surprise. “I see,” she said. “And what about history, mathematics or science?”
Emily shook her head, her cheeks red. “Not really,” she said, her voice small. “Edward… he’s been so busy, and since our parents…” she trailed off, her sunny disposition fading.
Catherine looked at her sympathetically. It was evident that Emily’s education had been neglected, and she couldn’t help but think it had to do with whatever circumstances had led to the dilapidated state of Wessex Manor. She leaned forward, offering Emily an encouraging smile.
“In that case, Lady Emily,” she said, her voice gentle, “I believe we have quite an exciting journey ahead of us. There is so much to explore and learn. Shall we begin with history?”
Emily nodded eagerly and Catherine smiled as she took a seat across from her. “So, let us discuss the Glorious Revolution of 1688,” Catherine said, and Emily frowned.
“The Glorious Revolution? What on earth is that?”
Catherine smiled encouragingly. “It was a turning point in our history,” she explained, her voice gentle. “You see, in 1688, King James II was deposed and replaced by his daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange.”
“But why?” Emily asked, leaning forward. “Wasn’t James the rightful king?”
“Indeed,” Catherine confirmed. “But many in Parliament were concerned, fearing that he would try to restore absolute monarchy and undo the Protestant reforms.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “So how did they replace him? Just like that?”
Catherine shook her head and smiled. “Not quite,” she said now. “William of Orange, who was his nephew and son-in-law, was invited by a group of nobles to invade England. He arrived with a large Dutch army and James fled to France.”
“Without a fight?” Emily asked curiously, and Catherine nodded.
“There was little bloodshed,” she admitted, and Emily’s face lit up.
“Is that why it is called the Glorious Revolution?” she asked now, and Catherine nodded, impressed by her student’s quick understanding.
As the afternoon wore on, Catherine found herself increasingly impressed by Emily’s quick mind—not to mention her insatiable curiosity. The girl absorbed information like a sponge, and Catherine was certain that if Emily had her way, she’d learn everything there was to learn in the span of an afternoon.
It was Catherine who insisted that they take a break—taking it upon herself to brew them a fresh pot of tea. When she returned to the schoolroom, she could only shake her head when she noticed that Emily was bent over a book once again. The younger girl blushed as Catherine took a seat and poured the tea.
“Thank you,” she said as she took her own cup. “I do apologize if I am a bit demanding. I am just… curious.”
Catherine nodded with a smile, and before she could stop herself, the question slipped out. “Lady Emily, if you don’t mind me asking… why is your brother not married? Surely a man of his position would have many suitable prospects.”
The moment the words left her lips, she regretted them. Emily’s hand with the cup of tea froze midway to her lips and her shoulders slumped noticeably. She sighed, the light in her eyes dimming.
“He almost was… once,” Emily said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was about five years ago. Edward was courting Lady Isabella Fairfax. She was beautiful and charming, and our parents adored her.”
Catherine leaned forward, captivated against her better judgment. “What happened?” she asked, and Emily sighed, her eyes growing distant.
“Back then, everything was different,” she said softly. “The house was always full of people—servants, guests, friends. We hosted grand parties and attended all the important events. Our parents…” A wistful smile played about her lips. “They were so proud of Edward. Of the man he was becoming. They kept talking about how beautiful his and Isabella’s children would be…”
Catherine frowned. “But what happened?” she asked now, unable to tame her blatant curiosity. “What happened to Lady Isabella, what became of the courtship?”
