Page 87 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
“Miss Rose, I am not being crass. I am stating facts. Captain Balfour has told all who will listen that you are not of sound mind, that you suffer from melancholy due to the death of your husband.”
Rose could hardly believe what she was hearing but she had no reason to disbelieve what the boy was telling her. He liked his governess and had no reason to say such a thing.
“To whom has he said this?” she whispered, her heart thudding in her chest. “When did you hear him speak these awful words?”
“As I said, Miss Rose, to anyone who will listen. I have personally overheard him speaking of you to the duchess. I believe he is looking to have you replaced.”
“Replaced?” she gasped. “No!”
It had never occurred to her that Balfour was looking to have her removed from Rosecliff but as she thought about it, she could not imagine why he would keep her in his line of sight. She was a constant reminder of his wrongdoings.
I will never allow it! Nicholas will never allow it!
“Nicholas will never permit it,” Harry told her with confidence as if he had been reading her thoughts. Rose wished she shared the boy’s assuredness. Granted, the duke seemed to be less enthusiastic about having the captain act as advisor but the man still traveled frequently with the duke.
Still, she could not deny that given Balfour’s new position, courting the duchess, it would be easy for him to send her back to Dartford without much fuss. Nicholas must not have allowed for any action to be taken.
Nicholas will not succumb to whatever treachery Balfour has planned. Nicholas is wiser and stronger than that bamboozler. We will discover what he is doing and put an end to it at once.
The thought gave her little relief as she replayed the past weeks in her mind.
Is this why I have not been alone with Nicholas again? Has he bought into Balfour’s assessment of my sanity?
She could not bring herself to accept that Nicholas could think so poorly of her but nothing was as it seemed in Rosecliff.
“I upset you,” Harry said, his face filled with worry. “Forgive me.”
“No,” she replied quickly, forcing a smile. “You could never upset me, Harry. Come, we have studied enough for the day. Let us go for a walk along the shore, shall we?”
His eyes brightened and he nodded eagerly.
“Shall I call on Betsey?”
“Yes, please.”
The young lord scampered out of the schoolroom, leaving Rose to gather her composure.
Balfour is going too far, attacking my character,she thought grimly but she felt strangely helpless, despite her anger. What could she do but sit by and watch the events unfold?
Rose stood from her stool and ventured off after Harry.
“Miss Rose?”
She spun at the sound of her name and Theodore shuffled toward her, a letter in his hand.
“Yes, Theodore?”
“This came for you with the post.”
A gnarled hand reached forward to deposit the paper in her hand.
“Thank you, Theodore.”
She glanced at the unfamiliar handwriting, her brow furrowing but before she could open it, Duchess Buford appeared in the hall.
“Miss Rose, may I have a word?”
Rose’s heart skipped and she tucked the letter into the sash of her lace dress, nodding politely.
