Page 88 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
“Of course, Your Grace.”
The duchess waved for the governess to follow her into the upstairs tearoom and Rose grew dizzy with anticipation.
Will she send me away today before Nicholas returns from the towns? I can hardly refuse if she does.
Duchess Buford closed the double doors and looked at Rose.
“How are you faring, my dear?” she asked.
“Well, Your Grace. Very well. I have not felt better in a long while!” Rose prattled, hoping her response reflected truth. Surely if Balfour was telling the servants she was mad, the words had likely met the duchess’ ears also.
Duchess Buford smiled thinly, eyeing her with too much scrutiny for Rose’s liking.
“How are Harry’s lessons?”
“He is doing much better, Your Grace. I feel that he is overcoming the loss of the late duke as well as can be expected. He and Lady Arlington await me presently. We are going to the bluffs, near the shoreline. It is their favorite place.”
“Indeed, it is,” she agreed, a pensive smile on her face. The duchess cocked her head back and peered at Rose for a silent moment.
Will that dissuade her from terminating my employment? Knowing that the children depend upon me?
A flash of relief crossed over her face and she nodded, gliding across the floor toward the tea table.
“I shall not keep you,” she assured Rose. “I merely wished to speak with you in the absence of the menfolk.”
“Is something amiss, Your Grace?”
“On the contrary,” Duchess Buford replied. “I am planning a gala.”
Rose blinked, thinking she had heard incorrectly.
“A gala, Your Grace?”
“Indeed. There has been a dark cloud hovering above Rosecliff since my husband died and it is time to clear the air. Tis springtime, after all, a season for rebirth and happiness.”
Rose instantly thought about where she had been a year earlier, also anticipating the fresh start which the spring brought with it.
I was expecting Philip to return home and instead I got word of death.
“You disagree?” the duchess asked, her voice growing icy as she noticed the expression of pain on Rose’s face.
“Oh no, Your Grace! I agree! Tis a wonderful idea. How may I help?”
She smiled, seemingly happy that Rose was in agreement.
“It is Nicholas’ birthday,” Duchess Buford explained. “He will be thirty and one. I would like to surprise him as he has worked so hard these past months.”
“Oh!”
Rose had not realized it was the duke’s birthday and she felt a smidgen of guilt.
I must make him a wonderful present. I do hope I will have the time.
“You must not tell him. In fact, I would prefer to keep it a secret from the children also. Lord knows that they cannot keep their mouths closed,” the duchess explained. Rose pursed her lips together to keep from grimacing. It seemed to her that Harry was the best at keeping confidences but she did not offer her opinion.
“Indeed,” she murmured. “Consider the secret vaulted, Your Grace.”
The duchess smiled, apparently pleased and rose quickly.
