Page 95 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
With a sinking feeling in her gut, Rose made her way back toward the bed and sat on the edge, staring down at her bare feet miserably. The pieces of the story had begun to come together slowly and she tried to recall what she had discovered, or at least what she believed.
Philip started this terrible ordeal,she thought, tears filling her eyes with shame. She did not want to think ill of her deceased husband, a man she had once loved more than her whole life, but the evidence was clear and becoming clearer.
If Harry was correct, Balfour’s bookmaking likely did not stop in the silver and gold hells. He likely ran his own games on the ships, games which Philip could not stop himself from joining.
How much money did you owe him that would cause him to kill you?Rose thought mournfully, wondering how a man could fall into such a pit of debt. However much it was, Philip’s death did not pay his bill and Rose reasoned that was why Balfour had come to Dartford.
He was hoping to collect but he quickly realized that he cannot gather blood from a stone. Balfour found another way to recover his ill-gotten debt.
The governess was almost sick with the understanding that she had caused the upset inside the idyllic setting of Rosecliff.
Philip and I. We caused this. We are responsible for the death of the 5thDuke of Buford.
Nicholas had been in towns for the week when finally, the magnitude of her involvement became clear. Rose knew the duke needed to know the truth.
He will loathe me when he discovers what I have brought to this estate. I must say goodbye to Harry and Betsey for I will be banished from Buford forever.
The thought of losing the fragile affections she had developed for Nicholas after all the months was enough to knock the wind from her chest but Rose had decided. It was the only way to ensure that Captain Balfour did not do any further damage.
Yet suddenly we are all consumed with a terrible influenza. Balfour is not finished with us. No one is safe from that man’s manipulations. He will stop at nothing to get what he desires, even harming children!
It was no small wonder that the letter had vanished. She was certain that Balfour had taken it.
I must write Lieutenant Walters again and have him tell me again so that Nicholas can see what kind of man is Daniel Balfour.
“Miss Rose! You should not be out of bed!”
Rose lifted her head to watch as Duchess Buford entered the apartment, her emerald eyes bright with concern.
Could she be a part of the conspiracy? Would she have her own husband harmed?
Rose hoped not but she could not forget the night before the storm when she had seen the captain meeting with someone beneath her window.
Could that cloaked figure be Duchess Buford? Had they been lovers before the duke’s death?
“Back to bed with you,” Duchess Buford insisted, ushering her with swift hand movements but Rose noticed that she kept her distance.
“You should not be here, Your Grace. I would loathe to see you ill.”
“Nonsense, child. Who do you think has been tending to you and the children?”
Rose reluctantly crawled back under the blankets, studying the duchess’ face closely for signs of deceit.
“Your Grace, have you seen a letter laying about?”
“A letter?” she repeated. “There have been several, most of them responses to the gala.”
“You intend to see it through?” Rose asked, mildly surprised. She wondered if that was an indication of guilt but her head was not clear enough to make any sincere judgements.
It was impossible to imagine any mother purposely harming her child and certainly not one of noble breeding.
She cannot be a willing part of Balfour’s plot. She is an unwitting victim, I am certain.
“I confess, I was going to cancel the entire affair,” the duchess replied. “Yet as if he sensed it, the duke began to show signs of improvement yesterday and I have decided to see it through. Captain Balfour insisted that we see it through. He says it is a sign from God to overcome our weaknesses and prevail.”
Captain Balfour is quite the prophet. Why does he long to see the gala through? It can be rescheduled for a time when Nicholas is well. Tis his birthday, after all.
“His Grace still does not know about the event?” Rose asked and the duchess shook her regal head, smiling softly.
