Page 15 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
“Tea can wait. The news cannot.”
“What is it?”
Rose was certain she had never seen her dear friend in such a state of excitement, and for a moment, she worried about her heart.
“This,” Bridget chortled, thrusting the letter toward her. “I have received a proposition for you.”
“A proposition?” Rose echoed dully, the words seeming to have an ominous connotation. “What sort of proposition?”
“Read the letter!” Bridget insisted, pressing the paper into Rose’s hand but she did not wish to touch it.
It has finally come to this,she realized miserably.I knew the day would eventually arrive, but I had hoped that I had more time.
“What are you waiting on, Rose? Read it!”
Yet Rose did not want to put her eyes to the page. She feared that the ink would spell out a marriage proposal.
I am hardly in a position to refuse.
“Rose?” Bridget’s eyes widened in confusion. “Why have you such a look upon your face?”
“I cannot accept an offer of marriage,” she whispered, lowering her head to avoid meeting Bridget’s eyes. “I – I know it is one I should entertain but…”
Bridget gaped at her and Rose’s fair skin stained crimson with humiliation.
“Forgive me, Bridget– ”
To her surprise, the woman began to laugh and Rose’s head jerked upward.
“Why do you mock me?” she demanded, hurt swelling in her heart.
Bridget reached out to pat her hand reassuringly, her kind eyes filled with warm amusement.
“I would never mock you, child. It is not a marriage proposal. It is a job offer.”
Rose’s mouth parted in surprise, her blue eyes dilating with confusion.
“I – what sort of job?” she inquired, unsure of how to process the surprise of Bridget’s words.
It seemed unfathomable that her elderly neighbor could have insight to any position of work, yet Bridget was uncharacteristically excited and she nodded toward the letter.
“That is a note from my daughter-in-law,” she explained and more perplexity filled Rose.
“I hadn’t a clue you had a daughter-in-law,” she murmured, her brow furrowing as she looked to the page. “Where is she?”
“David was married before he died,” Bridget explained. “She stayed with us for a time, but she was offered a wonderful position in Cambridge as a governess.”
“I see.”
She did not see how Bridget’s daughter-in-law could help but the woman was not through explaining.
“Two years ago, she accepted a new position with another family but she will be leaving that one now as she has decided to remarry.”
“Oh, Bridget. I am terribly sorry. Are you well with this news?”
It seemed devastating to Rose. She could barely imagine the pain her neighbor must be feeling.
The lack of shame! The very nerve of telling the mother of her deceased husband of her plans to rewed. She must be a wretched woman.
