Page 28 of Fortune Favors the Viscount
Her eyes widened. “Oh! Oh, no—I didn’t mean to suggest any slight—”
Nick waved one hand. “Never mind. Will you take the position?”
She caught her lower lip between her teeth. “I should meet her first. At her age, young ladies often wish to have some say in their governess. If she doesn’t like me, it won’t matter how carefully or diligently I teach her, the entire attempt will be a disaster.”
He raised one brow. “You wish to meet her?”
“It’s madness not to,” she said bluntly. “Presuming you wish it to succeed.”
“I do,” Nick assured her. He raised his arm and knocked firmly on the carriage panel. “We’re almost there.”
CHAPTERELEVEN
They turned into a small cobbled courtyard, with a pair of neat red brick houses on each side and a wall at the end. It was neatly kept, clean and bright, with urns of flowers or herbs by each door. The carriage circled around and stopped, and Mr. Dashwood jumped down. He gave her his hand, and Emilia tried not to shiver at how his fingers enveloped hers. It had been years since a gentleman offered her his hand like that, or handed her down from a carriage so solicitously. Or done so with such a large, strong hand. Or looked back at her with a searing glance that made her heart leap into her throat—
He released her and turned away, heading toward the house on the left. Emilia followed, blushing with embarrassment. He might become her employer, for heaven’s sake.
A flutter of curtain at a window overhead made Emilia think they were expected, and indeed a maid opened the door just as they reached it. She deliberately lagged a few steps as they went up the stairs to the drawing room, hoping to have a moment to assess the young lady, but Mr. Dashwood blocked her view, striding forward to greet the girl and whisper a word in her ear. Emilia could only see her skirts until the man stepped out of the way and gave a slight bow.
“Miss Greene,” he said, “may I present to you my ward? Charlotte, this is Miss Emilia Greene, the lady I mentioned to you.”
A beaming, nervous smile on her face, Charlotte curtsied. She was as tall as Emilia but as slender as a child still, with a golden complexion and curly black hair neatly tied up with a pale blue ribbon. Her eyes were dark and bright with interest under long eyelashes. Her dress was simple but high quality, deep rose pink. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Greene.”
Emilia bobbed in turn. “And I yours, Miss Charlotte.”
“Won’t you sit down?” The girl glanced anxiously at Mr. Dashwood. “And... would you care for tea? I shall send for some.”
Why on earth had Mr. Dashwood been so secretive? He’d acted as though his ward was a terror, wild and rude, when she actually appeared rather charming. Reminding herself that Charlotte wasn’t to blame for her guardian’s actions, Emilia smiled. “Thank you. Tea would be lovely.”
Charlotte rang the bell and perched on the edge of the sofa, her eager gaze fixed on Emilia. Mr. Dashwood sank into an armchair opposite them, watching with subtle tension.
Emilia cleared her throat. “Such a lovely drawing room. It’s so light and airy.”
“Isn’t it?” cried Charlotte in delight. “I do like it. If only—” She stopped short, her eyes flicking toward her guardian. “That is, I am delighted you approve, Miss Greene.”
If only what?Emilia wondered. “Very much so. It’s as fine as anything by Robert Adam.”
Charlotte beamed. “Of course it is! Nick only wants the best—” She stopped again, biting her lip. “Thank you, ma’am.”
She was trying so hard to be proper and dignified, when it was obvious she was dying of curiosity and excitement. It had been a long time since Emilia had felt that, but she did remember. Instinctively she liked this girl.
After tea had come, and Charlotte had very carefully poured three cups, adding three lumps of sugar to her own and only milk to Emilia’s and Mr. Dashwood’s, and no one had said anything beyond a few desultory comments about the weather, Emilia decided to take command. It was obvious neither Mr. Dashwood nor Charlotte knew what to say, and at least she had done this before. She set down her tea.
“Mr. Dashwood believes I might suit you as a governess, Charlotte. I’m certain you know you’re a bit older than most girls are when they first have a governess, and I wonder if you have any questions for me, about what we might do together.”
Charlotte’s eyes rounded in alarm. “Oh—Oh, I did not know I would need to ask... I don’t really know, Miss Greene.”
She nodded in sympathy. “All right. Shall I tell you the usual things I would begin with, instructing a young lady new to me?” Charlotte nodded, rapt. Emilia glanced at Mr. Dashwood, now sprawled in his chair, chin propped in one hand, but no less attentive. It struck her that there was a striking similarity to their alert gazes.
“We would start with manners,” Emilia said. “You will never do wrong by treating others graciously and behaving with dignity. One can tell a true lady by the way she conducts herself both in company and in private. I would also advise you on your dress, and all that is proper for a young lady to wear.”
“Jewels?” asked Charlotte hopefully.
Emilia shook her head with a smile. “Perhaps a locket. Flowers in your hair. Young ladies don’t wear much jewelry. That’s the mark of an older woman, be she married or not.”
The girl’s face fell but she nodded.
“Musical instruction,” Emilia went on. “Have you had any?” Charlotte bit her lip and shook her head. “I find most young ladies are able to acquit themselves tolerably well on the pianoforte, with some practice. Mr. Dashwood, will there be a pianoforte?”
