The Governess' Debut Read online

  “Thank you for your kind offer, Mary. I would appreciate the help. I would only be able to manage the simplest of styles on my own.”

  The maid blushed with delight while they all traipsed behind Mrs. Hill to a room adjacent to the master’s bedchamber. It was not an overly large room, but when the housekeeper threw open the door, they could all see that the room was wall-to-wall full of sumptuous gowns in every shade of every color and nearly every possible fabric. Felicia had to fight to keep her jaw from falling open in amazement.

  Penelope said it best. “Oh dear,” she whispered in hushed tones as they slowly entered the room. “How will you ever choose?”

  “That is an excellent question. I do not even know where to start, there are just so many! But we must be quick since I only have a couple of hours and I might need to make adjustments. Mrs. Hill, do you know if these gowns have been sorted into any type of order?”

  “Yes, Miss, I believe they were hung in sections of which type of attire, so the evening gowns should be over here.” The housekeeper matched her words to action and showed the governess where she should be looking.

  “That’s a relief. At least we don’t have to look through everything. But this is still a rather large selection and there is such a large assortment to pick from. I guess we could start by color. Some of these are rather mature for me. So let us look at these lighter-colored ones and we’ll see which style would best suit me.”

  Upon these words, Mary jumped in to pull down the indicated items. They quickly narrowed their choice down to three, which Felicia then tried on to see which was the best fit.

  The earl had actually been right. The dress they decided on was nearly a perfect fit with only very slight alterations needed to tuck in a couple of loose spots. The soft pink was very flattering to Felicia’s pale skin, and the high-waisted cut and deceptively demure neckline accentuated her figure that was usually well hidden under the serviceable brown frocks she favored for her time with Penelope. Mary offered to do the necessary stitching, while Felicia ran back up to the nursery to spend a bit of time getting Penelope settled back into her routine before she rang for a footman to bring water for her bath.

  The governess’ room was not equipped with a very good mirror, so Felicia was blissfully unaware of the drastic change in her appearance. Mary had been effusive in her compliments, but Felicia had brushed those off as pleasantries from a friend. Not having an egotistical shade to her personality, she was unprepared for the dazzlingly hot look in the earl’s eyes as he watched her descending the last few steps into the foyer of his elegant house.

  “My compliments, Miss Scott,” he offered in marked understatement. “You shall be a remarkable addition to our dinner party this evening.” Victor could barely tear his eyes away from the refreshing beauty before him. He was deeply relieved when the knocker sounded and Alfred ushered in the first arrival.

  Felicia smiled shyly at the countess as she breezed in past the butler, walking straight to her son’s governess. “Felicia, my dear, I knew this would be a marvelous idea!” she declared without explanation. “Come into the morning room and receive guests with me.”

  Felicia was surprised and gratified to be introduced for the evening as “our dear friend, Miss Scott, visiting from Denbigh.” No mention was made of her being Penelope’s governess, and the other guests accepted her into their company without demur.

  Chapter Seven

  “Denbigh, did you say?” asked an aging debutante a year or two older than Felicia. “Are you acquainted with the Viscount of Strath?”

  “Not very well. He and his wife are very hospitable and invited me and my family to their home on occasion, but they did not spend very much time in the area, so we did not become very well acquainted. Are you close with them?” Felicia asked innocently, unfamiliar with the games of the ton.

  “Oh yes, we are friends,” came the quick reply from Lady Gertrude.

  “Oh good, I have been wondering how their little boy, Charles, has been faring since his bout of pneumonia this past spring, but I was uncomfortable presuming upon the connection. Do you know if he is fully recovered?”

  Lady Gertrude blushed angrily as she had to admit that she had no idea how the boy fared. Evidently she was not such a close friend as she wished to present. The earl had witnessed the exchange and smiled in amusement before he took in Felicia’s bewildered expression. His own expression softened in admiration of her lack of artifice. He thought to come to her aid but the countess beat him to it.

  “Come along, Felicia, you have not gotten acquainted with my dear friend, Lady Banting. She and I have been friends since our debut into society. You will like her, I am certain.” Felicia was happy to oblige. Lady Banting was a spirited, older lady with kind eyes. She took to Miss Scott at first introduction.

  “Lady Astley tells me you are a recent orphan. Let me start by saying how sorry I am for your loss. Losing both parents at the same time and you not yet married, that is a tragedy, my dear.”

  Surprised by this unlooked for kindness, Felicia had to swallow past the lump that formed in her throat, while she blinked back the tears gathering in her wide, glistening eyes. It would not do to dissolve in a puddle of tears during her first high society function. Imagining the scene in her mind’s eye got her past her grief, making her grin.

  Felicia dropped another brief curtsy to the countess’ friend. “It is so kind of you to say so, my lady. You are right, it is a tragedy, but I have been blessed with some good friends and a safe harbor in the storm.” She then skillfully steered the conversation into less volatile waters. “Have you been in town for the entire season, Lady Banting?”

  “Yes, my dear, my husband sits in the House of Lords for every last session. He does love his politics, my dear, so he insists on being in London almost constantly. We will be heading to our estate during the mass exodus, as will no doubt the earl’s household. Will you be returning to Denbigh for the summer, Miss Scott?”

  “Not this year, my lady,” Felicia could sense the other lady’s question was not motivated by any ill will, but it was still not a practical subject to discuss, if it was not to be revealed that she was the governess. She again steered the conversation elsewhere. “If I recall correctly, Lord Banting’s estate is in the region of Yorkshire. I have not visited this area myself but I have heard it is very beautiful. Do you farm anything in particular?”

  It was exactly the perfect question as the Bantings were enthusiastic breeders of a particular strain of roses, and Lady Banting had plenty to say on the subject. Felicia managed to keep a polite smile and a look of interest upon her face until she was relieved to hear Lord Astley beside her.

  “Alfred has just informed us that dinner is now being served. If you ladies would be so kind as to accompany me to the dining room, we can proceed.” He had been observing Felicia as unobtrusively as possible while she mingled with his guests, and then as she became entrapped in conversation with Lady Banting. Her elegance and grace were as surprising to him as they were lovely to observe. He secretly hoped his mother had placed her sufficiently close to him at the table so he could continue to enjoy watching her experience her first foray into society.

  Victor was delighted to see that his private wish had been granted when they arrived in the dining room and examined the place cards. The earl, of course, was at the head of the table, but Felicia was only a couple of places away. It would rule out conversation between the two of them, but he would be able to overhear some of her conversations and keep a close eye on her throughout the meal.

  As dinner progressed, Victor found it increasingly difficult to pay attention to the comments of those sitting closest to him. Why his mother had seen fit to place the most boring conversationalists closest to him, he would never be able to fathom. His eyes continued to be drawn with increasing frequency in his governess’ direction. Clearly she was having no difficulty paying attention to her companions. Periodically, the sound of her low chuckle would reach hi
s ears, causing him to wish wholeheartedly that there were no other guests in his home. He was, of course, being unreasonable. If not for his mother’s dinner party, he would never have witnessed this side of his Miss Scott and would most likely never have shared a dinner table with her.

  It was difficult for Victor to believe the dress she had on was one his wife had worn. If Penelope’s mother had ever worn the frock, it had certainly not looked as good on her as it did on Felicia, he thought absently. That particular shade was a far sight prettier than the hideous shades of brown the young woman usually saw fit to wear, he thought rather harshly as he forced his eyes once more back to his plate and made a valiant effort to listen to the inanities being uttered by Lady Gertrude, who had been seated on his left. It crossed Victor’s mind to wonder whether his mother was trying to make a match between the lady and him. If she was, he thought crossly, she was far off the mark. The sour young woman was definitely not a candidate to be the next Countess of Standish.

  Victor glanced down the table toward where his mother was sitting and was surprised to see a complacent smile upon her face. It looked as though the countess was vastly pleased with herself, although her son could not for the life of him fathom why. With a mental shrug, he absently thought he was glad she seemed to be enjoying herself since he certainly wasn’t.

  It was somewhere between the fish course and the beef that it struck the earl rather forcibly how very much he would enjoy having Miss Scott at his dining table on a regular basis. It didn’t take his agile mind long to leap from that thought to the realization that Miss Scott could actually be a candidate for the position of his next countess. It took considerable effort for Victor to contain his own reaction to this rash thought. He forced himself not to gaze at Felicia, not to even glance in her direction, until he had contained his rebellious thoughts.

  Lady Gertrude blinked as the Earl of Standish grinned at her. “So you agree with my suggestion that you take me riding in Hyde Park tomorrow, my lord?”

  “What?” Victor asked inelegantly. He had not been listening to a word she had said previously and was now very surprised by her boldness. “Pardon me. That is to say, of course, I would be delighted,” he countered lamely, wishing heartily that she was elsewhere or that he could somehow turn the tables on her. His earlier grin returned, although this time it had a slightly villainous twist to it as he thought of the perfect foil to her plot. He could almost look forward to the occasion.

  He realized the look on his face must have revealed some of his calculating thoughts because he could see Lady Gertrude blink in surprise, and some of the delight over her clever entrapment of him was dimmed as unease flickered across her face. But her discomfort did not last long, he observed, as she must have realized that she had at least gained her objective and gave up on trying to converse with him, instead turning her attention to Mr. Sparks, who was seated to her left.

  ***

  Lady Astley finally stood, signaling the time for the ladies to withdraw to allow the gentlemen their port. As they exited the room, the countess again engaged Felicia in conversation.

  “Are you managing comfortably, my dear?”

  “Oh, yes, my lady. I must admit I am enjoying myself far more than I had expected. I was a bundle of nerves when his lordship mentioned your invitation, but everyone has been quite lovely. And the dinner was an indescribable treat. I must compliment you on your choices, m’lady. I have, of course, not attended an excessive number of high society meals, but this one far surpassed even that put on by the Viscountess of Strath, and she is reputed to be a terrible stickler when it comes to course selection.”

  The countess smiled in delight over Felicia’s sincerity. “Oh, Felicia, my dear, you are a treasure. Now come and mingle a bit more. I do not think you have yet met my daughter. Isabella, allow me to introduce you to Miss Scott. Felicia, this is Isabella, Lady Derby. Her husband was called away to tend to an emergency on their estate so you will not be able to meet him tonight, but he is the Viscount of Dartmouth.”

  Felicia was surprised that no one had mentioned Penelope’s aunt but she kept this to herself as she curtsied to the beautiful, raven-haired young woman before her. It was obvious there was a rather large gap in age between the earl and his sister. She looked nothing like Victor, and it was obvious she was of a different temperament as well when she giggled through the introduction.

  “Oh, Miss Scott, I am delighted to make your acquaintance. I am always so happy to meet the objects of my mama’s matchmaking efforts.”

  “Hush, Bella, do not tease,” Lady Astley admonished.

  Lady Derby blushed becomingly as she turned wide, innocent eyes toward Felicia. “Oops, was I not supposed to mention that? Pray forgive me, Miss Scott.”

  Felicia was momentarily confused by this inexplicable exchange, but Isabella’s social chatter quickly distracted her for the next several moments. Lady Derby was the epitome of a social butterfly. Felicia had no doubt she had been highly popular as an unmarried debutante; she was pretty as a picture and seemed untroubled by any overly intellectual thoughts. During the ten minutes she conversed with Felicia, she flitted from one light subject to the next.

  “Miss Scott, that gown is absolutely ravishing, I must say. It is the perfect shade for your complexion. And the cut is so perfectly complimentary to your figure. You absolutely must tell me who makes your gowns.”

  Felicia could not help smiling over the young lady’s exclamations, despite her discomfort with the direction the conversation had taken. It was obvious to her that the flighty young woman had no idea that Felicia was her niece’s governess. Glancing down at the beautiful, but borrowed, dress she was wearing, she mustered a rueful smile.

  “I must apologize, Lady Isabella. I do not at this moment recall where this particular frock came from. If you are really wishing to know, I could probably ask my Abigail. She no doubt keeps better track of these details than I do.”

  “Oh no, I am sure it is of no matter.” Seeing her brother approaching, she gave him a jaunty smile before excusing herself. “It was lovely to make your acquaintance, Miss Scott. You must call on me at your earliest convenience. I am certain we shall become fast friends. But I really must speak to Lady Banting before she takes her leave.” With that final exclamation she whirled on her heel and departed in a cloud of perfume, leaving Felicia feeling a trifle dazed.

  “That was a very diplomatic answer, Miss Scott.”

  Felicia felt a shiver thrill down her spine at hearing the earl’s deep voice low in her ear. Maintaining her composure with a bit of an effort, she turned to him with a questioning look. “Whatever do you mean, my lord?”

  “You cannot recall which dressmaker your frock is from?” he asked dryly, smiling over her heightened blush.

  Felicia shrugged. “Well, it was not an untruth.”

  “Perhaps the first half was not, but I am quite certain your Abigail would not be privy to the information either.”

  Felicia could not help smiling over the unaccustomed teasing from the earl. It was a rarity to see Victor in anything other than a serious mood.

  “You seem to be enjoying your evening, my lord,” she commented.

  “As do you, Miss Scott. Are you glad you accepted my mother’s invitation?”

  “Was it an invitation, my lord? You managed to somehow turn it into a command.” Felicia had meant this to be another tease and was unprepared for his reaction.

  Looking contrite, he began to apologize. “I am so sorry, Miss Scott. I can be terribly highhanded, I must admit. I hope it has not been a terrible imposition.”

  She could not suppress the surprised laughter this invoked. “Oh yes, my lord, it was a terrible imposition to dress up in a beautiful gown and eat a scrumptious meal with interesting company. I hardly know if I shall survive the experience.” Her eyes were dancing with mirth as she put a delicate hand dramatically to her forehead as though to prevent a faint.

  “Impudent chit,” Victor admonished with
an answering twinkle before he forced himself to move on to other guests lest he draw too much attention to the two of them.

  As the rest of the evening quickly passed in a whirl of conversation, Felicia became a bit uncomfortable wondering if she should at some point excuse herself. She was embarrassed to ask either the earl or his mother, shy to reveal her innocent lack of experience. She chided herself for being missish. This was a particularly peculiar situation. No doubt there was not an overabundance of rules as to when the visiting Miss should turn back into the governess.

  Since no one seemed to be looking askance at her, she ended up remaining with Lady Astley until the last of the guests had bidden farewell.

  With a sigh of contentment, Lady Astley settled herself on the settee after Alfred promised to return with a cup of tea for her.

  “Well, Miss Scott, I thank you for accommodating me this evening. You were a delightful addition to my little party.”

  “Thank you, my lady. I was honored to be included.”

  “It is rather a shame you are Penelope’s governess,” Lady Astley mused. “You were such a hit with my guests. I would love to take you around with me as I make my calls. I have not had a young companion since Isabella got married. And actually, even before that she was not nearly as accommodating as you are, my dear. I guess daughters do not wish to be tied to their mama’s side any more than sons do,” she concluded rather wistfully, with a sideways glance at Victor, who was silently witnessing the exchange.

  Felicia had no idea how to answer the countess’ comment. Shame or not, she was Penelope’s governess and quite happy she was to have the position. Being Lady Astley’s friend would not keep a roof over her head, but she had enjoyed the evening and had no wish to offend the older lady. Rather helplessly, she glanced at the earl and was momentarily shocked senseless by the intense look upon his face as he watched her. Blinking to clear her inertia, she felt her eyebrows inching higher on her forehead as she puzzled through what he could possibly be thinking. Blessedly, she was not kept long in the dark as he began to speak.