Carola Dunn by The Improper Governess

Author:The Improper Governess
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

“What are you doing here, Robert?” Mrs. Busby snapped as Lord Ashe ushered Lissa into her sitting room. “I do not recall requiring your presence.”

His lordship looked positively abashed. “I just came to make Miss Findlay known to you, Aunt.”

“Get on with it, then!”

“Colin’s governess, ma’am, Miss Findlay. My aunt, Mrs. Busby.”

Lissa curtsied. “How do you do, ma’am.”

“Come here, girl.” The dragon raised a lorgnette, breathing not fire but icy disapproval as Lissa moved forward. “How old are you?”

“Nineteen, ma’am.”

“You are by far too young to have any authority over a boy as old as Colin. Daphne has always indulged him abominably, permitting the most obnoxious behaviour. Without doubt she employed you because she knew you to be incapable of disciplining him.”

Since the censure was aimed more at Lady Orton than herself, Lissa had no difficulty disregarding it. She was glad, though, that she had taken the time to put on an old gown and scrape back her hair under a cap again.

“Lord Orton does mind me, ma’am,” she said, “although I prefer to try to teach self-discipline. He profits greatly, I believe, from the example of my...Lord Ashe.”

“Ha!” snorted Mrs. Busby.

Lissa did not dare glance back at Lord Ashe. She had only just avoided giving away her brothers’ involvement in Colin’s life, but the substitute all too obviously failed to impress. She concentrated on keeping her face straight and her voice grave as she attempted to protect her would-be protector. “His lordship exerts a beneficial influence over Lord Orton, I assure you, ma’am.”

“No one so wanting in conduct can possibly exert a beneficial influence.”

“Oh, come now, Aunt!” Lord Ashe protested weakly.

“If you must stay, then hold your tongue. And stop looming there like a monument. Sit down, sit down. Miss Findlay, you may be seated. I trust you are able to enlighten me as to my nephew’s reasons for this incursion?”

Clearly and concisely Lissa described the course of Colin’s illness and her deductions. “I may be wrong, ma’am,” she allowed, “but already he is much improved. At any rate, after his paroxysm it seemed to me of the first importance to remove him from London immediately. Lord Ashe agreed. Since our goal is Ashmead, and your house lies in the way thither, he hoped for your indulgence for one night.”

“Hoped? Counted on!” Mrs. Busby glared at him. “Small chance I had to refuse. Still, what’s done is done, and I shall not turn my sister’s only grandchild from my door.”

“Thank you, Aunt.”

“When do you mean to abandon your profligate ways and provide her with more grandchildren? Legitimate ones.”

Lissa simply could not resist peeping at his lordship. His face was crimson.

“Please, Aunt, spare Miss Findlay’s blushes if you will not spare mine!”

“Bah! The governess of a growing boy cannot afford to be missish. She must teach him not to follow your example in libertinism, at least! Well, girl?”

“I shall do my best, ma’am,” Lissa said primly.

“A fruitless endeavour. Men are all alike. They run riot unless you keep the whip hand, and I could tell at a glance that you are too feeble for that.

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