Governess Gone Rogue by Laura Lee Guhrke

Author:Laura Lee Guhrke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2019-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Of all the things Amanda might have expected to feel should she be discovered, relief had never been among them. But as she went down the servants’ staircase, amid the keen disappointment of losing a job she loved, melancholy at the idea of leaving the twins of whom she’d grown terribly fond, and fear of the grim future that awaited her, there was an undeniable hint of relief.

She felt no surprise at having been found out; indeed, she’d known all along that eventually that would happen. But as she had explained to Mrs. Finch, she’d hoped it would take longer than this, long enough for her second plan to come to fruition.

But the future in America that she’d envisioned, where no one knew what she’d done, where she was no longer an object of scandal and shame, wasn’t going to happen, at least not for a long, long time. Amanda went down to the kitchens, and as she tried to accept that her foreseeable future was to be a parlor maid in her former landlady’s lodging house, her momentary relief evaporated, replaced by a sense of hopelessness.

There was nothing wrong with being a maid, she reminded herself sternly. It was a respectable post in a respectable household, and given her circumstances, she was fortunate to have even been given such an offer. But in taking it, she knew she would be turning her back on the only thing in the world she had ever wanted to do. Other than weekly lessons with Mrs. Finch and Mr. Mackenzie, she would not be able to teach again for a long time. Perhaps never.

Amanda paused at the bottom of the staircase. At least she wouldn’t have to live on the street, she thought, her hand gripping the round knob of the newel post as she strove to look on the bright side. She ought to be grateful.

Without warning, a tear slid down her cheek, efforts at optimism and gratitude went to the wall, and she sank down onto the stairs with a sob, overwhelmed by despair.

“Mr. Seton? Is that you?”

At the sound of Mrs. Richmond’s voice echoing along the corridor, Amanda jerked upright, brushing away tears with her fingertips. She opened her mouth to answer, but she couldn’t seem to make her mouth form words.

Mrs. Richmond came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron as she emerged into the corridor, and Amanda ducked her head, blinking hard.

“Mr. Seton?” The little cook’s voice held lively surprise at the sight of her. “Whatever are you doing sitting on those hard stairs?”

She hastily invented an excuse. “Shoelace,” she said, bending over one of her oxfords and making a great show of retying the lace, but Mrs. Richmond didn’t seem convinced.

“What’s wrong, lad?” she asked gently.

Amanda took a deep breath and forced herself to look up. “I’ll be leaving tomorrow. I’ve been sacked.”

“You never have! I don’t believe it.”

“Nonetheless, it’s true.”

“He didn’t sack you because you didn’t prove a good enough valet, surely?”

“I’ll go first thing in the morning.

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