Governess to the Duke's Heir by Maggi Andersen

Author:Maggi Andersen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 2019-01-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

AFTER LUNCHEON, JENNY set William some grammar to do while she taught Barbara her alphabet. It had been difficult to settle the boy down. He still bubbled over with excitement about his canter with Mr. Irvine. “He’s an excellent rider, Jenny,” William said for the third time. “Perhaps we’ll gallop next time, Lavender was itching for it.”

“I don’t think so, William.”

“Oh? Well. You should have been there, Jenny. When Herr Von Bremen rode up to us, Mr. Irvine, quick as a flash, wheeled his mount around to face him.” He dragged in a breath. “And he placed his horse between Herr Von Bremen’s and mine.” William laughed. “Poor Herr Von Bremen was most astonished.”

“Oh, yes, I can quite see how he would be. What did he do then?” Irvine was up to the task it seemed.

“He inquired if Mr. Irvine was our new groom.”

“And what did Mr. Irvine say?”

“That he was here to instruct me in riding and advise my father on his stable. He came from the Marquess of Strathairn’s horse stud in Yorkshire, you know, Jenny. I would love to go there and see his horses.”

The Marquess’ estate wasn’t such a distance from Jenny’s home. “He has had great success with his horses.”

“Mr. Irvine said the Marquess’ racehorses have won many trophies.”

“And did Herr Von Bremen ride back to the house with you?”

“No. He rode off. He looked angry. But why would he be, Jenny?”

“I’m sure I have no idea. But this isn’t getting your work done, is it?”

She turned back to Barbara who had continued chanting her letters in the background. “My, but you are quick to learn, Lady Barbara.”

“This says b-o-y boy. See? I can read to myself. You won’t have to read to me anymore, Jenny.”

“You can! But I like reading to you. Don’t you like it too?”

Barbara nodded. “When I’m sleepy, specially.”

Jenny paused as the special knock sounded. “Now who can this be?”

She opened the door to find George stepping aside for His Grace.

The duke came into the room. “Was it you who conceived the signal, Miss Harrismith?”

“Yes, it seemed a good idea.” She wondered if he thought she was dramatizing the situation, but every time someone knocked she wanted to know whether it was friend or foe who stood outside that door.

“It certainly cannot hurt.” He had changed into a charcoal gray coat and buff trousers, the blue stripes on his waistcoat a perfect match for his eyes. “Am I interrupting lessons?”

As if it mattered. She smiled up at him, pleased to see him, far more than she should be.

He held a brown paper parcel tied up with string.

Both her charges were now out of their seats to better inspect it. “What have you brought, Father?” William asked.

His Grace handed the package to him. “A toy I bought in Vienna I’d forgotten to give you.”

William tore away the paper. Barbara squealed. The toy was a simple wooden handle with a cup at the top. A string was attached at one end to the handle and the other to a small ball.

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