When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake

Author:Olivia Drake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

Chapter 12

Tessa kept busy for the next few hours helping Sophy practice her alphabet on a slate, teaching her simple sums by moving buttons around on a felt board, and correcting her table manners during the noon meal. Afterward, they had story time, with the little girl reclining on the rug while Tessa read to her from one of the many books on the nursery shelves.

It was their favorite activity, and one that Tessa usually relished, but today she was preoccupied by that encounter with Carlin. She lost her place several times and had to be prompted by an indignant Sophy. At last, though, the girl began to yawn and went willingly with Lolly to lie down for a nap. Determined to put the hour of freedom to good use, Tessa left the nursery on a mission.

She tracked down Avis Knightley, who was working on a basket of sewing in an antechamber on the first floor. Across the corridor, in the Blue Drawing Room, Lady Victor was entertaining a circle of ladies. From afar, their voices sounded like the squawking of crows.

Avis smiled and let the lace chemise she was mending fall to her lap. “Tessa, how lovely to see you. Do keep me company while I wait for her ladyship. There’s been a deluge of visitors today who want to hear all about the lecture last evening.”

Settling onto a gilt chair, Tessa thought it ill mannered of Lady Victor to exclude her companion from the gathering. But perhaps that was the way of aristocratic households. “I wonder, is it really the lecture that’s drawn them here—or the robbery?”

Avis’s face sobered. “Word does get around swiftly, doesn’t it? Everyone wants to learn the scandalous details, although I believe His Grace has put about that nothing of value was taken aside from some of his papers. And I’m dying to hear if it’s true that you were present in his study when the theft was discovered this morning.”

Tessa detested being the subject of belowstairs gossip. Lud, did the other servants know that Carlin had charged her with the deed? Surely not, for he had made his accusations in private.

“I happened to wake early and went out to walk in the garden,” she hedged. “I was returning inside when Mr. Banfield came running with the news. His Grace had been on his way out to the stables, and he asked me if I would mind helping him straighten up the mess.”

The story sounded unconvincing even to her ears, and it elicited a curious look from Avis. She took a few stitches while musing, “I must say, it’s shocking to think of a criminal breaking into this house. As you can expect, Lady Victor was in a dither this morning when she heard the news. She’s certain we will all be murdered in our sleep.”

“It didn’t seem to me to be a typical burglary, though. No money or jewels were taken, only some notebooks belonging to the duke. Please don’t mention this to

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