behavior.”
“She’s right.” The eldest girl nodded her head sharply. “We do need to put on a good front for Sir Merrick’s sake.”
The others seemed to take their cue from her and nodded glumly.
“All right.” The littlest boy gazed up at Caroline plaintively. “But can we still play some of the time?”
Caroline laid her hand on the lad’s good one. “Of course. Play is an important part of everyday life. I’m sure that Sir Merrick and Miss Hadrian will find you a governess who will make time to play alongside you, as long as your lessons are done as well.” Even though she knew she wasn’t the right person for the job, she had confidence that Dorothy Hadrian would let no harm come to these orphaned youngsters. Still, she felt a small pang of loss at the idea of leaving. There was something about this raggle-taggle group that certainly tugged at the heartstrings. Guiding a cadre of street toughs into becoming ladies and gentlemen would be a monumental but rewarding task for a teacher.
Merrick cringed when the children burst through the door. This would be the coup de grâce to the idea of hiring Miss Caroline Bristol. Which was all for the best, he reminded himself. She was clearly far too young and far too attractive to make any kind of effective governess. He’d be forever distracted by wondering if her golden hair, which was scraped back into an inordinately unappealing bun on the back of her head, felt as soft as it looked, or if her green eyes could really be that bright. Most disturbing, though, was the hint of power she radiated—something about her made him think she was as gifted as any of the children.
Astonishingly, after a short conversation, the children came up to her one by one. “I’m Tommy,” said Merrick’s new protégé. Then he shook Miss Bristol’s hand before politely introducing each of the others.
“Very pleased to meet each of you.” Miss Bristol had spoken a few words with each child, though she shied back from patting George on the head.
Nell moved over to clutch Merrick’s sleeve and whispered, “Mum says we should keep her.”
He nodded, having almost grown used to commentary from Nell’s invisible mother. Miss Bristol swiveled her head, clearly having overheard.
“Nell sees ghosts.” Piers plopped onto a stool near Miss Bristol’s feet and took another sandwich. “Our mum still talks to her. ”
“Well, that seems a little unfair, doesn’t it?” Miss Bristol clearly sympathized. “But surely the messages are for the rest of you as well.” She didn’t even blink at the mention of ghosts, which earned her a great deal more respect from Merrick.
“Mostly only Nell and Piers. She’s their mum. Not the rest of us.” Jamie was positively chatty now, it seemed. “My mum died too, though, and she never talks to me.”
“Mine either, dear.” Miss Bristol patted his knee. “But each of us has different circumstances, don’t we? And now you have Miss Hadrian and Sir Merrick, which makes you all very lucky indeed.”
“Please, Sir Merrick.” Nell tugged on his sleeve this time.
“I’m sorry, dear—Nell, right? But I’m not here to be your new governess.” Miss Bristol smiled sweetly. “Just visiting, I’m afraid. I’m sure though, that your guardians will find you the perfect teacher.”
“Nah, we want you,” Jamie argued. “You said you’d play with us.”
Miss Bristol bit her full lower lip, then licked away a crumb. Judging by the amount she’d consumed, she hadn’t eaten all day. Hell, she probably needed the position just to survive.
“No, Jamie. I said any good governess will play with you.”
“Children, are you all agreed on this?” Dorothy looked around at each of the now-sticky faces. They all nodded back, and Merrick groaned inwardly. He was pretty sure his preferences had been rendered irrelevant. Oddly enough, he didn’t care. There was something about this woman that just seemed to—to fit in his
“She’s right.” The eldest girl nodded her head sharply. “We do need to put on a good front for Sir Merrick’s sake.”
The others seemed to take their cue from her and nodded glumly.
“All right.” The littlest boy gazed up at Caroline plaintively. “But can we still play some of the time?”
Caroline laid her hand on the lad’s good one. “Of course. Play is an important part of everyday life. I’m sure that Sir Merrick and Miss Hadrian will find you a governess who will make time to play alongside you, as long as your lessons are done as well.” Even though she knew she wasn’t the right person for the job, she had confidence that Dorothy Hadrian would let no harm come to these orphaned youngsters. Still, she felt a small pang of loss at the idea of leaving. There was something about this raggle-taggle group that certainly tugged at the heartstrings. Guiding a cadre of street toughs into becoming ladies and gentlemen would be a monumental but rewarding task for a teacher.
Merrick cringed when the children burst through the door. This would be the coup de grâce to the idea of hiring Miss Caroline Bristol. Which was all for the best, he reminded himself. She was clearly far too young and far too attractive to make any kind of effective governess. He’d be forever distracted by wondering if her golden hair, which was scraped back into an inordinately unappealing bun on the back of her head, felt as soft as it looked, or if her green eyes could really be that bright. Most disturbing, though, was the hint of power she radiated—something about her made him think she was as gifted as any of the children.
Astonishingly, after a short conversation, the children came up to her one by one. “I’m Tommy,” said Merrick’s new protégé. Then he shook Miss Bristol’s hand before politely introducing each of the others.
“Very pleased to meet each of you.” Miss Bristol had spoken a few words with each child, though she shied back from patting George on the head.
Nell moved over to clutch Merrick’s sleeve and whispered, “Mum says we should keep her.”
He nodded, having almost grown used to commentary from Nell’s invisible mother. Miss Bristol swiveled her head, clearly having overheard.
“Nell sees ghosts.” Piers plopped onto a stool near Miss Bristol’s feet and took another sandwich. “Our mum still talks to her. ”
“Well, that seems a little unfair, doesn’t it?” Miss Bristol clearly sympathized. “But surely the messages are for the rest of you as well.” She didn’t even blink at the mention of ghosts, which earned her a great deal more respect from Merrick.
“Mostly only Nell and Piers. She’s their mum. Not the rest of us.” Jamie was positively chatty now, it seemed. “My mum died too, though, and she never talks to me.”
“Mine either, dear.” Miss Bristol patted his knee. “But each of us has different circumstances, don’t we? And now you have Miss Hadrian and Sir Merrick, which makes you all very lucky indeed.”
“Please, Sir Merrick.” Nell tugged on his sleeve this time.
“I’m sorry, dear—Nell, right? But I’m not here to be your new governess.” Miss Bristol smiled sweetly. “Just visiting, I’m afraid. I’m sure though, that your guardians will find you the perfect teacher.”
“Nah, we want you,” Jamie argued. “You said you’d play with us.”
Miss Bristol bit her full lower lip, then licked away a crumb. Judging by the amount she’d consumed, she hadn’t eaten all day. Hell, she probably needed the position just to survive.
“No, Jamie. I said any good governess will play with you.”
“Children, are you all agreed on this?” Dorothy looked around at each of the now-sticky faces. They all nodded back, and Merrick groaned inwardly. He was pretty sure his preferences had been rendered irrelevant. Oddly enough, he didn’t care. There was something about this woman that just seemed to—to fit in his
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