The Governess Was Wanton by Julia Kelly Page B

say that?” the young lady asked, stroking Chaucer’s head as the dog tried his best to wiggle around in her lap so that he could slurp her right on the chin. Unspilled tears shimmered in the girl’s eyes.
    â€œWell, you’re in here with Chaucer, aren’t you? Plus, if you really didn’t want to be found, I imagine there are all sorts of hiding places in a house this size. Plenty of storerooms and nooks and crannies everyone’s forgotten about except the maids who have to air them out every few months.”
    Lady Eleanora sniffled. “There are.”
    â€œHere,” Mary said, pulling her handkerchief out of her sleeve.
    Lady Eleanora took it but didn’t raise it to her eyes. Instead, she ran her finger over the ridged embroidery edging the scrap of linen. “Ivy and—?”
    â€œGeranium. I know it might be hard to imagine, but I once had a governess. A Mrs. Cooper. Before my mother dismissed her, Mrs. Cooper gave me a present of a dozen of those handkerchiefs. She told me that ivy and geranium represent true friendship, and that if I had one of these with me wherever I went I’d always have her with me.”
    â€œThat’s lovely,” said Lady Eleanora, touching the cloth to the corners of her eyes before handing it back.
    â€œYou keep it safe for me,” she said with a shake of her head.
    Lady Eleanora let her hands fall to her lap. “Thank you.”
    â€œNow,” Mary said, fixing the young lady with a serious look meant to convey that she respected her as an adult rather than as a child, “would you like to tell me what’s really the matter?”
    â€œYou heard what I said to my father,” said Lady Eleanora.
    â€œI did, and I suspect you lied to him.”
    Lady Eleanora jolted, loosening her grip on Chaucer enough that he gave a little bark and leaped up, finally hitting his mark. “Oh, you wretched dog,” she said affectionately as she wiped away the moisture from her chin.
    â€œYou didn’t tell your father the truth about how much you hate Lady Laughlin,” Mary pressed.
    Her charge opened her mouth, but it took her a few times to get the words out. “How could you tell?”
    She chuckled. “Let’s just say that sometimes like recognizes like. She’s awful.”
    Lady Eleanora’s lips twitched. “You’re not supposed to say things like that.”
    â€œAm I wrong?”
    â€œNo.” The girl twisted Mary’s handkerchief in her hands as though collecting herself before she finally said, “Really, it’s Miss Laughlin and Miss Cordelia.”
    Now they were getting somewhere.
    â€œYour father seems to think you’re friends,” she said, even though she could hardly imagine that being the case.
    Sure enough, Lady Eleanora pulled a face. “Papa thinks they’ll be a good influence on me, and since Lady Laughlin clings to Papa, they’re always around. They hardly speak to me when we’re out, and when they do they make sure to insult me with some sly jab couched in a compliment. It would be more embarrassing except that no one notices me when they’re around. They’re so pretty. Miss Laughlin especially.”
    Of course. It was so simple, only Mary hadn’t thought to look for it because she was so focused on Lady Eleanora’s fear of Lady Laughlin.
    â€œAnd when you’re out with them do you worry Miss Laughlin and Miss Cordelia monopolize the attentions of the bachelors?” she asked.
    Lady Eleanora’s eyes dropped to her lap. “Well . . .”
    â€œJust one man in particular?” The blush that bloomed on her charge’s face confirmed it. “Might I ask the gentleman’s name?”
    When the young woman hesitated, Mary held up her hand as though swearing an oath. “An honorable governess never tells secrets of the heart.”
    All in a rush, it came pouring out of Lady Eleanora.