As she watched her sister happily skip from the room, Brianna decided to forgo breakfast in preference to settling her business with the governess. Hoping to find Miss Ashley in the nursery-converted study area, Brianna made her way there.
Luckily Miss Ashley sat inside, quietly sewing alone. Brianna politely knocked on the doorjamb to announce her presence.
Miss Ashley's head shot up in surprise.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Brianna asked.
"Not at all, please come in and have a seat," Miss Ashley said with a false smile. "I hoped for an opportunity to speak with you."
Beneath the surface, Brianna could tell Miss Ashley was nervous about the coming conversation, which helped put Brianna at ease. Miss Ashley was obviously not a malicious person who loved doling out punishments.
"I wish to speak to you as well. Do you mind if I start?" Brianna asked, sitting on the chair directly across from Miss Ashley.
"Not at all." Miss Ashley visibly relaxed as she set aside her sewing.
"Well, I know my mother hired you to act as governess for both myself and Grace, although I'm no longer at an age that requires it."
"That is correct."
"I'm sure it will come as no surprise to you, but I don't wish to have a governess." Brianna paused as she noticed determination flash in Miss Ashley's eyes as she pressed her lips together. "However, since you are here, I would not mind having another friend."
Miss Ashley's eyes widened and her mouth opened, obviously not expecting Brianna to act civil. Her reaction had Brianna stifling laughter. Miss Ashley had no doubt heard the stories of how she and Grace managed to rid themselves of past governesses.
"I'm delighted you feel that way," Miss Ashley said, after recovering from her shock. "I do agree you no longer need a governess, and I would be honored to obtain your friendship, Lady Brianna."
"Please call me Brianna."
"And you shall call me Ashley. Now, I can only see one potential problem with us having a friendship."
Although she knew Ashley referred to her mother, Brianna furrowed her brows and tilted her head.
"I don't believe your mother will accept our new relationship," Ashley continued.
After a brief pause, Brianna responded, "You are correct, for I can't imagine she would ever understand. Perhaps it would be better if we kept it between us."
"That would indeed be wise, but how will you feel when I must fulfill a certain task or request that would typically be expected from your governess?"
Brianna pretended to take a moment to think the question over. "I believe it would be best if you told me about it first, so we can handle each dictate individually. I do understand we will have to keep up pretenses in front of my mother."
"Then I believe this plan is worth a try. Keeping that in mind, I do have an item to discuss."
"You have already been given instructions from my mother?" Brianna asked, drawing her head back and widening her eyes.
"This morning your mother asked me to discover where you were for the majority of the ball last night. She believes you went off with someone to purposefully avoid her."
There it was, the part Brianna dreaded. The only consolation was that with Ashley attempting friendship, they could come up with a plausible excuse to satisfy her mother. Also, Ashley didn't mention the "someone" was a gentleman, or that her mother suspected she'd kissed him. Relief spread through her body, making her sag in relief.
Considering her mother had no details regarding the absence, Brianna realized she could fix this. Knowing partial honesty would work best, but still uncertain if she could trust Ashley, Brianna decided to change up her story.
"Well, for the most part, I danced with different gentlemen. As for avoiding my mother, that came as a happy coincidence. When a handsome gentleman asked me for a walk on the terrace, how could I deny him?"
"I see. So, in the interest of our new friendship, would you mind telling me how much of that is fact and how much is fabricated?" Ashley asked, giving her a knowing look.
Brianna smiled at the accurate assessment and began to feel better about their friendship.
"Perhaps avoiding my mother was more of a goal than a coincidence, but she does not have to know that. Now, we must come up with an appropriate story to report to her, so she does not feel the need to follow me around tonight at Lady Lamkin's ball."
"I'll help you and run interference with your mother, but in return you must be honest with me."
"I can agree to that," Brianna promised, deciding to keep everything as close to the truth as possible. Between the two of them, Brianna hoped they would be able to keep her mother happy, as well as give her freedom to find her future husband.
Richard swirled the amber liquid in his glass, watching as if it held the secrets of the universe. He leaned back on the sofa in Greyson's study, grateful for his friend's understanding of his need for silence. Richard went to Greyson's townhouse hoping for a distraction from his preoccupation with a certain woman, but unfortunately his mind refused to release her. Thoughts of Brianna filled his head, and he had no desire to share her with his friend just yet.
After exchanging pleasantries, Richard could find nothing else to say, and Greyson didn't contribute much either. Greyson held the title of Viscount Merrick, but he was not by any means the typical lord. His father married, but his wife had been unable to produce an heir. When Greyson was left on his doorstep late one night, he discovered he had an illegitimate son. They took him in and declared Greyson to be the heir. His illegitimacy never posed an issue for Richard, as it did for the majority of society.
"What is on your mind?" Greyson asked, after a long period of silence.
Richard inwardly cringed at the choice of words. He didn't know if his emotions were so transparent that Greyson picked those words deliberately or if it was a coincidence. Of all his friends, Greyson understood him the best. Normally it was that quality which brought Richard here, but today he felt less than thrilled at his friend's insightfulness.
"I'm not thinking on anything specific. I simply wondered after the club. I didn't hear many details the other day, and I hoped you could fill me in."
"Everything has been running at its usual efficiency. We recently hired an additional butler. His name is Nathaniel and with his more substantial frame, he is a better deterrent against more bothersome behavior."
"Have there been problems recently to require such attention?" Richard asked, only remembering one fight from the past, the event that had encouraged them to be more selective in regard to membership. Originally, they hoped to not seclude anyone. However, they quickly learned the merits of being discriminatory.
"Not since the one occurrence years before. I simply thought it best to be prudent, considering the number of men recently rejected for membership," Greyson assured. "While we are on the subject, I would like to recruit your help gathering more information about some new applicants."
"Who are you looking into?"
"The two applicants are Erik Langley, Viscount Tarrington, and Alan Parks, Earl of Kirkwood. I have heard very little, which isn't unusual, considering my position within society. My information, however, isn't favorable to either of them."
"What have you found out about them?"
"Tarrington is young and only recently inherited, but other than his pretentious attitude, I know nothing of him. Kirkwood is some years ahead of us, and I understand he has had memberships revoked in the past. That is all I know."
"I have no knowledge of Tarrington, but I'll do my best to find out what I can. Kirkwood, however, is never up to any good and should be an easy rejection."
"That is what I suspected," Greyson said, nodding.
The downside to Greyson being in charge of the club dealings was that his limited acknowledgment from society made information difficult for him to obtain. Although Greyson wanted nothing more than acceptance into high society, he was constantly denied. Richard pitied his longtime friend and would frequently bring him along to events as a guest, but he knew Greyson resented the necessity.
"Incidentally, did you have an opportunity to stop at the club today?" Greyson asked.
"I have yet to do so. Is there something amiss?"
"No, but when I visited there earlier, Nathaniel informed me that your solicitor tried to contact you. He had been unable to locate you and hoped I would be able to pass on the message."
"Ah, yes. No doubt my solicitor needs to see me due to my efficient steward at Stonemede," Richard replied sarcastically. "Well, I suppose I should go tend to matters. However, I shall inform you if I discover anything of interest in regard to the two applicants."