After all, she could not one moment complain about her working hours and, in the next, complain that somebody had come to relieve her of such hours. Perhaps Mrs Wells had made enough of a fool of herself that morning and did not wish to continue to dig the hole she had begun to make for herself.
Georgette could sense Mrs Griffin stiffening at her side and turned to look at her, another frozen smile on her face.
“And I must say, this is a rather wonderful little schoolroom, Mrs Griffin. I think I shall like it here.” Georgette held the housekeeper’s gaze and saw the annoyance there. Still, she would not look away.
“That is what they all say,” Mrs Griffin said, entirely abandoning the last vestiges of good manners.
“Is it really?” Georgette said, her voice determinedly incredulous. “How very curious that every governess who walks into this room says precisely the same thing.” Georgette shook her head to indicate that she thought the housekeeper’s words entirely without merit.
In truth, she wondered if she was doing the right thing or if she was simply needlessly antagonizing a woman who could make life very difficult for her. However, Georgette rather thought that the housekeeper and her little group had already fully determined to make life difficult for the new governess, and she thought that there would be little reward in seeking to ingratiate herself. In truth, ingratiating herself would simply have come as painful to her.
“Well, since I have now met Mrs Wells, perhaps it is time for me to meet the children. After all, is that not the purpose of our early morning visit?” Georgette continued to hold the housekeeper’s gaze.
When the housekeeper did not speak, and the nurse shuffled awkwardly in her seat, Georgette simply made her way over to the table. Taking one of the seats opposite the little girls, she sat down and smiled at them broadly.
“So, I already know that your name is Eleri,” Georgette said, reaching out to touch the little girl’s hand. “But I do not yet know your name.” With her other hand, she reached out to touch the other little girl.
“My name is Ffion, Miss,” the little girl said in a much quieter voice than her sister’s.
“What beautiful names you have.” Georgette continued to smile at the girls, feeling a little sad that they both appeared so very wary of her. “And I am Miss Darrington.”
The girls did not speak but merely continued to regard her with suspicion.
“And I can tell from your names and your lovely accents that you both come from Wales,” she went on when the silence seemed to have opened up just a little too much.
“Yes, Miss Darrington,” Eleri said, and Georgette noted that both girls seemed pleased by her observation.
“Yes, we are,” Ffion added, just a little after her sister.
“And what part of Wales do you come from?” Georgette looked at them with a great show of interest which both girls visibly responded to.
“His Grace doesn’t encourage this,” Mrs Wells said and sniffed loudly in disapproval.
Georgette, annoyed by the intrusion, simply looked at Mrs Wells and smiled before turning her attention back to the girls. She could see that they were, once again, unsure of themselves and rather more unsure of their governess. Well, Georgette would not stand for such interference from a woman who thrust a piece of paper with the word horse written crudely upon it in front of a small child, expecting them to learn from it.
“Are you from the north or the south of Wales?” Georgette went on, ignoring the rather unpleasant sound of the large nurse clearing her throat in annoyance.
“We are from the north, Miss Darrington,” Eleri said, keeping her eyes averted from the imposing figure of Mrs Wells.
“And what is the name of the place you are from?” Georgette looked at both girls but felt sure that Eleri would be the one to answer.
It was clear that Eleri was the protector and tiny spokesperson for the twins, and Georgette knew that she would have to give Ffion a great deal of attention to draw her out a little more.
“Beddgelert, Miss Darrington.”
“Bethgellet?” Georgette said, trying to imitate the pronunciation.
“Yes, Miss Darrington,” Eleri said, and both little girls looked amused.
“I have not said it quite right, have I?” Georgette said, smiling broadly at them.
“Nearly, Miss Darrington. It sounds funny when you say it,” Eleri went on, whilst Ffion smiled but essentially remained silent.
“Well, it is a good thing that I have you both here so that you can help me to say Welsh words properly,” Georgette said. “We shall be able to teach each other, shall we not?”