A Governess for the Brooding Duke(32)

Of course, once the children had been placed safely on the ground, the driver instinctively leaned into the carriage to assist Georgette. It came as a great relief to her for reasons she could not quite get a firm grasp upon. However, as soon as she had been helped down and had gathered up the children, she felt herself relax a good deal.



The church service would, undoubtedly, go on for some time, and there would be very little need for her and the Duke to make any conversation together whatsoever. She would simply be able to listen to the sermon, sing the hymns, and keep a good watch on the children. Not, of course that two such beautifully behaved little souls really needed very much attention.



“The family pew is at the very front, Miss Darrington. At the front and on the left-hand side. Do make your way there as I have no doubt that my aunt is already in position,” he said, wincing a little as the Reverend, caring little for the feelings of the parishioners he was currently turning his back on in favour of the Duke, came scampering over. “I might be a little while.” He raised his eyebrows in a way which almost made Georgette laugh.



No doubt the Reverend’s company was no more welcome than her own had been, and yet it rather seemed as if the Duke would not be able to escape the seemingly determined little man. As the Duke turned his attention to the approaching Reverend, Georgette hovered for just a moment to observe them further.



The Reverend was very much of a type; telling everybody in church that all God’s creatures were equal and then turning his back on those very same equal creatures in favour of the man with the greatest title. Georgette pressed her lips firmly together in order to deny the little sneer that was trying to force its way forward. In church, she had always found herself much preferring the message to the medium. It would appear that things in the adorable little church in the village of Marsden were to be no different.



“Well, girls, it looks as if I am in your hands entirely. Do you remember how to get to the family pew?” Georgette said, smiling at Eleri and Ffion in a most encouraging way.



“Yes, Miss Darrington,” Eleri said, tugging a little at her hand.



“Yes,” Ffion said, her voice seeming so tiny. “It is right at the front.”



Georgette was pleased to find that Ffion also tugged at her hand a little, and both girls, each of them smiling as she had not seen since they had climbed into the carriage, pulled her gently through the great wooden door of the church and along the aisle.





Chapter 12



Georgette looked ahead and could see that there was, indeed, a woman already sitting in the family pew. If only the Duke had been there to introduce them; surely that was a great oversight on his part. Still, the woman would undoubtedly recognize Eleri and Ffion, and so Georgette would simply have to introduce herself. Of course, if his aunt was as taciturn as the Duke, she might find herself entirely ignored anyway.



The nearer they drew, the harder the girls began to pull, and it was with a certain amount of surprise that Georgette realized that they were most keen to see the lady in that pew. As they drew level and began to make their way to her side, the woman looked up and, seeing the children, smiled brightly.



“Ffion,” she said, reaching out both hands to take the little girls’ in her own. “How very pretty you look this morning.” She smiled at her most adoringly. “And Eleri, you look as pretty as a little butterfly.” She let go of one of Ffion’s hands and reached out to take Eleri’s also.



Without speaking, the girls simply smiled at her. Georgette studied the woman for a moment and rather wondered if she were not the lady who had been so very forthright with the Duke just days before. Could this have been the voice she had heard? Had this been the lady who had accused him of hardening his heart towards Eleri and Ffion?



“Oh, I say, you really must excuse me, my dear. Whenever I set eyes upon these two, I quite forget myself.” The woman, a fair-haired and rather handsome sort of a lady, hurriedly rose to her feet. “I am Lady Cynthia Lyndon, my dear. I am the Duke’s aunt and the great aunt of these two adorable little creatures,” she said, giving the girls an indulgent, almost motherly smile.



Lady Lyndon was very finely dressed in a simple but well put together gown. It had long sleeves to it, although it was only of the medium weight material. It was perfectly suitable for the weather, and Georgette could see a light shawl of matching colour folded neatly and placed down on the pew beside where Lady Lyndon had been sitting.



“How very nice to meet you, Lady Lyndon,” Georgette said and smiled warmly at her. “I am Georgette Darrington, My Lady, and I am Eleri and Ffion’s new governess.”