A Governess for the Brooding Duke(40)

“In what way, Miss Darrington?”



“She was speaking to the children as if they were very much beneath her, Your Grace. She was taunting them for the way they speak, and both of the girls were crying heartily when I entered the room. She was telling them that they were willful and dreadful and, in truth, they are neither of those things. I could tell they were afraid and that she was upsetting them so dreadfully.”



“But you are aware, are you not, that I should like you to do what you can to anglicize their accents?”



“By bullying, Your Grace?” Georgette said and instantly regretted it.



“No, not by bullying, Miss Darrington. I am sure that you have many far better devices at your disposal. After all, you seem to have progressed with them very well indeed.”



Georgette fully expected to be chastised for her comment and found herself entirely surprised when he had simply sought to cajole her into doing his bidding.



“The nurse was bullying them, Your Grace. She told them that they were now in a fine house of repute and not in some dreadful little village in Wales. I cannot think her behaviour anything other than woefully inadequate and dreadfully cruel.”



“Am I to take it that you told her as much?” the Duke said with an air of exasperation about him.



“Indeed, I did, Your Grace. In truth, she took a good deal of persuading that we ought to have our disagreement out of the hearing of the children. It struck me that she cares nothing if they see and hear things that a child should not.”



“So, you told her that you disagreed with her methods?” the Duke said, nodding. “Then surely that is an end to it, is it not?”



“Apparently, it was not, Your Grace,” Georgette said, recognizing the fact that the Duke was already trying to back away from any sort of involvement in the matter. “Because the time for luncheon came and went, and no food was delivered to the schoolroom.”



“The maid did not come in with your luncheon tray?”



“No, there was no luncheon tray. The children were hungry, and so I left them in the schoolroom for a moment whilst I went to speak to the cook.”



“You went down into the servants’ quarters, and you spoke to the cook?” the Duke said and let out a large sigh.



Georgette could feel herself growing annoyed; did he really expect that she would have allowed two little girls to go hungry simply because the Duke’s servants were spiteful enough to take out their hatred of the governess on them?



“Yes, Your Grace. I politely mentioned to the cook that the children had not been fed. In truth, Your Grace, the cook looked most uncomfortable, and I rather imagine that it was Mrs Griffin who had ordered that no food be sent up to the schoolroom. I am quite used to being sent burnt offerings for my breakfast, Your Grace, and stone-cold water in which to wash. I have said nothing of it nor made any complaint to the housekeeper. However, I cannot support the idea that the children are to suffer simply because the nurse and the housekeeper have a low opinion of me. That is rather something that they should keep between the adults. To make the children go without food to satisfy their petty grievances is insupportable, Your Grace.”



“I daresay there have been little misunderstandings along the way in the time since you have been here at Draycott Hall, Miss Darrington,” the Duke began in a most determined manner.



Georgette knew without question that he was about to sweep the whole thing under the rug. “And I am sure that your own grievances will dwindle as time goes on.”



“My own grievances, Your Grace?” Georgette said, hardly able to believe what she was hearing.



“I mean that things will improve, Miss Darrington. That is all I am trying to say,” he said, holding a hand up as if to placate her.



However, far from feeling placated, Georgette simply felt patronized.



“And the children?” Georgette said, hearing the iciness in her tone.



“I daresay that the oversight on that particular luncheon will not re-occur. After all, it has not happened again since you brought it to the attention of the cook, has it?”



“No, Your Grace, but …”



“And so, I think it is safe to say that the matter is dealt with, is it not?”



“And the bullying of the children over their language, Your Grace?”



“Have you seen or heard anything else of that nature since you spoke to Mrs Wells about your concerns?” The Duke leaned forward again, resting his elbows on his desk and fixing her with something of a stern gaze.



For a moment, Georgette simply studied his face. Although his skin was tanned, it seemed a little dark around his eyes, almost as if he had gone without a little sleep. Absently and quite inappropriately, Georgette wondered what might keep such a man awake at night. Surely it was not his conscience.