A Governess for the Brooding Duke(55)
“Oh dear, is the dreadful Mrs Griffin up to her old tricks?” Lady Lyndon said with an amused smile. “Are you still suffering burnt offerings, or is there now a complete lack?”
“In truth, I believe things are a little better,” Georgette said, not wishing to be seen to complain. “And I must admit to having been presented with a rather tasty and well-made stew this week. Not a thing upon it spoiled.”
“Well, enjoy it my dear, but do not trust it,” Lady Lyndon said rather sagely.
“Yes, perhaps I ought not to let my guard down in that respect.”
“But let us not think of my nephew’s dreadful servants. Let us sit down and enjoy this lovely tea.”
Eleri and Ffion were wriggling on the spot, both keen to be seated at the table where the wonderful cakes were.
“Come on, my girls. Let us get you seated.” She smiled and helped them into the chairs. “Now, what would you like me to put on your plate first?” Lady Cynthia said indulgently as the two little girls peered wide-eyed across the table, both clearly settling upon the cakes.
“Cakes, please,” Eleri said, and Georgette and Lady Lyndon both laughed.
“Eleri, perhaps you ought to eat a sandwich first. Or even just a tomato,” Georgette said and was delighted to hear Ffion laugh quite unguardedly.
“Yes, Eleri, you cannot just eat cakes the whole afternoon,” Ffion said happily.
“Oh, you wonderful little girls,” Lady Lyndon said, standing between them and placing a wrinkled hand on each of the bright blonde heads.
In no time at all, the girls were happily munching away, and Georgette, feeling herself a little gluttonous, helped herself to yet another little pastry.
“Forgive me,” she said when Lady Cynthia looked up at her and smiled.
“Not at all. It is here to be eaten, and I shall be most distressed if I must send the better part of it back below stairs. Eat up, my dear.”
“You really are so very kind, Lady Lyndon.”
“As are you, my dear,” she said, clearly alluding to the last time they had met. “I rather thought church went well today,” She added, significantly.
Immediately, Georgette realized that Lady Cynthia was not referring to the watery sermon delivered by the tiresome Reverend Merrydown.
“Yes, quite without incident. And the carriage ride was quite a revelation, My Lady.”
“Oh?” Lady Lyndon said, clearly keen to hear the details. “Now then, girls, I wonder if I can trust you to sit at the table by yourselves whilst Miss Darrington and I make ourselves more comfortable on one of the couches.” She mused with a smile on her face. “Or will you simply eat all of the cakes and make yourselves ill?”
“We promise we won’t,” Eleri said with the air of a little girl who had absolutely no intention whatsoever of keeping that particular promise.
“Well then, Miss Darrington and I shall leave you, but we shall only be but a few steps away.”
Once they were satisfied that the girls were perfectly happy where they were, Georgette and Lady Cynthia took a seat together on a pale pink velvet covered couch.
With her hunger satisfied, Georgette was now free to look around the room a little. It was not one-tenth of the size of the immense drawing room at Draycott Hall, and yet, once again, Georgette found herself liking it very much better. It was still very much larger than the drawing room that she had enjoyed in her London home but, of course, there seemed always to be a little more space in the country.
The wood paneling on the walls was all painted in a rather fresh pale ivory colour, giving the room a wonderful feeling of space whilst at the same time not taking anything away from its air of coziness. The windows were very much smaller than those in the drawing room at Draycott Hall but were pleasingly arched and framed by soft velvet drapes in the very same pale pink of the furniture.
The round oak table and chairs where the girls still sat had been set in an alcove in front of one of the arched windows. On the opposite corner of the room, there was a rather large piano in a gleaming mahogany wood. Next to the piano was a harp, and Georgette found her attention very much drawn to it. It had been many years since she had seen a harp, and she had never played one. It left her wondering if Lady Lyndon was something of an avid musician. If she was, perhaps she might assist in the teaching of the wonderful accomplishment to the girls. Perhaps such a thing would give her yet another legitimate excuse for attending that good woman’s home.
Chapter 20
“You were saying the carriage ride to church this morning was rather interesting, Miss Darrington,” Lady Lyndon said, clearly keen to return to their conversation.