A Governess for the Brooding Duke(59)

“Very good,” Lady Lyndon called above the din. “Absolutely lovely girls. Do keep playing.”



As much as Georgette had wanted their conversation to continue, the very sight of Eleri and Ffion enjoying themselves so unguardedly and so greatly was compensation enough for her.





Chapter 21



“So, if we look at the beans here, how many do we have?” Georgette had managed to get some dried beans from the cook to assist her in the teaching of simple arithmetic. “What do you say, Ffion?”



“One, two, three, four,” Ffion counted under her breath as she poked at each of the beans in turn with a chubby finger. “Four!” she said, triumphantly.



“Wonderful, Ffion. Well done.” Georgette reached out and touched the top of the bright blonde head. “Now, Eleri, if I added these beans to the beans that we already have, how many beans do we have now?”



In the same style as her sister, Eleri pointed at the beans in turn and continued to count.



“Five, six, seven,” she said and looked up at Georgette for confirmation. “Is it seven, Miss Darrington?” she said, excitedly.



“Yes, it is seven.” Georgette felt incredibly proud of the girls.



“So, this is what we have learned. Three added to four equals seven.”



Their contentment in learning was suddenly disrupted when there came a loud knock at the schoolroom door. It began to swing open almost immediately, and the housekeeper suddenly appeared. Clearly, Mrs Griffin had no intention of waiting to be told to enter.



“What is it, Mrs Griffin?” Georgette said with some exasperation.



“His Grace wants to see you,” she announced, and there was something in her air which made Georgette feel suddenly, horribly concerned.



“At what time?” Georgette said, knowing in her heart that her question was futile.



“Immediately, Miss Darrington. And I suggest you get there without delay. I daresay His Grace is furious enough without you dragging your heels.”



“Could you lower your voice, Mrs Griffin?” Georgette said in a hiss. “Really, you need not behave in such a manner in front of the girls.” Georgette had risen and crossed the room so that the two women might talk a little more privately. “Now, if you would be so good, could you have one of the maids sent in to watch the girls whilst I am away?”



“I could watch them myself,” Mrs Griffin said somewhat put out.



“No, that won’t be necessary,” Georgette said, not wanting to make relations between herself and the housekeeper any worse, but also not wanting the children to have to suffer to spend time with such a dreadful personality. “I should not like to interrupt your work. I am sure you have a good deal to do without sitting with Eleri and Ffion.”



“Yes, plenty,” she said angrily, and Georgette rather marveled at the way people seized upon any excuse for outrage. She hoped and prayed that she herself would never be so tedious and small-minded.



Well, I’d better go and get a maid. You certainly do not want to keep His Grace waiting.” And, before the housekeeper left the room, Georgette saw a rather self-satisfied and ugly smile show itself most unashamedly on her face.



Eleri and Ffion were completely silent as they sat and stared at Georgette. She could see that they were greatly concerned and, worse, entirely confused about what was happening.



Georgette knew that the poor things had become terribly used to sensing bad atmospheres and yet, at such a tender age, they had no way of understanding the cause.



“Now do not look so worried, girls,” Georgette said, hoping that she sounded natural, not wanting her cheerful tones to sound as forced as they truly were. “I just need to go and have a few minutes conversation with your uncle.”



“Is it trouble?” Eleri said, astounding her with her perception.



“I cannot imagine so, Eleri,” Georgette answered, not wanting to lie to the little girl outright. “It is probably something very simple.”



“Or it might be because we are not supposed to speak Welsh,” Ffion said, and Georgette thought her heart would break.



Up until that moment, she had not realized quite how much Eleri and Ffion understood, and she felt herself quite foolish not to have seen it before.



“Please, Ffion, you are not to worry about that. We shall talk about it later between ourselves, alright? Just the three of us will talk about it, but you must not be afraid for me, for I shall be absolutely fine.”



Georgette could not help herself. She gathered the little girls to her and hugged them tightly, hoping against all hope that her actions did not undermine her words. “You really are the most wonderful girls, Eleri and Ffion. I do not know how I would manage here were it not for you. There now, we are firm friends, are we not?”