In the end, he looked for so long that she knew he could not possibly see her standing there for he himself would surely have looked away. When he finally looked down and walked with purpose towards the front of Draycott Hall, Georgette knew that she was in for yet another night with little sleep.
Chapter 26
“Yes, I know we say it every morning, Eleri, but we need to know how to spell it too,” Georgette said, trying not to laugh at her little charge’s adorable complaint.
“It means good morning, Miss Darrington,” Eleri went on, and Georgette had to purse her lips and not give in to the humour.
“I know it means good morning, Eleri, but I should like you to write it down.” Georgette busied herself with laying out paper and pencils for the girls as a means of distracting herself.
Eleri had been in an amusing mood all morning, and her tiny rebellion was something that Georgette was rather pleased by. It meant that the girls were truly comfortable with her; certainly, comfortable enough to see if they could push her on occasions.
Far from being annoyed, Georgette was greatly relieved. They had reached a stage she thought most natural in all children and, while she would not have actively encouraged Eleri’s sudden bout of assertiveness, she would not have punished her for it either.
“So, bore da,” Georgette said, rolling her R like a natural born Welsh woman. “Please write down bore da for me, girls.”
Georgette smiled when she was suddenly presented with the top of two bright blonde heads. The girls had immediately taken to their task and had leaned forward to write the words almost simultaneously. Day by day, Georgette was growing to love them more and more. They really were the sweetest and most adorable children she could imagine.
“Bore da, Miss Darrington.” Eleri was the first to look up, holding her piece of paper facing forward so that Georgette might read it.
“Good morning, Eleri,” Georgette said with a beaming smile. “And you have spelled it perfectly.”
“Bore da, Miss Darrington,” Ffion said, smiling brightly and with a good deal of confidence as she held up her own paper, clearly knowing that she had spelled good morning correctly.
“Good morning, Ffion.” Georgette could not help walking across the room and ruffling Ffion’s soft hair. “And you have spelled it perfectly too.”
“Diolch,” Ffion said sweetly.
“You are welcome, Ffion.” Georgette took a seat opposite the girls at the table. “Now, since we have mastered good morning, let us try good afternoon,” Georgette began.
“Prynhawn da,” both girls chorused at once, their faces flushed with excitement and pride.
“Yes, I know you know how to say it, girls,” Georgette said, unable to suppress a little laughter. “But now you must write it down for me.”
Once again, she was presented with the tops of two bright blonde heads. Georgette looked on happily, content for the first time in days. However, her attention was suddenly drawn by the sound of the door to the schoolroom gently opening.
Georgette turned her attention from the girls to look back over her shoulder and, seeing the Duke smile as he entered, felt herself entirely confused. It was the second time that he had appeared in the doorway without any sort of explanation. Of course, the last time he had been most distressed to hear Eleri singing the beautiful little Welsh folk song.
“Do come in,” Georgette said quietly, wondering if the Duke were finally going to pay his nieces the attention they so very much deserved.
“Thank you. Although I should not like to interfere with the school day,” he said but slowly entered the room nonetheless.
“Not at all, Your Grace. You are most welcome in the schoolroom.”
At that moment Ffion, who had finished her written translation first, held out her paper most excitedly and spoke at the very top of her voice.
“Prynhawn da!” she said, but her little mouth remained open when she realized that her uncle was in the room.
“Oh, I am sorry,” Georgette said the moment she saw his face fall.
“So, you persist, Miss Darrington,” he said, in a voice so neutral it was hard to judge his mood.
“Your Grace, I just think that it is so very important for the girls.”
“Despite everything that you now know,” he said, and Georgette finally realized that he looked a little betrayed. “Despite everything that I told you; despite my having confided in you,” he added and slowly turned to leave the room.
“Oh, Miss Darrington. I didn’t see Uncle Hamilton there. I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to. Really, I didn’t mean to.” And with that, Ffion broke down into sobs.