“Indeed? And you would have me come join you?”
Helena giggled. “Yes. You may join us. But only if you promise you’ll not try to teach us anything.”
Lady Sinclair blinked at the little girl, the edges of her mouth barely staying closed. “I won’t. I promise.”
“Good.” Helena turned to look up at Juliet. “Before Emma married Lord Sinclair she was our governess.” The sour look on her face told Juliet exactly what she thought about that particular arrangement.
Odd. The girls seemed to be apprehensive about Lady Sinclair, who, clearly seemed to be a close acquaintance, helping them learn their letters, but not Juliet. She mentally shrugged. Perhaps that was just because she was new and somewhat of a novelty to them right now. That would wear off soon enough and they’d be happy to have their regular governess back. “All right, girls, let’s go.”
The girls walked down the hall, giggling as they stepped past Lord Sinclair and their father. “I’m not intruding, am I?” Lady Sinclair asked.
Juliet smiled at the other woman. “Not at all. Actually, I’m thankful you volunteered to come. I’m from a large family, so I’m comfortable around children, but it’ll be good for them to have the company of a trusted friend as they become better acquainted with me.”
“Very well.”
Up in the schoolroom, Juliet helped the girls hold their quills correctly and gave them instructions on how she wanted them to write their letters before she sat down next to Lady Sinclair.
“He’s not always like that,” Lady Sinclair blurted.
Juliet didn’t know if she wanted to laugh at the woman’s blunt statement or sigh in relief. “How did you know he’s been acting beastly today?”
“The way he cut Helena off earlier. He never does such a thing. It means he’s hiding something. What? I don’t know, but whatever it is, she knows and he doesn’t want her to tell you.”
Juliet blinked at the woman. “How do you know so much about him?”
“Caroline.”
“Who?”
“Marcus’ cousin. Other than the late Lady Drakely, I’d imagine Caroline knows him best, excluding Marcus, of course.”
“All right,” Juliet said uncomfortably, not sure what to do with that information.
Lady Sinclair sighed and bit her lip. “All right, I’ll tell you a secret, but you cannot pass it along to anyone else.”
Juliet nodded.
“When Caroline was younger, she had the biggest tendre for Drake I’ve ever witnessed. She was only eight or so when he started visiting Marcus at Ridge Water. Anyway, every time he’d come by, she’d study him the whole time and tell me all about it later.” She shook her head and smiled ruefully. “I learned far more about your husband during those years than I cared to. But alas, Caroline was the sister I always wanted and listening to her wax on for hours about him really wasn’t so bad.” She frowned. “Although I must admit, I could have done without the weeks’ worth of tears she cried after he married Abigail instead of her.”
“Well, if your friend still has that particular desire, she is more than welcome to come take my place,” Juliet said with a grin.
Lady Sinclair smiled sympathetically at Juliet. “She’s quite happy being married to someone else now. A better match for her, I’d say.”
“Do you know anyone else who’d like the opportunity to be Lady Drakely?” There was really no reason for her to ask such an inane question, but she liked talking to Lady Sinclair.
“I’m sorry. The only other person besides Caroline that I’ve known who wanted to marry him did.”
Juliet nodded slowly. Likely he was different back then, less haughty, perhaps.
Lady Sinclair reached her hand forward and squeezed Juliet’s arm. “I know he’s a little hard to approach at first, but give him time. He’s actually a very genuine and loving man.”
It was all Juliet could do not to snort at that statement. She doubted that man loved anyone but himself. She sighed. That wasn’t true, and it was very unkind for her to think such a thought. Though it was clear Lord Presumptuous had no real affection for her, she should not assume he had no great affection for his daughters.
A delicate cough caught Juliet’s attention. She looked over and met Lady Sinclair’s green gaze. “I know you’re not happy as things are right now, but I am. Caroline is and always will be my friend, but I’d like to think of you as a friend, as well.” She glanced away to look over at the girls for a moment. “I didn’t know the late Lady Drakely very well, but since our husbands are such good friends, I’d like us to be friends, too.”