“Why are you here?” he asked abruptly.
Startled, her lips pursed. “What do you mean?”
“Staying with Lady Brandewyne?”
“I suffered a bout with rheumatic fever.”
“Your uncle feared for your life and brought you home to England.”
“It was a small matter. He overreacted.”
But Dominic heard the doubt in her voice, and he had noticed the clothing that didn’t quite fit. Was it fair that she must surrender her freedom due to an illness? Or to the fears of an uncle? A plan was forming in his mind. He had simply wanted to get around to asking her what she knew about epilepsy, to get her opinion, but now he saw another, better option.
He flashed a grin. “You are looking lovely tonight. One would never guess you’d suffered from anything but an abundance of beauty and grace.”
She gave him a look, one that said clearly she saw past his flirtations and perhaps even found them tedious. The thought made him laugh.
“I presume you are cackling at your paltry attempt to charm me.” She crossed her arms, skewering him with an expression he might start calling her doctor look.
“Never. You are familiar with Louise and all her various quirks?”
“I would not call them quirks, but yes, I am aware that she is a strong-willed child.”
“Perhaps then, we can help each other?”
Dominic paused, debating his next words. Most governesses were ladies of quality who had fallen on hard times. With no immediate family to take them in and no marital prospects, they were often forced to find employment.
He knew little of Miss Gordon’s family history, but he could not imagine the woman, with her quick tongue and keen eyes, succeeding in subservient positions. Though certainly she was intelligent enough to teach. It would be a matter of her nature conflicting with the expectations of her employer.
She had a genteel upbringing and extensive educational experiences. She had kept that doctor from sticking leeches all over him...but could she keep Louise in line? Could she make it so that Barbara did not take Louise?
If Miss Gordon discovered his epilepsy, would she be the type to send him to Bedlam? There were many who would agree with the decision.
He frowned. Louise had been nothing but trouble in the few weeks they’d been home. She needed more than what he could give, but if he let Barbara send her away, she’d never forgive him. Did Henrietta have the education necessary to teach Louise the attributes of a lady?
If only his niece had not been expelled. A school in England was better than one across the ocean.
After her parents’ funeral, Dominic had sent her back to the highly esteemed boarding school she’d been attending since she was ten. That had been his first in a long series of mistakes.
For whatever reasons—he could not pretend to understand the workings of a twelve-year-old female’s mind—Louise had decided to cease all good behavior. Within three months, she’d been expelled. Any misguided notion of an easy guardianship disappeared.
Then Barbara began nagging him and threatening his newfound hermit existence.
Even though he had retreated to the country, he did love Louise. He’d been selfish, holing away by himself. He had heartily enjoyed the conversations, music and dance in the past. Epilepsy had taken that from him.
Tonight, he’d been overly conscious of himself, worried that he might have an attack until he’d been diverted by Miss Gordon’s quiet figure lurking against walls. Avoiding dances. She piqued his interest. Why would a woman given the chance to partake in the upper echelons of English society shun it?
Now he had his answer.
And he might be able to offer a reciprocal type of help.
Which brought him back to this very moment, where Miss Gordon stood waiting patiently for his next words. He noticed a few inquisitive sets of eyes upon them. He’d have to leave her soon or run the risk of gossip.
“Louise has spoken highly of you. She is at a determining point in life, and is in need of a firm hand. Someone who understands her pain.”
They began waltzing on the outer sides of the ballroom. “She is in need of guidance. She respects you and perhaps what she needs is a more unconventional governess. One who does not bow to a child’s whims nor fears losing her position by speaking her mind. One with a breadth of knowledge that will intrigue a girl with Louise’s curiosity.”
“Optimistic words.”
He gave her a small bow. “Consider my offer. I will pay you a wage that will allow you to join your uncle.”
“Why are you offering this? I—”
“I admire your vision,” he interrupted. “It is a rare and precious thing in life to know what you want. Even more, to pursue it. Perhaps I have not lived my own life as fully as I ought to, and in a way I can’t explain, I want to help you.”
She nodded, accepting his words even as he struggled to understand them himself. “I will consider it, my lord, and send you word.”
* * *
Henrietta awoke in a foul mood.
She did not know how to answer Lord St. Raven. His offer last night had taken her by surprise, though perhaps it should not have. He had been needing a governess for some time. She supposed it made a modicum of sense that he’d asked her. She had been tempted to give him a resounding no, but a few reasons stopped her.
One, the house party ended today, but Lady Brandewyne had informed her that she planned for them to take a trip to London soon. Shopping and whatnot, but then she’d added that several gentleman had asked to call on them when they were in town.
Henrietta wasn’t sure why they would. She was no great beauty and had no money, but her lineage was quite good, she supposed. Stomach twisting, she rolled onto her back and looked at the vaulted ceiling.
She had not lived anywhere so grand since childhood. Those memories remained locked away, and she never visited them. It would be easy to accept a lower position, and sleep in a tiny room, if she could hold onto her dream of studying medicine. She’d even considered going to Italy, where they were much more accepting of female students.
A tiny worry crept in. What if she found her uncle, and he sent her away?
She pushed the unruly thought to the back of her mind.
Her second reason for not outright denying Lord St. Raven is that he had made a good point. Louise needed someone who cared. And for some reason, perhaps because of their shared orphan state, she did.
Groaning, she rolled out of the bed to face the day.
And the handsome earl for whom she was going to accept a governess position.
The guests dispersed after an involved luncheon. Henrietta hardly noticed. Her mind was preoccupied. She saw Lord St. Raven at one point, and offered him a nod, but he looked peaked and wan. Perhaps he’d woken with a stomachache as well, she thought ruefully.
Her mind conjured multiple scenarios. She paced her room. She ate four scones and drank three cups of hot chocolate.
Finally, around the three-o’clock hour, she sent Lord St. Raven a note via a housemaid that she would accept his offer and be ready to leave whenever he required.
Then she found Lady Brandewyne resting in the solarium. The bright room captured sunlight with oversized windows and then painted glowing swaths of yellow across the terra-cotta floors. Fauna of varying colors lined the walls and a cheery bench