The Governess Game. Tessa Dare

sight. It wasn’t fair. It was lonely, and my schoolmates were cruel, and I cried myself to sleep more evenings than not. But in time, I realized I had an advantage over the other girls. They had to worry about catching a husband to help their families. I was indebted to no one, I answered to no one, and I needn’t meet anyone’s expectations of what a young lady should or shouldn’t be. My life was my own. I could follow any dream, if I was prepared to work hard for it. Do you hear what I’m saying?”

      Rosamund gave no acknowledgment, but Alex could tell the girl was listening. Intently.

      “So what is it you truly want? If you could have any life you wished, what would it be?”

      “I want to escape. Not just this house, but England.”

      “Where do you mean to go?”

      “Anywhere. Everywhere. I’d take Daisy with me. We’d travel the world, wearing trousers and smoking cheroots and doing as we pleased.”

      Alexandra had been hoping to hear “I want to be a painter.” Or a French-trained chef, or an architect. Whatever pursuit Rosamund named, Alex could build lessons on its foundation. But she was quite certain Mr. Reynaud would not approve of lessons in cheroot-smoking. Alex wouldn’t have known how to give them, anyway.

      “That sounds like a grand life indeed,” she said, “but how will you support yourselves?”

      “I’m perfectly capable of looking after us both.” Rosamund cast a glance at the table. “So you can clear away your nine sweets and leave us alone.”

      “You know very well there are eleven sweetmeats.”

      “Are there?”

      Alex looked. Sure as could be, two sweetmeats were missing. The girl had managed to steal them, right from under her nose, and one of the two was already across the room in Daisy’s hands. Alex could hear the paper crinkling as the younger girl unwrapped it.

      “Rosamund, may I tell you something? You will find yourself reluctant to believe it, but it’s the truth.”

      The girl gave a lackadaisical shrug. The warmest gesture she’d made toward Alex so far.

      “I like you,” Alexandra said. “I like you very much indeed.”