Governess in Disguise: Historical Regency Romance Read online

  That sounded reasonable. Thomas had heard of husbands declaring their wives were their one and only loves and they would do anything for them, but then left them nothing in their wills.

  He sat forward as his mother’s words began to sink in.

  “You think a widow would be a good idea for a governess.”

  “Yes.”

  “Is she any good with children?”

  “You’re going to have to find out for yourself. But I’d like to think she’s an option for you.” Margaret gestured towards the door. “If she and Anna can get along, I think she would be a good choice.”

  “And you don’t think she’ll be scared off like everyone else?”

  Margaret smiled.

  “She told me that she’s not the type to be scared off. I think you’ll be fine with her, son.”

  “I thought that with everyone else.” Thomas grunted. Rubbing his hands over his face. “I’m just confused as to why everyone is so scared of me. As far as I’m aware, I haven’t done anything that could concern anyone.”

  “People listen to rumours. Maybe they listened to one too many.”

  Unfounded rumours, and Thomas couldn’t seem to get rid of them. He was just lucky that his staff refused to leave and stood by him while everyone outside the house gave him strange looks whenever he was out and about with Anna. It was a wonder what people would believe because it sounded more interesting than the dull life everyone led.

  Chapter Seven

  “I don’t know what I’ve done to have rumours spread around me. I do my best to be a good person, but it doesn’t seem to work.”

  “Someone hates you enough to discredit you.”

  An image of Evelyn floated through Thomas’ mind.

  “Or someone wants me so much that they want to make sure nobody else has me,” Thomas murmured.

  Margaret snorted. “You’re arrogant if you think that’s the case, Thomas.”

  “You mean you don’t think Lady Wilson said something and word got around, so she doesn’t have another woman vying for my attention? I wouldn’t put it past her to do that.”

  “If I’m honest, neither would I.” Margaret sighed. “But while Lady Wilson is someone who needs to get help, she would have to be aware that these rumours would get back to her if it backfired.”

  “Well, it hasn’t yet.”

  “People are just stupid in general.” Margaret regarded her son. “Will you have a think about Mrs. Perry looking after Anna? If it is Lady Wilson spreading the rumours, I don’t think a widow is going to be deterred by her.”

  She did have a point. And if his mother was approving of her just from one meeting, then maybe he should take the suggestion. Thomas had come to appreciate his mother’s input in recent years. She had been an irritation with choices when he was younger, but one thing had never changed and that was Margaret Andrews didn’t suffer fools. She knew a strong person when she saw one.

  Even so, Thomas didn’t want to completely jump into it. He needed to weigh things up.

  “I’ll have a think about it.” He rose to his feet. “Shall we go and find Anna. I think she wants you to see her show now.”

  “All right.” Margaret stood up and swatted his arm. “And pay attention this time.”

  Thomas rolled his eyes with a smile. He knew better than to argue when his mother and daughter were as a team.

  Emilia could feel her nerves building as the carriage bumped over the uneven road. She couldn’t believe she was doing this. When she had come up with the idea, it had sounded like the perfect plan. What better way to show that the man was a murderer than to get inside his house? Charlotte has told her that she was mad, and that this was not going to work.

  Well, it was turning into fruition for Emilia, but she was beginning to feel like Charlotte was right about being mad.

  The conversation with Lady Andrews had been a very good one. She was very amenable, and Emilia had found herself almost relaxing in the woman’s presence. There was something about the woman that made people smile. Lady Andrews didn’t seem to suspect anything with Emilia’s story, and she accepted Emilia’s answers. The small talk made Emilia a little antsy, however, and she wanted to get on with it and see if she could get Lady Andrews to promise on her behalf to get her a position in her son’s household.

  So, when it was mentioned that Thomas Andrews was looking for a governess, Emilia pounced. It was perfect.

  Chapter Eight

  From the apprehension coming from the older woman, hiring a governess was not a comfortable topic of conversation for her. Emilia could understand, after hearing the rumours going around regarding the last few people who had come to look after the young child. Whatever was going on was anyone’s guess, but it wasn’t looking good for Andrews.

  Emilia wasn’t as scared. She was going in there and she was going to find what she knew was there. Then she would leave, and not before. Andrews could do whatever he wanted, and Emilia would not break. She was not afraid to stand up for herself.

  It was the least she could do for her father. At least he would be able to rest in peace.

  The carriage turned sharply down another road, and Emilia looked out of the window to see they were passing under an archway. There were a few trees overhanging the road, blocking out the sun, but then they were gone, and Emilia could see the sapphire blue sky. It was a beautiful day, and a very warm one. Emilia could feel the sweat trickling down her back. She wished she could wear something other than black, but it was her playing a part. She was meant to be pretending to be a widow, and that meant wearing the horrible clothes.

  Charlotte was right. She was mad.

  Emilia’s eyes widened when she saw the house at the end of the drive. Whoa. She knew that Andrews came from money, although having no specific title himself, but she had never expected this. It was white brick, almost too bright for her eyes in the sun, spread across the top of the hill. It looked like the place was going to be a maze on the inside. All this for only a man and his daughter and a household of servants? Emilia knew that Lady Andrews lived in a cottage on the estate, by choice. She preferred her own place.

  The carriage pulled up at the foot of a double flight of stairs to the front door. She looked up at the building and was dazzled by its size. Big and pretentious. That sounds like Thomas Andrews all over.

  “Mrs. Perry?”

  Emilia jumped with a gasp. She hadn’t realized that the door to the carriage had opened, and a tall, thin man with a pleasant face and pale red hair was holding it, giving her a quizzical expression. Emilia cleared her throat and scrambled out of the carriage.

  “Forgive me, I…” She stared and looked around her. “I was marvelling at how splendid the house is.”

  Nice, Emilia. You can’t even sound convincing with something as bland as that.

  “Of course.” The servant’s expression didn’t give anything away. “My name is Jenkins. I’m Mr. Andrews’ personal valet.”

  “Personal valet.” Emilia stared up at him. “I didn’t realize you greeted guests as part of your job.”

  “I’m doing a bit of all sorts at the moment. A few of our staff have taken sick.” Jenkins turned away and beckoned her to follow him. “Come with me, please. Mr. Andrews said to show you through once you arrived.”

  A little abrupt, but Emilia wasn’t expecting to become close friends with the servants as soon as she arrived. Servants had ears and they knew almost everything about their employers. They kept themselves mute, but the gossip was rife when they were behind closed doors. Emilia knew that from her own household.

  Hopefully, they wouldn’t be as short with her as Jenkins was.

  Hurrying up the steps, Emilia followed the valet into the foyer. It was a decent size, about the same size at the one in her own home. Nothing seemed to be any different to what she was used to. But, then again, what was she expecting? Animal heads on the walls? Gaudy colours? Outlandish decor? There was none of that. Emilia knew she was asking for too
much with her own expectations.

  Small steps. She wasn’t even part of the household yet. She had to meet the man himself and get his approval. While Lady Andrews had facilitated the meeting, she didn’t guarantee the position. Emilia had to do that herself.

  Jenkins went to a door at the far end of the hall and knocked. A deep voice on the other side bid him to enter. Emilia bit her lip as something washed over her. That was a very nice voice. Jenkins opened the door and beckoned Emilia to enter.

  “Mrs. Perry to see you, Mr. Andrews.”

  “Thank you, Jenkins.”

  Emilia stepped into the room. And then stopped short. Oh, my God. The man standing by the desk, looking through a sheaf of papers in his hand, was nothing like she had seen before. He was huge, absolutely gigantic. Emilia had met tall men, but Thomas Andrews was something else. He had to be at least six-and-a-half feet tall, with incredibly broad shoulders that tapered down into a slim waist with a barrel-like chest and muscular legs. His dark grey trousers seemed to hug his legs, and the waistcoat showed off his firm stomach. His shirt sleeves were undone and rolled up to his elbows, his jacket hanging over the back of his chair behind the desk.

  It wasn’t the state of undress that had Emilia feeling like something had slammed into her. It was the way his dark hair fell over his forehead, the broad, firm features of his face, and the long, sensitive fingers that sifted through the papers he was reading. Then he looked up at her and Emilia found herself looking into his eyes. A beautiful brown, as dark as his hair. Gorgeous eyes.

  Gorgeous. Just like the rest of him.

  Emilia felt like she couldn’t move. Her legs were suddenly weak, and she was sure if she moved, she was going to collapse. It felt like she was housing butterflies in her belly, and Emilia felt suddenly lightheaded. She swayed. What on earth was happening to her? It felt like she was about to pass out. How could one man do that to her?

  “Mrs. Perry?”

  Emilia blinked. She hadn’t noticed Andrews moving. Now he was standing in front of her, towering over her now petite frame. Emilia had been considered a tall woman, but around this man she felt positively tiny. Andrews frowned as he searched her face.

  “Are you all right, Mrs. Perry? You look a little out of sorts.”

  “I…” How could she think properly when she was this close to him? She needed to get a grip. Emilia smoothed her hands down her skirts, focusing on a button on his shirt. “I’m fine. It’s just been a warm journey. I... I wasn’t expecting it to be this hot.”

  There was silence. Then Andrews stepped back and looked over her shoulder.

  “Thank you, Jenkins. I’ve got this now.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Jenkins shut the door, and then Emilia was more than aware that she was alone in the room with a very big, very fine-looking man who could easily snap her in half. With the size of him, he could easily have killed her father. A wash of fear rippled through her. Oh, God. Would he do that to her as well?

  Andrews gestured at the couch near the unmade fire.

  “Please, take a seat, Mrs. Perry. I’ll be with you in a moment.”

  “All right.”

  Somehow, her legs didn’t give way, and Emilia managed to get over to the couch and settle onto it without collapsing. She felt as though her stomach was tightening around the flutterings. What on earth was going on with her? Emilia had never reacted like this around any man, and yet Thomas Andrews had turned her insides into something far too turbulent for her to deal with.

  Was it because he had killed her father? Or was it because she found him attractive?

  More than attractive. It’s no wonder Evelyn Wilson wants this man.

  “You’ll have to forgive me for my state of undress, Mrs. Perry.” Andrews went around his desk and picked up his coat, which he draped over his arm. “I was suffering with the heat myself. Paperwork won’t get done on its own.”

  “I understand, Mr. Andrews.”

  Emilia kept her gaze focused on the empty hearth. She would not look at him. She was sure her resolve would fumble again if she so much as glanced at him before her composure. This was not good at all.

  She needed to get her head on straight. Emilia would not let a man win over her because he was good-looking.

  “That’s better.” There was a movement to Emilia’s right, and she looked around to see Thomas sitting on an adjacent chair. He had now rolled down his sleeves and they were neatly buttoned up. He gave Emilia a smile as he shrugged his jacket on. That smile was just as devastating as the rest of him. “Now, Mother told me that you were looking for work and that you might be a good governess for my daughter.”

  “Yes.” She needed to keep her focus; remember why she was there. Emilia straightened her back and pulled her shoulders back. Focus. “I’m very surprised but very pleased that you would consider me for the position, Mr. Andrews.”

  Andrews frowned. “I haven’t said I’ll take you on yet. You’re a widow, you don’t need to work if you’ve been looked after.”

  Emilia flushed, but she refused to look away. She would not be backing down. Andrews could be as suspicious as he wanted, but she wasn’t going to crumble.

  “That’s the thing. I’m not.” Emilia swallowed and did her best to remember the story she had sorted with herself. “My husband claimed to love me and then left me nothing when he died. I lost my house and any type of inheritance. Anything I brought into the family as a dowry, gone. I have no claim to it anymore.”

  “What about whoever’s looking after you?”

  “My brother-in-law.” Emilia found herself thinking about her uncle and let the anger escape for a moment. “He gives me a pittance, and that barely stretches to cover the rent of the one room I’ve been forced to live in. I was kicked out of the home I shared with my husband, and my brother-in-law is enjoying the fact he can treat me like a peasant.” She clenched her fists. Whoa, her anger was going to get out of hand if she let it manifest like this. “I’m not one to beg, Mr. Andrews, but I am desperate for work. I don’t want to be reliant on that man, and I know he’s expecting me to come to him and beg for reconsideration.”

  “I see.”

  Andrews barely showed any expression in his face. It was like he had become a blank slate. He sat back and crossed his legs. That seemed to make the trousers tighten more around his thighs. Emilia had to swallow back the sudden flutter in her throat.

  “I’m sure there should have been a stipulation in the will for you,” Andrews said quietly. “Even for a wife, there would have been some provisions for you.”

  “I looked and had the attorney double-check for me. Nothing.”

  “You don’t have any children in the mix, do you?”

  “No.” Emilia bit her lip and hoped she sounded convincing. “I’m not able to have children.”

  Not that she would know. The one time she had given in to her desires and allowed a man to touch her intimately had not been enough to produce a child. Which was something of a relief. How would she ever explain that to her father?

  He still didn’t know. Nobody did. Not even Charlotte.

  Why are you even thinking about him now? Are you seriously thinking about that cad right now?

  It was a man much like Andrews who lied to me in the first place. Being in the room with him is not helping.

  Emilia could feel her heart racing as she waited. Andrews seemed to be regarding her with that blank look, his eyes drifting over her face. Her story had sounded plausible to her, and Emilia had recited it over and over again before she started out on her plan. She didn’t want to be caught out, and she was sure there would be moments where she would need to be perfect in her lines. But saying them out loud, it didn’t sound right to her ears. Her perfectly laid out explanation sounded...odd. She could only hope that Andrews took her answer, because Emilia was out of options.

  Peter had told her that Andrews was a clever man. Emilia would have to tread very carefully around him.

  “So, y
ou’re looking for work.” Andrews rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and tapped his fingers together. “And you think you’ll be a good employee. So, why did you choose me?”

  Here it came. Emilia hoped it sounded more convincing that a moment ago.

  “No one else will take me on, Mr. Andrews.” She shrugged. “I don’t know why not.”

  “Not everything makes sense in this world nowadays. As long as it benefits someone, if it doesn’t make sense or is even fair.”

  There was a slight change to his voice. A touch of something different. Hurt? Emilia peered at him. She could see something flicker behind his eyes, but then it was gone before she could fully see it.