More Than a Governess. Sarah Mallory

He crossed one elegantly shod foot over the other. ‘One thing is certain: the diamonds have not been sold. I have my contacts in the markets and there is not a whisper of such fine stones being available.’

      ‘What is their value?’

      ‘Enough to buy and fit out a ship to take Bonaparte off St Helena.’ He studied his wine glass. ‘I was going to ask you to help me track them down.’

      ‘Alas, Rick, I am leaving town on Friday. Besides, I am no longer in the army.’

      ‘True, but you do have an uncanny ability to ferret out information. Oh, never fear, I have some very clever fellows looking for these gems, so I shall find ’em.’ He finished his wine. ‘Now, you had best take me to meet the lovely Louisa, since I am joining you for my dinner.’

      Nurse and the children were gathered in the schoolroom when Juliana went in, and she found herself facing a row of expectant faces.

      ‘Tomorrow,’ she announced, ‘we are going shopping. We shall make a list of everything we need for the schoolroom; we seem to be especially deficient of books.’ She saw their horrified looks and burst out laughing. ‘Do not look so shocked, it will not be so bad, I promise you.’ She swept Amy up into her arms. ‘There will be plenty of time for playing games, too.’

      ‘Miss Sevenoaks said games were for babies,’ scoffed Gwendoline.

      ‘Then I pity her pupils,’ chuckled Juliana. She looked around as the door opened.

      A young man walked in. Despite his light brown hair he was so much a younger version of her employer that Juliana guessed immediately his identity. His first words confirmed it.

      ‘My father said I should come up and make myself known to you. I am Giles Collingham.’

      Juliana immediately brought her brother and sister forward to be introduced.

      ‘You have been with your friends today, I understand?’

      ‘Yes, which is why Papa has said I should join you for dinner, and get to know you, since we will be travelling together.’

      ‘Oh, poor you.’ Juliana gave him a sympathetic smile. ‘How dull for you to be consigned to the schoolroom.’

      Giles coloured a little. ‘Yes, well, it is not so bad, you know.’

      ‘I am sure you would prefer to be dining with Papa when you know who is with him,’ put in Gwendoline as they took their places for dinner. She cast a quick, triumphant look around the table. ‘Sir Richard Mondwyck! Nelly told me he walked in, bold as brass, and directed Fraser to set another place for him.’

      Nurse tutted. ‘Now, Miss Gwendoline, you should not be listening to servants’ gossip, nor repeating it, neither.’

      ‘I’ll wager Aunt Louisa will be in high dudgeon,’ grinned Giles, ignoring Nurse’s mild strictures.

      ‘Oh, he will turn her up sweet,’ returned his sister, giggling. ‘She thinks he is a charmer.’

      ‘Enough, if you please,’ said Juliana firmly. ‘Such talk shows little respect for your aunt or your father’s guest.’

      Giles flushed and Gwendoline scowled across the table at her governess.

      Wilhelmina looked up. ‘Sir Richard was in the Peninsula with Papa, was he not, Giles? But he was only a mister then.’

      ‘He was knighted last year, for services to the country,’ said Giles. ‘Father says he is an intelligence officer, collecting information against our enemies.’

      ‘A spy!’ Gwendoline’s eyes grew round.

      ‘If he is, then it is perhaps best we do not talk of it,’ responded Juliana. ‘Wilhelmina, shall I help you with your napkin?’

      Juliana thought back to Sir Richard’s visits to her father, the bound notebooks and closeted meetings. Suddenly, it all seemed to make sense.

      While the soup was being served there was a sudden clatter to Juliana’s right, where Wilhelmina was sitting.

      ‘Oh, dear, Minna,’ said Nurse. ‘You have dropped your spoon.’

      ‘I’ll get it!’ Gwendoline was out of her seat and racing around the table.

      ‘Gwendoline, there is no need,’ Nurse expostulated mildly. ‘Really, dear, do stop waving your arms, your napkin is almost in Miss Wrenn’s face.’

      With mumbled apologies Gwendoline returned to her place. Juliana picked up her spoon, but as she was about to dip it into her soup she stopped. There, in the middle of her bowl, was a small, black beetle.

      She heard Wilhelmina stifle a giggle. Across the table, Gwendoline was addressing herself to her food, a picture of innocence. Juliana put down her spoon and began to talk to Nurse on some unexceptional topic until the soup bowls were removed and she could help herself to one of the other dishes on the table.

      As soon as the meal was over, Giles excused himself and went downstairs, but Juliana waited until she received word that the gentlemen had joined Lady Varley in the drawing room. Nurse promised to take care of Thomas and Amy, and Juliana glanced at her two charges to make sure they were looking neat and tidy.

      ‘Very well, shall we go?’

      As they went down the stairs, Juliana let Wilhelmina run on ahead while she moved a little closer to Gwendoline.

      ‘That was a very neat trick you played at dinner—no, please do not deny it. Where did you find the beetle, in the schoolroom?’

      Gwendoline tossed her head. ‘Yes, if you must know.’

      ‘Well, let me warn you, Gwendoline, that I will not be put off by your tricks or stratagems. Your papa has engaged me until the end of September and I do not intend to give up this position, however unpleasant you try to make it.’ She glanced down at the mutinous little face beside her. ‘Please try to make the best of it, Gwendoline—the time will pass much quicker if we work together. And remember that I have a younger brother and sister, so I have a few tricks of my own.’ She lowered her voice, ‘Beware how you get into bed tonight!’ She laughed at Gwendoline’s quick, alarmed glance and patted the girl’s arm. ‘Come, Gwendoline, cry friends with me; I am not an ogre, I promise you.’

      They had reached the drawing room and Juliana took Wilhelmina’s hand. The footman threw open the door and, with a bright smile pinned in place, Juliana escorted her charges into the room.

      Lady Varley greeted the schoolroom party with regal graciousness and called the children to her. Juliana would have taken a seat in one corner of the room, but Major Collingham beckoned her forward.

      ‘So you have spent your first day with my girls, Miss Wrenn.’ He led her to a chair next to Sir Richard. ‘I hope they have been no trouble?’

      She saw Gwendoline look up quickly, and gave her a reassuring smile. ‘I think we are in a great way to understanding each other, Major.’

      Even if she had not made peace with Gwendoline, it was, she hoped, a truce.

      ‘And you are to accompany the family to Blackthorpe Hall, Miss Wrenn,’ said Sir Richard. ‘I hope you have a strong constitution. Collingham here likes to travel at a fearsome pace.’

      ‘The children’s needs will dictate our progress,’ returned Juliana calmly.

      ‘I have already allowed for it,’ nodded the Major. ‘Brasher has written to the hotels where we shall stay. He will go on ahead with Benns to check the accommodation personally, and they will then travel on to Blackthorpe.’

      Lady Varley looked up. ‘You are sending your valet on ahead, Damon? Is that wise?’

      ‘My dear Louisa, I am quite capable of dressing and shaving myself, you know,’ retorted the Major. ‘Besides, we shall only be on the road for three nights.’

      Sir