“That I, the simple governess from Cheltenshire, played mistress to the Duke of Avondale. Your scullery maids were discussing it openly. It was only a matter of time. And I cannot blame you in full—we both made the choice to dally with one another without the promise of it becoming anything else.”
Suddenly, it all made sense. She had overheard gossip—he made a note to seriously reprimand them both—and had taken it upon herself to make the best of a bad situation. Or so she thought.
“Maribel, I wish you had waited. Had come to me. Because while I was gone with Marcus, I had come to a decision. One that impacts you, my simple little governess.”
Her eyes shot daggers at his choice of words, and he smiled at her ire.
“I will not be your mistress! I have confessed the true events to my mother, and she supports my decision to move abroad. I would not dare seek her support to lower myself to be your mistress.”
“For a clever woman, you are being quite dicked in the nob!” He raised his voice.
“Do not insult me in my own home!”
“Why not? You never held back in my home!”
“Why are you even here, Your Grace, surely this is beneath you!”
“I am here because I love you, you sharp-tongued shrew, and I want to marry you!”
“Oh.”
“Can I kiss you now, or would you like to argue some more?”
“Kiss me, Thomas, kiss me now and forever.”
“It is not only I who will need to be appeased,” Thomas told her. The carriage was nearing home, and he gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, his arm draped around her.
“I know. Is Clara still very cross?”
“Cross, upset, angry. And not just with you but myself as well. Naturally, she has blamed me for everything.”
“It truly clawed at my heart to say goodbye to her.”
“That is the past now, sweet Maribel. You are her present, you are her future, and I am certain that will be enough to gain her forgiveness.”
Surely enough, Clara waited for them at the open door, Mr Whiskers by her side. They both showed looks of scorn, the sting of her abandonment apparently still fresh. Maribel leaped from the carriage and ran to the pair. Pulling Clara under one arm and Mr Whiskers under the other she squeezed them with all her might.
“I am so sorry for the pain I have caused. I promise I will never leave again.”
“I guess we can forgive you, Miss Mari, but to be certain you do not do it again, I think you should write a letter of apology.”
Thomas bit his lip to refrain from smiling.
“You are absolutely correct. I should, and I will.”
Clara turned to Mr Whiskers and gave a nod of approval.
“If you have promised to never leave again, does this mean you will stay as my governess?”
“Well Clara, I have asked Maribel to marry me, so she will be your mother.”
Clara squealed in delight, clapping her tiny hands together.
“That means you can never leave me!”
“I am glad you feel this way, Clara, and I may become your mother, but I will still be your governess. To be learned is to be wise, Clara.”
“I have much more to learn, so I am very pleased, Mama Mari.”
