“I’m sorry I teased Fred at hoops,” Annie blurted out, at the same moment Frederick stammered, “I shouldn’t have belched her name!”
“You’re not in trouble,” Jack assured them, although his smile felt hollow. If anyone was about to deliver a disappointment, it was him. He was both looking forward to and terrified by the idea of a woman under his roof, however platonically.
Earlier that year, when his children had been furious after witnessing a young lady make a flirtatious comment to their father during one of the castle assemblies, Jack had asked the twins if the idea of having someone new in their lives was truly so abhorrent.
Their answer had been an emphatic yes.
Of course, all three of them had been thinking the woman in question would be for Jack. This would be different.
As eye-achingly beautiful as Désirée le Duc might be, her visits would not be to see Jack, but to tutor his children. In fact, this was a step he should have taken long ago. He, like his twins, had been resistant to the idea of change, but changes would occur whether their family was prepared for them or not. A father’s job was to equip his children as best he could.
“I have a wonderful surprise.” Jack infused his voice with as much gaiety as he could. “You’re going to be lucky enough to have a governess!”
“No,” Annie said flatly.
Frederick crossed his skinny arms. “Absolutely not.”
It was as if his children had learned the art of refusal at the feet of the grand master Lucien le Duc.
“Yes,” Jack said firmly. “It’s settled.”
“It’s not settled.” Annie wrinkled her nose. “Do you know what kind of governess we’d like?”
“No governess,” Frederick finished without hesitation.
Annie lifted her chin. “Exactly.”
While it was lovely to see his children in agreement for once, this was not a fight they were destined to win. They needed an education. Jack could not devote his time to the business affairs that provided for their security and simultaneously spend his days at a slate in the schoolroom. Hence: governess.
But he did not want his children to feel they had no input into their own lives. So much had happened to them or been stolen from them that was outside their control. He never wanted them to feel that helpless again.
“Mademoiselle le Duc has agreed to act as temporary instructress while we hunt for a permanent governess. I have certain qualities in mind that the ideal candidate must fulfill, and I am certain the two of you will, too. We will make our final selection as a family. How does that sound?”
“Unnecessary.” Annie crossed her arms to mirror her brother. “I don’t need instruction. My friend Nigel says ladies aren’t expected to know things.”
Jack cleared his throat. What was the proper response here? That Nigel was a henwit? Or that Nigel was, in fact, absolutely correct that ladies were indeed not expected to know things, but a smuggler’s daughter was never going to be a lady, therefore aristocratic foibles did not signify?Thissmuggler had no intention of raising a willfully ignorant daughter.
“It doesn’t matter,” Frederick mumbled to his sister. “No matter who it is, she won’t stay.”
Ah. There it was. The true reason his children were anti-governess.
Not because they assumed they wouldn’t like her. But because they feared they wouldn’t get to keep her. Just like they hadn’t been able to hold on to their mother.
Jack’s chest tightened. He wished he could swear to them that everyone who entered their lives was there to stay. That never again would they fall in love with someone, only to have a fever or an accident or a change of heart rip them away.
All three of them knew better.
They were right not to get attached. Governesses came and went. Their post was, by definition, temporary. Once the children learned all that they could learn or reached a certain age—that was it. Goodbye. Never to see each other again.
Yet they couldn’t cloister themselves in the house, never allowing anyone in. He could not replace the mother they had lost, nor would he wish to try, but it was time the children learned that not all change was bad.Lifewas change.
“Tomorrow, we have a full day to spend however we like,” he informed them softly. “The following day, you’ll have your first lessons with Mlle. le Duc. You like her.”
“She’s not a real governess though,” Frederick muttered. “A temporary friend.”
Annie lightly punched his arm. “Maybe she doesn’t want to spend all day with you.”
He punched her back harder. “Maybe you’re the reason she can’t wait to go home.”
