“He has a governess. I met her once. She seemed quite capable.”
“You know that isn’t what I mean.”
Did she? He could not mean—Her mouth felt instantly dry.
“Mr. Harris. I am not sure my presence in your home would be in Edmund’s best interest. I fear word about me has circulated, rumors at least. Many of your acquaintance do not hold me in the same esteem they once did.”
“You do not supposemyesteem has been affected by all this.
How could it be?”
She lowered her head. “No, but it might not reflect well on Edmund. Nor you.”
“So be it. I refuse to be driven by the opinions of others any longer. You have no idea how often I have thought of you, grieved for you. Forced to work in a post beneath your station. Torn away from your family and friends—your child, worst of all. What a burden it has been, knowing it was all my doing. Do you think you might ever find it in your heart to forgive me?”
Charlotte answered quietly, “I have forgiven you. Long ago.”
“Then, this is my chance—do you not see? At last I am able to right my wrongs as best as I can.”
“You need not feel obligated. I have a comfortable place here.”
“Charlotte, this is not about obligation.”
She rose quickly, clutching her hands and walking away from him. She was trembling with nerves, afraid to presume. To hope.
“Are you asking me to be Edmund’s governess?”
She heard him bolt from his chair behind her. “Blast the governess, Charlotte. Edmund has that. He needs ...”
She turned around to face him.
“He needs you.”
Her heart ached at the words.
He stepped closer. “And not only Edmund. I—”
The sitting room door opened and Daniel strode in, pulling on a glove. “Charlotte, have you seen my other—Oh ...” He glanced up and stopped abruptly, looking from Mr. Harris to Charlotte and back again.
When he said nothing for several awkward seconds, Mr. Harris said, “Hello, Taylor.”
Daniel paused, breathed in and exhaled before responding.
“Harris.”
“Forgive the intrusion, old boy.” Mr. Harris smiled and added lightly, “I have just been trying to persuade Miss Lamb here to make young Edmund and I the two happiest males on earth.”
His smile faded, and it was his turn to look from Charlotte to the other man. “That is, unless you ...” He swung his gaze back to Charlotte. “You two are not ... You have worked for him so long with no word, I just assumed ... But ...is therean understanding between you?”
Charlotte’s face burned. She found it difficult to breathe. She could hardly raise her head, let alone meet the gaze of either man.
It was not her right to speak first. But Daniel remained silent. Finally, she lifted her eyes to meet his. He looked at her a moment, his chest rising and falling in exaggerated effort. And although he answered Mr. Harris’s question, his eyes remained fixed on hers when he said, “No. There is no understanding.”
They stared at one another a moment longer. Then Daniel nodded curtly to Harris, said dully, “I wish you both the best,” and quickly bowed and left the room.
Once he was gone, Charles said, “Forgive me. I did not intend to put you on the spot in that manner. I fear there is something between you after all.”
“There is a great deal between us.” Charlotte sighed, stepping to the window and watching as Dr. Taylor appeared on the street below and strode away. “We have been friends for nearly as long as you and I have been. I was there when his wife died, and I have nursed and cared for his daughter for more than three years. But he spoke the truth. There is no understanding between us.”
