Betsy shrugged. “You have been so melancholy and withdrawn. I did not wish to make you feel worse at the prospect of me leaving.”
Rowena’s face fell. Indeed, she was not ready for her best friend to depart her side. They had been so close for so many years, it felt as though Betsy was a part of her. And without her, she would certainly feel as though she was missing a limb. But she knew she could not show her friend her sorrow, for she had to let her go on her way, just as she had to go on hers. In any case, they would be friends for all of their lives, she was certain of it.
“Faith, Elizabeth Carmichael, do not be silly. I shall be as happy for you as you are for me.”
Betsy tilted her head to the side and frowned.
“As you wish. Lady Hazelshire has introduced me to a number of ladies in need of a governess and I am almost certain that I have a position with Lady Portsmouth.”
“Lady Portsmouth? That is wonderful news. I hear their home is magnificent indeed, and she is a nice young woman, only a few years older than us.”
The Portsmouth’s Estate was located in Bedfordshire, only one county over from where Crawford Castle, the Duke of Thornmouth’s country home, was located. She would be able to see her friend, though not as often as she’d like, but more than she’d feared. Her relief appeared apparent to Betsy, whose eyes widened.
“Do you know her well, then? It seems you do.”
Rowena shook her head. “I know her, although to say I know her well would be a lie. Margaret knows her. I believe they were quite friendly.”
“Faith, I had quite forgotten that Lady Dorset was from Bedfordshire. Of course, they would know one another.”
She glanced at her friend, an unspoken question on her face. Rowena smiled.
“I shall inquire about them once Margaret returns from Shropshire with Charles. I will find out more about the Portsmouths, do not worry yourself. When are you to start?”
Betsy shrugged, “I am to meet with her and the children this upcoming Thursday, after the ball. If it all goes well, then I am to start as soon as possible.” She paused and bit her bottom lip.
“What it is? You look as though you are not telling me everything.”
“I am not. It is why I was going to wait until after the ball. After you met the Duke and saw that your future is as bright as the sun.”
Rowena stopped. Betsy’s words did not comfort her at all. “Tell me, please.”
Betsy raised her shoulders and let them drop with some force.
“Lord Portsmouth does not wish to remain in London for all of the Season.They will be returning to their country estate next month, early June. And I am to go with them.”
“In June? That is only two weeks away. Faith, Betsy. I hoped we would at least have one last Season together before we each must begin these new chapters in our lives. Stroll the parks, eat sweets, go to the theater…who am I to do these things with if not with you, my best friend?”
“I know, I was ever so eager to go to the Menagerie with you once more. Alas, it cannot be helped. The Portsmouths are a very wealthy family and their children are young. I could have a secured position with them for many years. And it is so very near His Grace’s estate that we could see one another often.”
Rowena nodded and linked her arm with Betsy. She wet her lips.
“It is a wonderful opportunity, to be sure. If we must move on with our lives at least we will not be too far from each other.” She looked at Betsy and broke into a grin. “In fact, I had a thought. Maybe one day, when I have a child you can come and be my governess.”
Betsy’s eyes sparked. “Yes! Faith, yes. It would be glorious, would it not?”
Rowena could not help but giggle. “It would be. And perhaps it could be soon. I am to wed within the year. Perhaps within two years, God willing, there could be a child already. Once the child no longer needs a nurse, you can be their governess.”
They resumed their walk, both now carrying a content smile on their faces. The idea suddenly filled Rowena with hope for the future.
If I can have my dearest friend in my life, perhaps the idea of being wed to the Duke is not quite so frightening. As long as he agrees to let her come.
Rowena found herself totally mesmerized by the idea of having her friend become governess to her future child. It was almost as if, out of nowhere, she’d been handed a rope to keep herself above the water; to help her through these next few vexing days. Perhaps Betsy was right. The Duke could turn out to be a wonderful man with nothing on his mind but her happiness.
Perhaps after all the fretting and worrying, there was a light at the end of it all. For the rest of the afternoon, Rowena found herself light and hopeful.
* * *
That evening, Rowena was seated in the drawing room with Pugsley, her mother’s pug by her feet. She squinted at the embroidery project she had been working on for the past fortnight and shook her head. Noticing imperfections in the tulip she’d been stitching, she shook her head. It was useless, she had no talent for it. She turned the project around and began to pull out the stiches she’d spent the last hour inserting.
