She jumped into her brother’s carriage and ordered the driver to return from where he came from.
After bribing him with a velvet pouch, the horses galloped over the drawbridge.
She’d give him a second pouch if they drove even faster. A little voice told her she needn’t bother, for Gabriel wouldn’t come after her.
As the horses galloped over the drawbridge and Dunross Castle disappeared in the distance, Birdie knew, without doubt, that she’d lost him forever.
Chapter 22
“There’s a young woman here to see you, Madam.” Sally, the maid, stood in the doorway awaiting a reply.
Eleonore Hilversham looked up from her papers. She was in her early thirties, but the severity with which she pulled back her fine silver-blonde hair made her look older than she was.
She pursed her lips. “Name?”
“She wouldn’t say.” Sally was new and did not yet recognise the parents of pupils.
“Send her in, then.”
Miss Hilversham jumped out of her chair when a bedraggled figure staggered into the room.
“I didn’t know where else to go.” Her lips trembled.
“Birdie!” As Miss Hilversham embraced her, the girl burst into noisy sobs.
“There, there.” Miss Hilversham patted her head. “Calm yourself. Surely things are not as bad as that?” She gave her a handkerchief, and Birdie blew her nose noisily.
“You’re meant to be teaching at the Willowburys. Did something happen?” She drew Birdie to a chair. Birdie collapsed into it with a sigh.
“So much happened. I scarce know where to begin.”
Miss Hilversham sat behind her desk and steepled her fingers. “One best begins at the beginning, child.”
And so Birdie told her the entire tale.
After concluding the tale with her retreat from the castle, Birdie fell silent. Miss Hilversham took off her spectacles and rubbed her eyes tiredly. “I am, honestly, at a loss for words. You’ve always been my most sensible student. How you managed to get yourself into this fix is beyond me. But what is done is done. You’ve ruined your reputation hopelessly.”
Birdie blinked. “Reputation? To be fair, Miss Hilversham, that is the last thing on my mind.”
Miss Hilversham sighed. “You married under a false name. Did you think that marriage would be valid?”
“I didn’t think,” Birdie replied with a shaky voice. “At first, it was an adventure. A gorgeous adventure. And then, you know, I really enjoyed being married. I amgoodat being married. I was good at being a duchess, too. The people started trusting in me. Well, that is, the women and children. The men are a different matter, what with their smuggling and all that. But, Miss Hilversham, I thought I could have a future there. I could bring about change, improve their lives for the better… You must believe me. I completely forgot that it was all based on a deception, a lie. I—” Her shoulders shook, and she brought forth between sobs. “I love him so.” She wiped her cheek with the handkerchief. “And he despises me, which he has every right to.”
Miss Hilversham looked at her with a worried frown. “You need to rest, child. And then we will have to think about what path remains open to you. If you do not enjoy teaching, you will find little joy teaching at my school.”
Birdie smiled a wan smile. “I did not enjoy being a governess, working and living with the genteel families. But I very much enjoyed teaching the little ones from the village. They were unspoiled and hungry for learning and so grateful for everything I offered.”
“Yet I am not entirely convinced that teaching is your vocation.” Miss Hilversham tapped the tip of her quill on a sheet of paper. “We shall have to see. For now, Sally will show you a room. Go have a long nap.”
“Yes, Miss Hilversham.” Birdie curtsied, as they had been taught to do as students. Then she impulsively hugged her former teacher. Miss Hilversham patted her back gently.
After Birdie had left, the schoolmistress sighed. Then she stared at the paper in front of her.
With some resolve, she dipped her quill into the inkstand.
To the Duchess of Ashmore, Oxfordshire.
“Dear Duchess. My dearest Lucy…”
