“Thank you so much, Mama.” Ophelia smiled. “Please pray for me.”
“I always do.”
Ophelia walked out of her room and hugged her sisters, quickly kissing Andrew’s forehead as he eyed her curiously. She waved goodbye to everyone and raced back towards where Mr Brown was waiting for her outside his office. Her nervousness was still intact, but she was determined not to allow it to ruin her chances.
If there was someone who would be able to secure the job, it was her. She had no other choice. She saw Mr Brown standing beside a rented carriage as she drew closer, and he perked up upon seeing her, beginning to wave her closer.
“Are you ready?”
“As ready as I have ever been.”
She climbed inside the carriage, with nothing but hope in her heart and her mother’s confidence. She knew she was doing the right thing.
Chapter 3
The day had been perfect, but Edward had still been unable to find any pleasure in riding. It almost felt as if everything he had enjoyed just two months ago had somehow turned stale and unusable. Everything he had once treasured was now sinking under the weight of his emotions, which continued to rule him wherever he went.
He left his horse with the groom and made his way towards the mansion, walking inside. Just as he passed by the drawing room, he could hear voices from inside. He had not invited anyone, and no one was bound to come see him, especially after the way he had been cutting off from the ton since Margaret’s demise.
He simply had no desire to meet with people.
“Who could it be?” he whispered to himself, taking slow, assured steps towards the drawing room, his gaze quickly falling on Mrs Bailey seated in front of a middle-aged woman. The middle-aged woman was dressed simply, but Edward had never seen her in the manor before. He moved a little closer, trying to listen in to the conversation going on between the two of them.
“Miss Phillips, your letter mentioned that you have held about five prior positions as a governess. Can you provide me with some details regarding them?” Mrs Bailey questioned.
Edward immediately understood. Mrs Bailey had informed him she would be conducting interviews to hire a nanny.
“Of course.” the other woman nodded. “I have worked as a governess for several members of the ton and have been employed for more than five years at each position. I took care of young girls and helped them with their basic education as they grew up into young women and went to either finishing schools or joined society as debutantes.”
“But you do realize that Miss Amy is just an infant, and you will be required as a nanny rather than a governess for the initial two years until she can finally begin learning something?”
“Yes, I realize that,” Miss Phillips answered.
Edward did not know why he was listening to the conversation when it did not concern him at all, considering he had already told Mrs Bailey that he did not care at all about this whole thing. Despite that, a part of him wished to know who was being hired as Amy’s nanny.
“So, how will you tackle such a position?” Mrs Bailey asked.
“I have taken care of young girls. I am sure caring for a child will not be any harder than that.”
Miss Phillips sounded much too old, and Edward was unsure if she would be the perfect fit for the nanny position. He knew he had no say in the matter, but he always imagined Amy being cared for by someone young and lively who could fill in the role of the young mother and provide the affection Miss Phillips clearly lacked. She sounded like a stern, disciplined woman who might not understand a child’s temperament.
Lost in his thoughts, Edward did not realize that the interview had already ended and continued to stand there until Mrs Bailey walked out of the drawing room, almost crashing into him, but she stopped herself at the right moment.
“My Lord?”
“Mrs Bailey.” He nodded at her, trying to appear as if he had not been listening in, but he knew the attempt was futile.
“I was unaware that you had already returned from your riding. You are usually gone for hours.”
“I did not wish to extend it today,” he replied, glancing at Miss Phillips, who stood silently behind Mrs Bailey.
Edward had been right. She was much too old and too stern to be able to take care of a child. Despite not being invested in the process, he wanted Amy to have someone who could at least laugh and make her laugh as well. Not someone who wouldsteal the joy out of the room. The manor was already dull and full of sorrow; he could not increase that curse.
“I was just conducting interviews for the nanny position for Miss Amy,” Mrs Bailey explained, and Edward nodded.
“I understand,” he replied, “I will be in my study.”
“If you can wait one second, My Lord?” she called out just as he turned away, and Edward stopped, looking at her curiously. He had never shared a sour relationship with Mrs Bailey, having been with her since he was just a child. She had been the mansion’s housekeeper for as long as he could remember, and he respected her immensely.
