There stood the girls, holding hands—Maria, with her long black hair, light freckles across her nose, and her arm in a sling, and Rose, with hair a few shades lighter than Mr. Warrington’s and the same pale gray eyes. They eyed her cautiously, and then Rose smiled ever so subtly.
Cassandra’s heart softened immediately at the sight, and she knelt in front of them. “I am Miss Hale. I’m going to be your governess, and I very much look forward to all of the things we are going to do together.”
Rose leaned closer to her sister, eyes wide. “What are we going to do?”
“Well, we will read together and sew, and I can teach you the pianoforte. What do you think of that?”
Rose and Maria exchanged curious glances.
Cassandra reached for Rose’s hand. “I know what we can do right this minute. The day is fine out. I thought maybe the three of us could go for a walk together to get to know each other. Besides, I know of a game, a very special game, but it will require all three of us.”
Maria looked down to Rose and then nodded approvingly.
Encouraged by their agreement, she drew an energizing breath. “Then it is settled. Now you ladies will have to show me where you keep your capes and bonnets, for I’m also going to rely on you to show me where everything is.”
Cassandra could feel Mrs. Towler’s gaze boring into her as they walked away. She would have to tread lightly. She had no desire to make an enemy.
***
Laughter and happy chatter met James’s ears before he entered the nursery. And the sound was sweet.
Moments like this, sounds like this, made him think that the family could truly be happy again. And that was what he wanted—to live life again, out from under the shadow of grief. Elizabeth would always be a part of them, and the last thing he wanted was for anyone to forget her. But he’d meant what he said to Maria. Elizabeth would not want them to live in sadness.
He stood silently, listening so as not to miss a minute of it. Then he turned the corner to the nursery to see Maria, Rose, Miss Hale, and even Rachel sitting at the small square table. Baskets were strewn across the top of it, and on it was a pile of leaves and sticks.
It was a beautiful sight, really.
When he entered the room, both girls jumped to their feet andran to him. He swept Rose up in one arm and wrapped his other around Maria, careful not to jostle her arm. “Well now, how was your day?”
Rose wrapped her arms around his neck. “Look! Our new governess is here!” She wriggled down and bounced over to Miss Hale and grabbed her hand.
“I see.” His gaze fell on Miss Hale as she stood from the table. “Welcome to Briarton Park, Miss Hale.”
She curtsied in response, and before she could speak, Maria leaned with her good arm on the table. “Look at our collection!”
What initially had seemed like a haphazard pile when he had entered was really several piles separated into leaves, rocks, and sticks.
He sat in the chair to make a greater display of observing their work. “Ah, so I see! Tell me about it.”
Rose climbed up on his lap and picked up one of the smooth stones. “Miss Hale said we each had to find five leaves, five sticks, and five stones. None of them could be like any of the others we found. And they all had to be from our garden and fit in our baskets. See? This one is my favorite.”
“I hope you don’t mind such outside activities,” Miss Hale added quickly, twisting her fingers before her. “If you prefer that we remain indoors, we—”
“I think it’s wonderful. As long as they stay in the walled garden with you.” He bounced Rose on his knee. “What else did you do?”
He listened as the girls outlined their day, and warm satisfaction spread through him at their enthusiasm. After the girls finished, he left them to complete their sorting and approached Miss Hale, who’d been standing at the window, listening and watching. “Are you settling in all right?”
“Yes, I am. Your daughters are charming.”
He looked back at them, encouraged by the joy radiating fromtheir small faces. “Yes, they are. If you require books and so forth, just get a list to Mrs. Helock and she will see to it that they get ordered for you.”
“Thank you. I will.”
Miss Hale returned to the girls, and James watched for several minutes. Things were looking up for the Warringtons. And he did not want it to stop.
Chapter 26
Each day at Briarton Park divulged new revelations, leading Cassandra to believe she could indeed enjoy being a governess. She adored her young charges and discovered specific facts about them with each interaction. Maria enjoyed reading. Rose loved all things out-of-doors. Even Rachel, who no longer needed a governess, was becoming a friend.
