“Is this their governess?” She eyed me.
Mrs. Kellaway’s eyes lit up with dismay. She stepped up beside me. “I invited Peter and Charles here with theirsister, and my new friend, Miss Annette Downing.”
Miss Lyons gave a shocked expression. She put a hand to her lips, looking truly apologetic. “Forgive me, Miss Downing. You resemble the governess I had as a child. That is the only reason for my mistake.” Her voice was as milky smooth as her skin. When she raised her head, I was met by her icy blue eyes and a close-lipped smile.
I fought the warmth at the base of my ears. “It is no matter. You are not the first to make that mistake.”
She smiled, sharing a laugh with Alice. I held my brothers close, using their hands to anchor me.
Mrs. Kellaway introduced Alice to me, and then Miss Lyons. Alice had blue eyes and a charming smile like Owen’s. It seemed to be a Kellaway trait. She addressed me warmly. “I remember your parents quite vividly. You seem familiar as well.”
“I was the girl who fell from the tree,” I said, smiling.
She laughed. “Oh, yes! I hope you haven’t had a similar mishap during this visit.”
The waterfall incident came to mind, but I shook my head. “Thankfully I learned my lesson last time.”
Alice turned and looped her arm through Miss Lyons’s again, pulling her forward. “We shall all become the dearest of friendswhile you are here. I didn’t know my mother would have other guests. How long has it been since you arrived?”
“A fortnight.”
Her lips still held their smile, but her eyes flashed with surprise. “Mmm . . . how delightful.” She exchanged a glance with Miss Lyons before addressing me again. “The house has been quite empty, has it not? With Simon away at school, Owen is the only one of my siblings who has been living here. I hope he hasn’t been giving you trouble.”
I sensed a trap being laid. “Trouble?”
Alice laughed. “Well, heisa relentless flirt. Charlotte can attest to that.”
Charlotte’s smile was composed as she nodded. She did not appear concerned at all with the news that I had spent a fortnight under the same roof as Owen. I resembled her governess, after all. Standing there with two children in tow, wearing my old white muslin gown, I was not competition.
Mrs. Everard caught my gaze with a frown. The wrinkles on her forehead were deeper than usual.
Alice clasped her hands together in front of her and looked from side to side. “Where is Owen anyway?” she questioned, raising a delicate eyebrow.
Mrs. Everard stepped forward. “He is away at an estate . . . one that he has not visited for a long while.” She threw her granddaughter a look full of hints.
Apparently Alice understood, because her face lifted with disbelief. “When did he leave?”
“Late last night.”
Alice’s jaw dropped. “The day before our arrival?”
Mrs. Everard gave a sympathetic nod.
“I never would have expected him to go back!” Alice exclaimed. “At least not until…” Her voice trailed off, and shecast Miss Lyons a sneaky look. They both erupted into laughter. It must have been that secret joke again.
Miss Lyons’s face turned wistful with longing. “I was so looking forward to seeing him. Will he return soon?”
Mrs. Everard’s eyes glinted with mischief. “We haven’t any idea when he will be returning. It could be as much as a fortnight.” Her brow contracted. “Or was it a month?”
Miss Lyons and Alice shared a dismayed look.
“Why so distraught, dears?” Mrs. Everard asked with a tilt of her head.
Miss Lyons smoothed a hand over her hair. She cleared her throat. Even that sounded elegant. “I hoped to see him sooner than that.”
Mrs. Kellaway interrupted, casting her mother a frown. “I’m certain Owen won’t be away as long as my mother predicts. We don’t know what exactly called him away so urgently, but I fully expect him to return within a day or two.”
Mrs. Everard shrugged. “I presume his urgency had something to do with wedding arrangements.” I caught a twinkle in her eyes before she turned her attention back to Miss Lyons. “I know this may not be my news to share, but Owen made an offer to Miss Downing just before his departure. They are recently engaged.”
