Preston’sheartpoundedfromthe moment she accepted the position of governess and during their walk to the carriage. It had only let up when he’d been able to escape conversation by riding beside the driver. However, the discomfort renewed as he assisted Miss Claywell from the carriage and hoped that his nervousness wasn’t noted. He’d dreamed of bringing her here, he just hadn’t anticipated that his nieces would accompany them, or that she’d arrive as a governess. However, Preston was not going to let this opportunity pass because these circumstances now presented an opportunity not afforded during a Season.
Winifred ran ahead of everyone and burst through the front door. “We have a governess,” she cried.
“Miss Winifred, what have we said about running in the house and yelling,” Mrs. Wilson, the housekeeper scolded.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Wilson. I was excited,” Winifred apologized not the least bit remorseful.
“Ah, the exuberance of youth,” Jackson chuckled. The man had been the butler in this household for nearly thirty years and should be pensioned off, except Jackson had refused the offer whenever it was made, which was now yearly.
The rest of his nieces filed inside and waited quietly in the entry for him and Miss Claywell.
“It’s true?” Mrs. Wilson asked eyeing Miss Claywell.
“Yes,” Preston answered and anticipated a private conversation later given the suspicion in his housekeeper’s eyes. She’d known him since he was a lad and despite him having inherited the title, still visited him with concerns when she thought he was erring in his duties to the girls or the estate. In this instance, it would be his bringing a stranger home when she knew that he hadn’t yet advertised for a governess.
“Mrs. Wilson, Jackson, may I introduce Miss Althea Claywell. She will be staying on as the governess for the time being.”
Mrs. Wilson then gave a nod. “We weren’t expecting you, but I’ll see that the governess’ room is prepared straight away.”
Jackson grinned. “Welcome to Ambrose Hall.”
“Thank you,” Miss Claywell murmured.
“Girls, why don’t you show her the way, and I’ll send a maid up directly,” Mrs. Wilson instructed.
“Come along, Miss Claywell.” Winifred grabbed her hand. “It has a lovely view and you’ll be close to us.”
He watched as Winifred pulled Miss Claywell up the stairs. Lila followed, clutching the small bag of lemon drops as if it contained gold.
Close to them? On the nursery floor? Preston had assumed she’d live on the floor where there were seven empty bedchambers available, preferably one close to his.
“Miss Claywell will reside in the governess’ room, which is attached to the schoolroom and near where the children sleep, as were your instructions before Miss Halton departed,” Mrs. Wilson reminded him.
The girls had been in transition from nursery maids to governess and nursery to schoolroom last year. The three youngest had still resided on the nursery floor with nursery maids while Delia and Matilda had been given rooms on the family floor, along with the governess, at the opposite end of where their parents had slept. As the girls had wanted to be together after their parents were killed, Preston saw to the nursery floor being fully converted to a schoolroom and suites for his charges. The only person who had been put out with the move was Miss Halton who wished to remain in her chamber on the family floor. She’d not been happy when she’d been forced to relocate her possessions. It wasn’t as if she were given a closet to sleep in. The rooms set aside for the governess contained a bedchamber, washing closet, and a small sitting room, and Preston suspected her true complaint had more to do with the location.
“Yes, of course,” Preston muttered. “Help Miss Claywell get settled, girls,” he said to the nieces who remained standing in the foyer. “I’ll be in the library.” He turned and marched down the corridor, though he could hear two sets of footsteps following him. One set belonged to Mrs. Wilson as she’d want answers. The other, he suspected was Delia who questioned all his decisions when it came to the girls, as if she were their mother.
“Uncle Preston, I don’t believe you’ve thought this through,” Delia began.
“I’ve mentioned several times that I intended to hire a governess,” he reminded her.
“Yes, but I also mentioned that it was not necessary.”
He took a deep breath. “Delia, I appreciate how you have seen to your sisters since the accident. However, you are not qualified to see to their education, especially since yours is not yet complete.”
She bristled. “I can learn anything that is necessary from reading and pass it on to my siblings.”
“Miss Claywell is not here to replace you, Delia,” he said softly. “Simply to educate. She and I have agreed to a month, and I’d like you to agree to the same. We will then determine if this is how we wish to go on. Can you do that?”
Delia pursed her lips, then gave a nod. “One month.”
With that, she quit the library leaving him alone with Mrs. Wilson.
“Please close the door as I don’t wish for others to hear our discussion.”
“What do you know of this woman?” she asked after returning to stand before his desk.
“I made Miss Claywell’s acquaintance in London and know her family,” he said. “The girls asked her to be their governess, and she agreed.”
