“It’s not that…” Hugh looked out the window at the passing farmland. “Wh – what if he… I don’t know h – how to –to – to…” He grimaced and muttered under his breath as his hands shook.
Hugh had a stutter, one that came and went depending on the child’s mental state. When he was comfortable, it was nowhere to be seen. But as soon as he became nervous or afraid, he could hardly string two words together without getting tongue tied.
With all that was happening, English might as well have been his second language for how hard he struggled.
“Wh – what if he does – does – doesn’t like me?” Hugh asked. “Wh – wh – what ab – about my – my – my…” His chin started to wobble and tears began to well in his eyes.
On instinct, Yvette reached out and took his hand. She had never touched him before, as he always kept his distance from her. This time, as soon as she held his hand, she felt him relax, and she squeezed his hand in comfort as she found his watering eyes across the carriage.
Her smile was assured and friendly, and she knew it made a difference.
“You are worried about your stutter,” she said.
He nodded and looked away with embarrassment.
“How about this,” she began softly. “When we arrive, let me do the talking. It might sound strange to you, but I promise that His Grace is just as nervous as you are.”
He snorted. “No he isn’t.”
She laughed. “You would be surprised. This is new for him too, and he will have no idea how to behave around you. Perhaps he will be stuttering even worse than you are.”
That received a smile from Hugh.
“Let me talk for you,” she continued. “Let me feel things out. And regarding your stutter?” She shrugged. “So what?”
“So what?”
“You are his son…”Just saying it sounds insane!“He asked you to stay with him. Believe me, he will love you for who you are, not who you wish you were.”
Hugh forced a smile, but it was unsure this time. And for that, she could not blame him.
Yvette kept a hold of Hugh’s hand for the rest of the short journey, and she reminded herself that she was there for him. She did not care about the Duke. She did not care about being a good governess. She cared about protecting Hugh, whatever that might take.
They arrived at the manor shortly after, and when they did, Yvette and Hugh both scooted to the window so they could see the vast manor as it grew from the earth before them. It was a magnificent building, three stories tall, built of brick and marble, with large colonnades skirting the front, an enormous gardenbuilt around the driveway, and even a gate painted gold which swung open to welcome them through.
“Here we are,” Yvette said, still holding Hugh by the hand. “Are you ready?”
He smiled weakly, and she shared it. As nervous as Hugh was feeling, Yvette felt much the same. This was new to her; she had no idea what to expect, and fear was an ever-present emotion that she had to work hard to hide.
With all that has happened, I haven’t even had a chance to consider how I feel about this. My old life, gone. My new life… I have no idea!
The carriage came to a stop, and they were greeted outside by a footman. He bowed deeply and asked them both to follow him inside, which they did; Yvette held Hugh’s hand the entire way.
The front doors opened to a massive foyer with a ceiling that rose to the third story. It was fronted by a winding staircase, a fur rug ran along the floor, expensive paintings hung on the walls, and even Yvette’s beating heart seemed to echo across the vast chamber.
Her mouth hung open as she took it all in, and so distracted was she by the sheer opulence that she failed to notice the Duke standing at the top of the stairs.
“You made it,” he said, his voice like thunder. “How was the journey?” He started down the staircase toward them.
“Go – good,” Yvette stammered, her heart racing.
“Nothing untoward to report?” he asked.
“Nothing comes to mind.”
The Duke cut an intimidating figure. Tall and thick of body, his features dark, his expression stern, he held Yvette and Hugh in his powerful gaze as he made his way down the stairs. Each step he took seemed to rock the manor, and the closer he came, the more he grew in size and stature; he was like a tidal wave rising, readying to wash over them both.
Beside her, Yvette felt Hugh turn stiff with fear.
