“The governess. Now why am I not surprised? She is a schemer, Harrow, I did warn you.”
He sighed. “You are mistaken. Miss Harrismith came upon the fire, she didn’t cause it. Let us cease this ridiculous conversation. Allow me instead to tell you how eager I am for you to meet my children.”
“I am sorry. Please forgive me.” Greta poured Andrew a cup of tea and added lemon, just as he liked it. She handed him the cup and saucer with her pretty smile.
A footman admitted Miss Harrismith into the room. She led Barbara by the hand with William following. The governess ushered his children across the Axminister carpet. In their brushed and combed neatness they stood shyly before them. Andrew’s deep love for them caught at him chokingly.
He cleared his throat. “Greta, allow me to introduce you to my son and daughter, William and Barbara. Children, please greet Baroness Elsenberg.”
“How do you do.” Greta held out a hand to William.
William bowed, but made no move to take her hand.
“And this must be Barbara.” Greta quickly turned her face toward his daughter who had wobbled into a curtsey. “Your father speaks of you often. What a pretty kindchen you are.”
“What is that?” Barbara frowned and turned to the governess for an answer.
Greta put a hand on the aquamarine and gold necklace at her throat. “A kindchen is a baby girl, Barbara.”
Barbara looked shocked. “I am not a baby.”
“No, of course you are not. It also means a young girl.” Greta threaded her fingers through the gold chain.
Barbara edged closer. “That’s pretty.”
Greta sat up straighter. “Yes. It is very special to me.”
Barbara leaned against Greta’s knee. “Why?”
“It was a gift…” Greta shrugged and appealed to Andrew.
“It is bad manners to ask personal questions, Barbara.” Andrew noticed that Miss Harrismith had retreated to stand by the door.
“Why’s itpersnal?” Barbara asked.
Greta gave a strained smile. “Because your father said it was, my dear.”
Andrew tamped down a sigh. “Sit down, please, both of you. Have your afternoon tea. Miss Harrismith, will you assist the children?”
The governess hurried over. Murmuring to Barbara, she settled the child beside William on the sofa opposite Greta, and placed napkins in their laps.
Greta turned the conversation to a letter that had come from a mutual acquaintance of theirs. “They will be in London on Friday for only a short time,” she said. “I do hope you will spare a few days to dine with them.”
“I shall try to.” Andrew’s attention was caught by the governess in her demure gown, neatly cutting a portion of cake for Barbara, while quietly preventing William from overloading his plate. It reminded him pleasantly of their picnic by the river and he found himself smiling.
Greta sighed. “Please do, Harrow. The charms of the English countryside are all very well, but the company will be more entertaining in London.”
The governess whispered something in William’s ear. His son cleared his throat. “Are you fond of horses, Baroness?”
She turned to look at him. “But of course, Lord William. We kept an excellent stable in Germany.”
“Did you have some Holsteiners? That is a fine warm-blood breed,” William asked, his young face flushed with enthusiasm.
Greta raised her eyebrows. She shook her head with a laugh. “I didn’t much care what breed they were as long as they obeyed me when I rode them.”
William slumped in his chair.
Before Andrew could smooth things over, Miss Harrismith sat forward. “If you’ll permit me, Baroness. Lord William is most interested in the history of horses, particularly the Arab.”
