Page 48 of Courting the Country Miss

“Of course, my lady.”

The former-thief-turned-footman, thanks to Mrs. Goodfellow’s agency and Elizabeth’s dogged belief in the man, worked a tinderbox. As he leaned forward, Leticia caught sight of a pistol tucked into his breeches. A pistol? She caught Elizabeth’s eye and nodded toward the firearm in an unspoken question.

Elizabeth smiled down at the man. “Cooper always carries a gun when he leaves the house with me.”

Cooper grunted. “Can’t be too careful. Spec’ly after th’ trouble las’ year.”

Leticia nodded, picturing the burly servant helping Tristan and Captain Kensington rescue Richard from the terrible men who’d captured him. No doubt his caution sprang from a loyalty to his mistress who had given him a second chance, in addition to the scare they’d had when Elizabeth had nearly been captured as well. But then, Elizabeth’s gentle nature inspired devotion from everyone who knew her, both servant and lord.

Cooper blew on a flicker in the hearth. A moment later, a flame crackled. A humble knock sounded at the door in the other room and Cooper hurried to open it. A girl barely out of the schoolroom entered and stood in the threshold. Golden-blonde hair peeked out of her limp bonnet and eyes as blue as a china doll’s stared at them through a thin face. Her threadbare pelisse hung from her body. Leticia wanted to hire her to save her from starvation. The young woman gripped a ragged valise as if it contained all her possessions.

She curtsied and spoke in cultured tones at odds with her appearance. “Ma’am. I’m Matilda Harper—Mrs. Harper.”

Leticia motioned her in. “I’m Miss Wentworth and this is Lady Averston. Do come in.”

They sat on the hard wooden chairs and Leticia began. “In your letter, you mentioned you were a governess?”

“Yes, ma’am. After my husband died in the war, I worked as a governess. I have no children,” she hastened to explain as if fearing having children would render her unsuitable.

“Have you references with you?” Elizabeth asked.

Young Mrs. Harper paled. “No, ma’am. I’m afraid I haven’t.”

“None at all?”

Mrs. Harper wrung her hands. “I left under…unfavorable circumstances.”

“You were dismissed?” Leticia asked.

“No, ma’am—I left.” She swallowed and kept her gaze on the floor.

“You left without giving notice?” Leticia exchanged looks with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth leaned forward and eyed the girl. Two bright spots appeared on the girl’s cheeks and her shoulders fell.

“Mrs. Harper.” Elizabeth’s voice gentled. “Did you leave because you were handled roughly?”

The girl’s mouth pressed together and her chin started quivering.

Anger roiled up inside Leticia. “Your employer took advantage of you?”

Mrs. Harper snuck a look up. “I rebuffed him. Over time, he grew so forceful that I felt I had no choice but to run.”

Elizabeth clenched her hands in her lap. “Do you have anywhere to stay?”

“No, ma’am. I have no family.”

“We can offer you a room in which to sleep, rent-free, until we’ve made a decision.”

The girl looked up, hopeful. “Here?”

“No,” Elizabeth said. “I wouldn’t want you to stay here alone; our caretaker has not arrived yet. You’ll come home with me. We aren’t promising you a position yet; we have other applicants to interview, but I vow you won’t sleep in the streets.”

Leticia almost hugged Elizabeth. Fortunately, Richard owned many lucrative estates and investments, or he’d never be able to feed all the lost waifs his wife kept bringing home.

“Now, let’s discuss your education.” Leticia glanced at her notes with her interview questions.

During the interview, they learned the girl had a solid education and an infallible memory. She’d worked as assistant teacher at a factory school in the north where she’d received her education before she married. After her husband of two months died, she’d become a governess to seven children for nearly a year.