Page 16 of The Wedding-Crashing Duchess

Miss Mendel hesitated. “She does not see many children, Your Grace, but she has mentioned the children she sees from the carriage when they pass through the village and asked whether they have lessons as she does.”

“And what did you tell her?” he asked again.

“That many of them do, although not always with a governess.”

“Has she said anything else?” Ronan nodded.

Miss Mendel’s fingers twisted together, and he could sense the hesitance.

“Speak plainly,” he said.

The governess swallowed. “Lady Sarah asked why the children in the village play together while she must play alone.”

The answer landed harder than Ronan expected, and a certain guilt occupied his mind immediately.

Playing alone.

It was not something that he had wanted for his daughter, but there was little else that he could do. She didn’t have a sibling, nor any cousins who could come spend time with her. It was a lonely childhood, and that was something that he knew from before, but it was now confirmed to him that his daughter felt the same way.

He looked toward the small table in the corner, where Sarah’s wooden animals had been arranged in a neat row.

Ronan turned back to her. “Why was I not told?”

“I did not mean to conceal it.” Miss Mendel’s face went pale. “I only thought.. that you would not wish to be troubled with such a small matter.”

“My daughter’s loneliness is not a small matter.”

“No, Your Grace. I did not mean that it was. I only meant that you are occupied with your duties, and therefore not to be disturbed with such domestic matters. I thought perhaps Lady Sarah might grow out of it, as children do.”

“Loneliness is not a childish habit,” he said, gritting his teeth.

Ronan knew his tone was severe. His father had taught him that a duke ought to speak with certainty and never force others to wonder whether he meant what he said.

Of course, he knew that the governess could not be blamed for any of this. After all, how was it her fault that his daughter had no siblings, or friends that she could play with? But at the same time, she was the person who was responsible for taking care of her, and therefore, it only felt fair that some responsibility fell on her as well.

“How often does Sarah ask for me?” he said.

The governess looked up, surprised. There was a hesitation in her, and the duke wondered if she was scared to answer the question truthfully.

“You may answer honestly,” he said after a moment.

“Not very often, Your Grace.”

The words affected him more than he showed, and a part of him wondered if his daughter was scared of him, too.

Ronan reached for the chair beside him, intending to sit for a moment while they discussed Sarah’s lessons in greater detail. His cane slipped slightly against the polished floor, and he tightened his grip upon it. The governess’s face drained of colour and she flinched.

“I beg your pardon,” she stammered. “I did not…”

“Do you believe I intended to strike you?”

“No, Your Grace.”

Ronan looked down at the silver raven beneath his palm. In the last several days, the object had become the centre of more fear and suspicion than it had inspired in all the years he had owned it. First Augusta Cluett had used it as proof that he was a murderer. Now his daughter’s governess behaved as though he might wield it against her.

He raised his gaze to Miss Mendel. “Do you wish to leave my employment?”

Her eyes widened. “No, Your Grace.”