The Governess of Highland Hall (20 page)

“You look beautiful.”

Sarah smiled her thanks. “So you’ll wear the necklace?”

“Do you think Sir William would mind?”

“Not at all. He’ll be pleased.”

“All right, if you’re sure.” Julia fastened the necklace and adjusted it to center the jewels.

“That looks perfect.” Sarah checked her hair and smoothed her hand over one section. “Are you ready to go down?”

“Yes, thanks to you.” Julia took one last glance in the mirror and gently touched the amethyst necklace. “I do rather feel like a princess in a fairy tale.” If only there were a handsome prince waiting to meet her at the bottom of the stairs. She quickly banished that thought.

“All right then. Let’s go enjoy the evening.” Sarah looped her arm through Julia’s, and they set off.

William walked down the stairs and met Lawrence in the great hall. “Is my tie all right? Nelson nearly gagged me when he tied it, and I’m not sure it’s even.” William lifted his chin and faced the butler.

Lawrence narrowed his eyes. “I’ll adjust it for you, sir.” He gave one side a tug. “There, now it’s even.”

“Thank you.” William straightened his jacket and glanced around. “So, is everything ready for dinner?”

“Yes sir. We’re awaiting the arrival of your guests.” The butler glanced up the steps. “And the ladies of the house, of course.”

William smiled. “Yes, the young ladies often like to make a special entrance, but I’m not sure why Sarah isn’t down yet.” A flash of purple in the gallery above caught his eye. He turned and looked up. Sarah and Miss Foster descended the stairs. As they reached the lower landing, Miss Foster came fully in view, and his eyes widened.

She wore a stunning purple gown dotted with silver beads that sparkled in the gaslight. Her dark brown hair was fashioned in a much more elaborate style than she usually wore, and around her neck hung his mother’s amethyst and pearl necklace. The transformation was … amazing.

She smiled at him, her blue eyes sparkling. “Good evening, sir.”

William swallowed and nodded.

“Doesn’t she look lovely?” Sarah prompted.

“Why … yes. You look very nice, Miss Foster.”

She looked down, her dark lashes fanning against her flushed cheeks. “Thank you.”

“Lady Gatewood has arrived, sir.” Lawrence pulled open the heavy oak-and-glass door leading to the entrance hall.

Louisa Gatewood waltzed in, removed her cape topped with a white fur collar, and handed it to one of the footmen.

“Good evening, Lady Gatewood. It’s good of you to join us.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss my niece’s eighteenth birthday dinner.” She scanned the room and her forehead creased. “Where is Katherine? She ought to be here to greet her guests.”

Sarah glanced toward the stairs. “I’m sure she and Penelope will be down soon.”

Lady Gatewood ignored Sarah and shifted her severe gaze to Miss Foster. “It is your duty to see that the girls are ready for an important dinner like this. I don’t understand why you’ve come down without them.”

Miss Foster’s face paled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think—”

“Yes, that is the problem.”

William stepped forward. “See here, there’s no need to scold Miss Foster. The girls have a maid to help them dress, and they are old enough to be aware of the time.”

“Of course they have a maid, but they also have a governess, and it is her duty to prepare them for social events.” Her gaze shifted from Julia to William. “And I might add, I am quite surprised that Miss Foster has been—”

William had heard enough. “Please, Lady Gatewood, I am certainly capable of overseeing my own household. I do not need your instruction or permission to choose my dinner guests.”

Lady Gatewood’s mouth tightened. “There’s no need to take offense. I simply wanted you to be aware of how things are done at Highland.”

Heat flooded William’s neck and face. The woman’s audacity was unbelievable. He’d had more than enough of her meddling in his family’s affairs.

Miss Foster looked up at him. “I can go check on the young ladies if you would like.” Her expression and tone gave no hint that she had been slighted, but the color staining her cheeks made it clear that Lady Gatewood’s comments had hit their mark.

Sarah turned toward the staircase. “It’s all right. They’re coming now.”

“Miss Katherine Ramsey and Miss Penelope Ramsey,” Nelson announced from the gallery, and they turned to watch the girls descend the stairs.

Katherine appeared first, wearing a dark red dress decorated with black lace and beads. The silky material and slim silhouette made her look quite grown-up. Two large feathers had been pinned to the back of her hairstyle. He thought the feathers looked rather ridiculous, but he had seen many women wear them in London. Katherine gave a well-practiced smile as she reached the lower landing.

Penelope came down next, wearing a jade green dress with a fringe at the hem. With flushed cheeks and a pretty smile, she looked eagerly around the group, obviously hoping for their approval.

Their aunt greeted each of them with a kiss on the cheek and compliments on their entrance. Sarah joined them, but Miss Foster hung back, a touch of unease in her expression.

No doubt Lady Gatewood’s thoughtless words caused her hesitation.
Irritating woman!
He wished he could ban her from the house, but she was the only close connection his cousins had with their mother’s side of the family.

It was unusual to include a governess in a dinner party like this, but why
shouldn’t
Miss Foster be invited? She had many admirable qualities, and she was certainly prettier than any of the other women attending the dinner. If it were up to him, he would seat her in the place of honor on his right and see that she enjoyed the evening. But he had not thought to check the seating arrangements, and they could not be changed at this point.

He would have to look for some other way to support Miss Foster and see that she was treated well and enjoyed the evening.

Ann held her breath and crept down the backstairs. If she could just get past Mrs. Emmitt’s parlor and the kitchen, then she should be able to sneak out the back door without anyone seeing her. Mr. Lawrence and the footmen were upstairs in the dining room, preparing to serve dinner, so she shouldn’t run into them.

She slipped her hand in her apron pocket and wrapped her trembling fingers around the note Peter had given her that morning. He had passed it to her when she had gone out back after breakfast to put Andrew’s broken stool in the burn barrel. Just as she turned around to head back to the house, Peter stepped out of the stables and hurried across the courtyard toward her.

“Meet me tonight,” he whispered, then pressed the note into her hand and jogged back to the stables.

The sweet sentiments he had written melted her heart like wax before a flame. And though it was risky, she made up her mind to find him as soon as she could get away.

And why shouldn’t she? Julia had borrowed a lovely dress and gone to dinner with Sir William and his guests. She wouldn’t be back for at least two hours, and the children were fast asleep. No one needed her, and no one should care if she enjoyed a little time with Peter.

Conversation floated out from the kitchen where Chef Lagarde directed his helpers in the final dinner preparations.

Ann pressed her back against the wall and stole down the hall. Biting her lip, she slowly pushed open the heavy back door, thankful it was well oiled. The cool evening air washed over her warm cheeks, and she released the breath she had been holding. Overhead a full moon bathed the courtyard in silvery light. Keeping to the shadows, she made her way around the side of the house, careful not to topple the milk crates stacked near the alcove.

A cat howled. Ann slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her own
startled cry. She counted to ten, placed her hand over her heart, and tried to calm her racing emotions. It was all right. No one would see her. She would make sure of it.

After a few more seconds, she crept toward the stable, where a light glowed through the window and flowed out under the large, wooden sliding door. Peter waited for her there. Her heartbeat sped up, not in fear, but in anticipation of seeing him again.

A footstep crunched on the gravel behind her. Her heart jumped to her throat, and she froze.

A hand wrapped around her arm.

She gasped and tried to pull away, but the man grabbed her other arm.

She screamed and flailed about, trying to break free.

The stable door flew open. Peter burst out, his eyes blazing. “Let her go!”

Julia adjusted the napkin in her lap and took a small bite of the roasted potatoes. They tasted fine, but she had lost her appetite. With a sigh, she set her fork aside. She had come down to dinner hoping she would be welcomed like the rest of the guests, but Katherine had seated her at the far corner of the long table, next to Lady Mildred Covington, the mother of one of Katherine’s closest friends. The elegant, silver-haired woman hadn’t spoken one word to her since they had been introduced. Instead, she had directed all her conversation to the gentleman on her left. Lady Mildred’s elderly husband sat across from Julia. He had nodded to her a few times, but conversation was impossible since he was quite deaf. The only saving grace was that Sarah sat beside her at the end of the table.

Julia leaned forward slightly and looked to the opposite end of the table, where William was enjoying a lively conversation with Miss Theresa Farmington on his left and Dr. Matthew Hadley on his right.

William looked up and glanced Julia’s way. Their gazes held for an extra second. A slight line creased the area between his dark eyebrows.

Julia looked away and sat back, hoping he had not read the disappointment in her eyes. She appreciated the invitation to dinner and the chance to
wear Sarah’s lovely gown and necklace, but clothes and jewels could not erase the huge chasm that separated her from the other guests at the table.

Three seats down, on the opposite side of the table, Lady Gatewood smiled at her eldest niece, who was sitting across from her. “Katherine has made wonderful progress in preparation for the season. I’m sure she’ll be well received in London.”

“Thank you, Aunt Louisa. Your guidance has been very helpful.” Katherine turned to her sister. “Isn’t that true, Penelope?”

Penelope nodded and tried to smile, but she had just taken a big bite and was chewing furiously.

Lady Gatewood sent Penelope a disapproving glance.

The critical words Lady Gatewood had spoken earlier rose in Julia’s mind, turning her stomach into a churning stew.

Sarah leaned toward her. “Is everything all right? You’ve barely touched this course.”

“I’m sorry. Everything is delicious, but I’m already full.”

Sarah squeezed her hand under the table. “There’s just one more course. Then perhaps we can enjoy conversation in the drawing room with some of the other guests.”

Julia nodded and forced a smile.

Lady Covington looked across the table at Lady Gatewood. “I was so sorry to hear the Hartfords will have to sell Pipewell Hall. It’s such a lovely home.”

Lady Gatewood’s eyebrows rose. “Really? I hadn’t heard.”