More Than a Governess

There was an immediate commotion. The Major berated Gwendoline on her clumsiness and she burst into tears. Giles came forward to defend his sister, while Lady Varley bewailed the broken cup.

Juliana stooped to collect up the pieces.

‘Pray, Major, do not scold her. I am sure it was an accident. Master Giles, ring the bell and fetch a servant to clear up this mess, if you please.’ She rose, looking down at her wet gown and trying to hide her dismay. ‘Let me take the children upstairs, sir. It is their bedtime.’

He was still looking thunderous.

‘Very well. Leave them with Nurse and give your dress to Mrs Hartley. She will know what to do to clean it. You will then put on a fresh gown and come back here.’

Lady Varley stared at him. ‘Damon!’

‘Really, sir,’ stammered Juliana, ‘I should retire—’

‘You will come back, Miss Wrenn.’

His tone was implacable and she knew it was useless to argue. Closing her lips firmly, she nodded, took Wilhelmina by the hand and led the two girls out of the room.

Her silence as they went up to the schoolroom seemed to unnerve Gwendoline. She said, ‘It was an accident, you know.’

‘If you say so.’

‘Will the stain come out?’

What do you care? thought Juliana, and immediately scolded herself for being as childish as her charges. She said, ‘I hope so. I do not have the luxury of another silk gown.’

‘We could buy you one in Macclesfield,’ suggested Wilhelmina.

Juliana squeezed her hand and forced a smile. ‘Yes, we could. In the meantime, let us hope the housekeeper is as good as your papa says.’

She handed the children over to Nurse and went off to change into her only other evening gown, a cream robe with long sleeves caught up with lime-green ribbons. It was the last gown her father had bought for her, and she had been saving it for a special occasion. It occurred to her that there would not now be any special occasions, for a while at least. She threw a black silk shawl about her shoulders and looked at herself in the mirror.

‘Far too bright for mourning.’ She sighed. ‘However, he insists I return, so it will have to do.’

Pausing only to say goodnight to Amy and Thomas, who were already in their beds, she ran lightly down the stairs and back to the drawing room. There was a martial light in her eyes as she walked in, but the Major merely nodded at her and Lady Varley addressed her with unusual graciousness. ‘I have made more tea so that you may join us, Miss Wrenn. I was mortified at my niece’s clumsiness.’

‘No matter, ma’am. Mrs Hartley has taken the gown to clean it.’

‘You shall have a new one, I will buy it for you,’ announced the Major abruptly.

Lady Varley cast a sympathetic look at Juliana as she handed her a cup.

‘It is so simple for my brother, Miss Wrenn. He says he will buy you a new gown, as if there were any number made up, just waiting for you to choose one. You forget, Damon, that you leave town on Friday. Why, even Madame Fleurie could not turn out a decent gown in such a short time. Although I have been most surprised at her endeavours on my behalf this week—she called here today for a fitting and I had only chosen the muslin yesterday! And that reminds me, dear brother. I must crave your indulgence and ask you to let me stay on here for a few more days after you leave for the north, because my gowns are not complete, and although I have had word from Sir James, begging me to return as soon as ever I can, I really must stay in town until all my gowns are ready.’

‘Yes, yes, Louisa, but you are straying from the point. Surely you know where to buy a new gown for Miss Wrenn that she can take with her?’

‘Sir, I pray you, it is no matter,’ put in Juliana, distressed by so much attention. ‘I am sure there will be no lasting damage; besides, I will not be requiring such a gown again for some months.’

‘Well, you may leave one of your old dresses with me, Miss Wrenn,’ pronounced Lady Varley. ‘I will have my modiste make up another to fit and it shall be sent on after you. Not another word, Miss Wrenn, my mind is made up. Now, let us talk of something else—Damon, did you go to White’s today? I hear Meyler was there, telling everyone that Mr Brummell is quite done up.’

The Major frowned. ‘Aye, I saw him.’

‘I have never liked Meyler. Bad ton, I always thought.’ She refilled her brother’s teacup. ‘How has Mr Brummell taken it?’

‘I have no idea. He was not there.’

‘But this is not good enough, brother. I made sure you would know.’

The Major shook his head. ‘I admire Brummell’s style of dress, Louisa, not his way of living.’

Giles had been sitting quietly in the corner all this time, but now he came forward. ‘I thought you were one of his friends, Papa.’

‘Sufficiently so that I would not listen to Meyler’s accusations. However, it is for the Beau to refute them.’

‘And will he do so, do you think?’ asked Lady Varley.

‘With Brummell one never knows. He has come about in the past: we shall see what he does over the next few days.’

However, Thursday morning brought even more exciting news for Lady Varley. Juliana had already joined the Major and his daughters in the breakfast room when she came in, saying as she took her place at the table, ‘Damon, you will never guess! I have had word that Lady Maltby is in town. I must call upon her this morning.’

‘Must you, Louisa?’ asked the Major, helping himself to a cup of coffee.

Lady Varley gave a little sigh. ‘Of course I must. She is James’s cousin, you know, and I would not want to be thought backward in paying her any attention.’

‘Especially since she is a viscountess,’ he murmured.

‘And what if she is?’ retorted Lady Varley. ‘Family connections are important. I shall take Gwendoline and Wilhelmina with me, if Miss Wrenn will give them leave—Lady Maltby was very taken with the girls when she came to stay with us last year.’ ‘Ooh, yes, please. May we go, Miss Wrenn?’ asked Wilhelmina.

Gwendoline said nothing, but Juliana saw her hopeful glance.

‘Of course,’ she said, ‘if Major Collingham agrees.’

He shrugged. ‘If that is what you wish, Louisa…’

‘Damon, how can you be so tiresome! A connection with the viscountess could be very useful for the girls when it comes to finding them husbands.’

Major Collingham gave a bark of laughter. ‘Good God, I trust I have several years before I need to address that issue!’

‘One should always be prepared,’ replied his sister. ‘Now, come along, girls, finish your breakfast, for we must make you ready. Miss Wrenn, I do hope I am not interfering with your plans?’

‘Not at all. I have to collect some last-minute purchases, which I can do this morning while you are out.’

‘I will send one of the maids with you—’

‘Oh, there will be no need for that, Major,’ Juliana interrupted him quickly. ‘I shall have Thomas and Amy with me—there is no need for any other companion.’

The Major would not countenance Miss Wrenn and her family taking a hackney carriage and, as Lady Varley would be using the landau, he ordered his own travelling carriage to be made ready. This was a large, impressive vehicle complete with liveried servants hanging on the back, and Juliana was not surprised to see a group of ragged boys standing on the opposite side of the road, watching with interest as the carriage rolled away.

‘This is the carriage we shall be using for our journey,’ she told Amy and Thomas. ‘Miss Gwendoline and Wilhelmina will be travelling with us, while Nurse and the Major’s man will follow in the baggage coach.’