Rules of Surrender (2 page)

Only after she had placed the tray, laden with small cakes and a variety of biscuits, on the table and turned her cool green eyes on Adorna did Adorna realize why Miss Setterington had recommended her.

Lady Charlotte was cold, untouched by human affection or need, and she would do her duty unswayed by appeals for mercy or arrogant demands for explanations.

Yes. She might do.

”Lady Ruskin, a pleasure to meet you.“

Her low voice was perfectly modulated, and her curtsy, Adorna noted, was a precise illustration of what a curtsy should be. She remained erect, awaiting Adorna’s permission to sit, and as Adorna studied that upright figure, she discovered in herself a wayward longing to leave Lady Charlotte standing indefinitely.

She didn’t, but extended her hand, wanting to touch the lady’s skin and see if the frigidity extended through her flesh. Lady Charlotte’s handshake was firm and warm, and when Adorna held on to her hand the extended contact did not shake her composure.

Little did, Adorna suspected. ”Sit down, Lady Charlotte. Let us have tea.“

Lady Charlotte sat, but with such rigidity Adorna would have sworn her spine never touched the back of the chair.

While Miss Setterington poured, Adorna said, ”Miss Setterington said you had nine years’ experience, yet you seem too young to have worked for so long.“

”I began my career at seventeen. Miss Setterington has my references on file for your inspection.“

So Lady Charlotte was twenty-six. Older than she looked, young and beautiful, yet strong and resolute. Yes, yes, she really might do. Adorna said, ”I have been told you are the famous Miss Priss who has prepared debutantes to take their bow in society. Thus I find myself wondering if you would wish to take on my grandchildren. Robbie is ten, and Leila is eight. If you prefer working with adolescents…“

”Ten and eight. Robbie and Leila. What lovely names.“ Lady Charlotte smiled, and for the first time Adorna observed a softening. Then the chill settled over Lady Charlotte once more. ”To answer your question, my lady, I’m weary of my unsettled lifestyle. I’m an organized, disciplined woman. I wish to live an organized, disciplined lifestyle. Why must I go from place to place, teaching young men and women the intricacies of dancing, table manners, flirting and pianoforte, only to have my astounding successes awarded with dismissal when they have no further need of me? I am not saying your grandchildren will not learn those skills, my lady, but only that I will start with them sooner and have the chance to teach other things, too. Reading, geography, languages… but the boy will have a tutor.“

”Not yet.“ Adorna accepted her tea and confessed the least of her problems. ”My grandchildren have lived abroad all their lives.“

”Abroad?“ Lady Charlotte arched her brows.

Adorna ignored the delicate inquiry as to the place. ”They are, I’m afraid… savages.“

Miss Setterington looked startled at such an un-grandmotherly statement, but Lady Charlotte said, ”Of course they must be. The lack of a stabilizing English influence will have worked against them. As the eldest, I suppose the son is the worst.“

”Actually, no. Leila is…“ Adorna thought of that wild child and words failed her.

Lady Charlotte nodded. ”The demands on a girl in the
ton
are much more extensive, while the freedoms are much curtailed. She’s probably rebellious.“

Her insights astounded Adorna, and Adorna began to see how this Lady Charlotte had tamed and trained so many defiant youths. ”Rebellious. Yes. And angry, I think, to have left her home.“

”Is there something she liked to do there she could do here that would help with her adjustment?“

”She rode horses, apparently very well, but not sidesaddle, and she will not allow us to seat her without her legs astride. She says it is a stupid position.“

Charlotte nibbled at her lip. ”How about the boy? What does he like to do?“

”He likes to throw knives.“ Adorna pleated her skirt. ”Into my imported French wallpaper.“

”Why?“ Miss Setterington asked, looking properly appalled.

”Because the decorative roses made a proper good target.“

To Charlotte’s credit, she didn’t show a flicker of amusement. ”He’s good with a knife, then.“

”Excellent,“ Adorna said gloomily. ”As their governess, Lady Charlotte, you’ll be in charge of explaining our ways to the children, helping them adjust, teaching them manners and, as you said, reading and geography, and“—Adorna took a breath—”all must be done quickly.“

Lady Charlotte sipped her tea, her little finger crooked at the perfect angle. ”How quickly?“

”Before the end of the season, I am to host a reception for the Sereminian royal family during their official visit to England, and the royal children will participate. Therefore, my grandchildren must participate.“

Miss Setterington’s teacup rattled as she set it down. ”That’s three months.“

”So it is.“ Lady Charlotte set down her cup, also, but it did not rattle. ”So let me understand you, Lady Ruskin. If I train your grandchildren to behave like civilized Englishpeople in three months, your plan is to keep me on as their governess until Leila makes her bow.“

”That is correct.“

”That’s ten years.“

”So it is, but this first three months will irrevocably try your patience.“

The slightest of a patronizing smile touched Lady Charlotte’s lips. ”With all due respect, Lady Ruskin, I believe I am capable of handling two small children.“

Adorna knew she ought to tell the rest. She ought to. But really, Lady Charlotte would find out soon enough, Adorna needed her too much—and besides, Lady Charlotte’s vainglorious smile made Adorna itch to remove it.

Adorna knew how to salve her guilty conscience, and she did so by offering a magnificent salary.

In this matter, Miss Setterington proved her worth, asking for a finder’s fee which took Adorna’s breath away.

”This guarantees your complete discretion?“ Adorna asked.

”This guarantees everything.“

Adorna rose, and the other women rose with her. ”Lady Charlotte, I’ll send a carriage for you at eleven. We go to Surrey, so we shall arrive by late afternoon.“

Adorna had not thought it possible, yet Lady Charlotte stiffened more.

But she said only, ”I look forward to the journey, my lady.“ And she curtsied as Adorna took her leave.

Charlotte and Hannah stood silent and listening as Lady Ruskin’s footsteps crossed the foyer. They waited as Cusheon fetched her wrap and bowed her out the front door. Even after the door shut behind her, they lingered, wanting to make sure she had truly gone. Then—

Hannah released a whoop. Wrapping her arms around Charlotte’s stiff back, she danced her across the room in an excess of joy.

Charlotte laughed, a creaking and seldom-used reflex, and let Hannah whirl her around.

From the back of the house, they heard the patter of running feet, and Lady Temperly burst in. But while this Lady Temperly wore the same heavy clothing, she held the veil in her hand, and her face was that of a young and handsome woman. ”Did we do it?“

”We’ve done it. We’ve done it!“ Hannah sang.

”She hired Charlotte? She’s going to pay the placement fee?“

”Yes, Pamela, she did and she is.“ Charlotte still smiled. ”A hundred pounds! Hannah never even flinched when she asked for it.“

Miss Pamela Lockhart tossed the veil in the air and joined in the dance.

Still sober and proper, Cusheon entered and when they halted, out of breath, he said, ”If madams are ready, I would be happy to pour the celebratory toast.“

”Yes, oh, thank you, Cusheon.“ Hannah’s brown eyes sparkled as the old butler dusted off the bottle of brandy, opened it and poured them each a ladylike measure. ”Please take some yourself. We never could have done this without your help.“

Bowing, Cusheon complied. ”Thank you, madam, but you know Cook and I are most hopeful your venture will succeed. At our ages it would be difficult to find another position.“

”We will succeed. I know it,“ Pamela said.

”I know it, too, madam.“ Cusheon lifted his glass to them, then took a drink and slipped out.

They imitated Cusheon, lifting their glasses.

”Here’s to the real Lady Temperly,“ Hannah said. ”God rest her generous soul.“

”Here, here.“ Charlotte took a sip and grimaced. ”I hate brandy.“

”Drink it anyway,“ Hannah said. ”It builds blood.“

Pamela laughed at Hannah. ”That’s an old wives’ tale, and you are neither old nor a wife.“

Now Hannah grimaced.

Charlotte’s gaze grew troubled as it swept Pamela’s deceptive garb, and she picked up the veil and fingered it. ”Are you sure this artifice was necessary?“

Among the three friends, Charlotte was always a stickler for absolute truthfulness. Hannah and Pamela exchanged glances, then together went to work on once again convincing Charlotte they had done the right thing.

Pamela began. ”You know we agreed on this. We simply gave the illusion of success to ease any uneasiness our first client may have experienced.“

”We’re starting a new venture, and we must succeed or we’ll lose this townhouse.“ Hannah gestured around her. ”Lady Temperly left it to me, but there’s no money. Do you want me to have to sell from lack of funds?“

”No, but—“

”We have seized our good fortune.“ Hannah wrapped her arm around Charlotte’s shoulder and walked with her toward the fire. ”In this house, we have a place to train and place other women who have need of a position. As proprietresses of the Distinguished Academy of Governesses, we pass on our knowledge
and
entice the
ton
into paying us a placement fee for our students.“

Charlotte sank into the chair. ”But we’re not who we say we are.“

”We are, too.
You
are Lady Charlotte Dalrumple, also known as Miss Priss for your mastery in teaching adolescents the proprieties.
She
is Miss Hannah Setterington, companion to the much-traveled Lady Temperly until her death a mere month ago.“ Pamela struck a pose. ”And I am Miss Pamela Lockhart—or will be once I’m out of these clothes.“

Charlotte still looked doubtful.

”Charlotte, I have ten years of experience with children,“ Pamela said earnestly. ”Hannah really was Lady Temperly’s companion. We have the qualifications to do what we plan to do.“

”Once we find employment for ourselves and build up a few fees, we’ll be able to help other women who, like us, have nowhere to go when the term of their employment is finished.“ Hannah knew that would clinch the argument for Charlotte. It clinched the argument for all of them. ”Such a small deception as we visited on Lady Ruskin is worth that, surely.“

”Yes.“ Charlotte squared her shoulders. ”When this business is established, everyone will benefit.“

”That’s right. And I’m sure your megrims are because—“ Hannah broke off.

Pamela couldn’t leave it at that. ”Because why?“

Taking a gulp of the despised brandy, Charlotte said, ”Because my new position is in Surrey.“

”Oh, no.“ Pamela sat down hard on the footstool. ”Of all the places in England!“

”It’s of no importance,“ Charlotte said, although they all knew it was. ”As always, I will do my duty, and all will be well.“

CHAPTER 2

Cool, fresh air blew into Charlotte’s face as the open carriage bounced down the turnpike, and she inhaled the scents of Surrey’s North Downs. Surrey smelled like roses climbing an ancient trellis, like laughter and comfort, like winters spent riding her hobbyhorse, like summer afternoons lolling on a branch of her favorite walnut tree reading. Like home.

Charlotte had hoped never to breathe the scents of Surrey again.

”Is this your first trip to the North Downs, my lady?“

Charlotte turned to her new employer and suffered a pang, just one, of envy. Without being told, Charlotte knew men still fought over the widowed Lady Ruskin. A stylish hat perched atop her blond hair, her voice dipped and rose in husky gentility and her complexion would have done honor to a much younger woman. Her large blue eyes were guileless, and she had been the most amiable of companions on the two-hour trip down from London. Yet Charlotte found it hard to believe she had two grandchildren in need of a governess.

And without railing against fate—Charlotte considered railing against fate a waste of time—she wondered what god had guided Adorna into the newly founded school with a position tailor-made for Charlotte herself. ”I was raised not far from here, my lady,“ she said steadily.

”You
are
a relative of the Dalrumples of Porterbridge Hall, then.“

The curiosity was inevitable, Charlotte knew, yet the truth tasted bitter on her tongue. ”The Earl of Porterbridge is my uncle.“

Lady Ruskin nodded. ”I thought you must be
that
Lady Charlotte Dalrumple.“ Picking up Charlotte’s gloved hand in her own, she squeezed it. ”Your father, God rest his soul, was the earl before. My husband knew him and called him a gentleman of distinction.“

To hear her father spoken of, and in such a kindly manner, gave Charlotte a wrench which she hastily covered. ”It’s pleasant to be back after so many years.“ Nine years, to be exact, since the occasion of Charlotte’s disastrous and decisive seventeenth birthday.

”Yes, Surrey is pleasant, and so close to London. Ruskin and I purchased the estate not long after our son was born so he could be raised in a healthy country atmosphere. Austinpark Manor is a quiet spot.“

As she spoke, a brougham barreled around the bend toward them. Their coachman swerved to avoid a collision, slamming Lady Ruskin into the side of their carriage and Charlotte into Lady Ruskin. Charlotte’s trunk, hooked to the back, swayed dangerously outward, and Charlotte’s precious carpetbag banged against her ankles. The brougham raced on. As they passed, Charlotte heard through the open window a woman’s high, scolding voice.

Skeets pulled the horses off the turnpike onto the grassy shoulder and turned to Lady Ruskin. ”Beg yer pardon, m’lady. Be ye hurt?“

Charlotte, too, murmured her regrets as she untangled herself from Lady Ruskin’s fringed shawl.