The Mysterious Governess (Daughters of Sin Book 3) (4 page)

Thanks to Miss Maria’s father’s success as a broker in the city, the young lady had a fair selection of evening gowns for her debut, but she’d put on an unexpected spurt of growth and the family was not wealthy enough for luxuries like new morning gowns, which were only for lounging around in at home, besides. The lady of fashion was an expensive creature, with so many changes of clothing required, but Mrs. Lamont was, in addition to being frighteningly ambitious, extremely enterprising. And ruthless.

Miss Maria, prettier than her mother had ever been, Lissa suspected, was not nearly as clever and did not do much in the way of lounging. When she wasn’t being drilled in deportment, she was to be found flitting around, checking her appearance in her hand mirror and scanning the street from the drawing room window for a sign of the various men who might have caught her interest at the few social events to which she was invited, or taking visits with her family to the theatre or the National Museum.

Lissa was terrified her eldest charge would discover the absence of her silver-flecked ball gown and every minute that ticked by was spent in an agony that the charming young man she’d met the night before would let her down. It wasn’t too much to say that her entire future rested in his hands, for if he reneged on his promise to return Miss Maria’s dress properly mended before its disappearance was discovered, Lissa would be out of a job. Without a character, she had no hope of securing another position.

When the parlor maid put her head around the door a moment later and announced with a frown that a gentleman wished an audience with Miss Hazlett, all three heads jerked up. Not Lissa’s for she could only stare at Maria’s daintily shod feet while heat burned her cheeks.

“Gentlemen callers are not allowed,” Mrs. Lamont responded in warning tones, rising and taking a few threatening steps toward Lissa. “Miss Hazlett, can you explain what this is about?”

“Excuse me, ma’am, but the gentleman—a Mr. Tunley—says he’s here on behalf of his employer, Lord Debenham.” The girl looked confused, as if she had no idea whether this might be a man of importance or not.

Mrs. Lamont’s reaction left her in no doubt.

“What would Lord Debenham want with you, Miss Hazlett?” It was an accusation, not a question, and Lissa made to rise without an answer, though in truth her terror threatened to overwhelm her.

Mr. Tunley worked for Lord
Debenham
?

It was Cosmo who strode forward, smoothly taking charge and saying, “Tell this gentleman we shall see him in the conservatory.”

Lissa shook her head, shrugging off his hand upon her shoulder. “But he wants to see
me
.” Whatever the gentleman had to say must be said in private. Dear Lord, had Lord Debenham learned she was the mere governess and Mr. Tunley was here to warn her? If it were about the dress only, he’d have been more circumspect about it, surely?

“I was speaking of Lord Debenham to an acquaintance and of His Lordship’s potential interest in a portrait just an hour ago,” Cosmo hissed to Lissa under his breath when he’d nevertheless propelled her toward the doorway that opened into the passage. “You’ve got a message to him, haven’t you? Telling him that
you
painted the portrait of Miss Danvers when it was really me!”

Lissa stepped back at the vitriol in his eyes as she defended herself in a whisper, “Truly, Cosmo, I have no idea what this is about. I’ve said nothing to anyone about... You know.” She trailed off at the warning look in his eye. “It’s just that I met Mr. Tunley last night when my hackney was in an accident. He must be here to see if I’m all right.”

Cosmo looked first mollified, then assessing. “So you met Lord Debenham’s equerry, or whatever this servant calls himself, last night, did you? Well, Miss Hazlett, you’d better be careful what you tell this gentleman.”

Lissa squared her shoulders. “I value my position, Master Cosmo, besides which, I have nowhere else to go. Ah, Mr. Tunley, what a pleasant surprise.”

She was relieved he was dressed like a gentleman of fashion and not a lackey, and unprepared for the lurch she felt in the region of her heart as he was invited at that moment by the maid to step into the drawing room Lissa had hoped to vacate. She certainly did not wish the family to witness her meeting—or her suddenly disordered wits, for such feelings were new to her, as was this young man’s response.

His easy open grin and the way he tossed his unruly thatch of hair back from his face were signs of an open heart, she thought, liking him even more in the daylight. The only man apart from her brother that she’d had dealings with were Cosmo. Most other gentlemen didn’t deign to look at lowly governesses.

Mr. Tunley inclined his head then, with a glance at the assembled company, said with all the aplomb of the consummate diplomat, “Is there somewhere Miss Hazlett and I might speak in private? I have something to communicate on behalf of my employer...in confidence.”

After the rather bemused Lamont family had watched Lissa lead Mr. Tunley to the conservatory, Ralph thrust the parcel he carried under his arm at her and said triumphantly, “I pledged to return your gown—or your mistress’s gown—none the worse for wear.”

“And managed to set tongues wagging in the process.”

“Adding to your consequence. You should be grateful to me. The Lamonts will never look at you in the same way, wondering what business you have with the esteemed MP, Lord Debenham.”

“I just pray I never see him again,” Lissa murmured, stroking the fronds of a large potted palm before smiling up at him, “for he was the only man I danced with at Lady Stanley’s ball, and no one must ever know I left the house and did such a thing.”

Mr. Tunley cocked his head and looked at her with renewed interest. “You danced with my employer? One of London’s most...
dangerous
bachelors?” The gleam in his eye faded and he sighed. “I hope you didn’t prefer him over me. That would not be wise, and I’m not saying that only because I’d
prefer
you favored me. The fact is, I would caution any young lady against falling in love with my employer, even at the risk of my job.”

Lissa stared at him against the backdrop of exotic greenery and London’s gray London skies through the window in the background. She’d sensed something she hadn’t liked when dancing in Lord Debenham’s arms, chaste though the contact had been.

“Dangerous? Pray, why is he dangerous?”

“So you know nothing of Lord Debenham? Of his vendetta against his late cousin’s husband, Sir Aubrey, whom he accuses of being the ringleader in the plot to assassinate Lord Castlereagh?”

“Good heavens!” Lissa cried, shaking her head. “But surely it’s Sir Aubrey who is the man to beware? At least, that’s what Lord Debenham told
me
.” She narrowed her eyes. “And why work for a man you clearly do not admire?”

Mr. Tunley looked abashed for the first time as he played absently with the frond of an overhanging fern for Lissa had not invited him to be seated. She was too nervous for that. “Needs must, my dear Miss Hazlett. I could ask you the same. Why work for a family you clearly have no respect for? I’ll answer it for you. Because where else could you go? As for myself, I’d need a very compelling reason for leaving my present employ without my reputation being tarnished. I’m afraid Lord Debenham would not be kind in letting me go. So, I make myself absolutely indispensable to him. He’d be lost without me, and that’s a fact.”

He grinned suddenly. Lissa liked the way his smiles lit up his face, as if he possessed a great radiance within. “Deuced coincidence that you danced with him. Not that—as you say—you want the Lamonts to find out about that.” He looked thoughtful. “Or, to in fact, see Lord Debenham in case he says something.”

“That’s not likely, for I rarely leave the house except to take the little girls to the park. However, Master Cosmo hopes to render His Lordship’s likeness, which means he plans to make some awful sketch and then have me fix it up. His mother thinks it a splendid idea.” Lissa smiled, tilting her head and feigning entreaty. “I don’t suppose you could find out for me whether Master Cosmo’s request was conveyed to Lord Debenham? It would help to know so I had something to convey when I returned to the drawing room where the family is no doubt agog to hear what you’ve had to say.”

Ralph stroked his chin, thoughtfully. “I’ve been on business about town all morning so I’m afraid I have nothing to report. Nor will I have anything to report in the future as I see how unwise it would be to communicate further with you. The Lamont family will not tolerate their governess entertaining,” he shrugged, “a follower—dreadful word, that is—and I do not wish to make things difficult for you.”

Disappointment flooded her though she knew this was ridiculous when she’d only just met the young man.

“You see,” he went on, “I’m in great danger of liking you altogether too much, but as I have nothing to offer, our love is doomed.”

She tilted her chin, glad he’d been able to inject humor into the situation. “Mr. Tunley, we have met but once. There has never been talk of...”

“Love?” He looked abashed. “No, it’s true. Ah well, until last night I’d never met a young lady I believed I could hold in such high esteem. You were brave as well as beautiful, even with blood all over your face. I couldn’t sleep for thinking about you, only now I’m in danger of appearing ridiculous. You seem far too sensible to believe in instant attraction.”

Lissa dropped her eyes. “No,” she whispered.

“No, what?”

“No, I’m not too sensible to believe in that.”

“Oh...”

Clearly her whispered admission had taken him by surprise. For a moment he was lost for words. Then he grinned. “Well, it’s quite unfair to make you fall in love with me when, at the risk of repeating myself, I’ve already said I have absolutely nothing to offer you.”

He took her hand and bowed over it, the touch of his lips causing a tremor to travel all the way up her spine.

“And so I bid you
adieu
, my fair Miss Hazlett, with the greatest of regrets, but wishing you all the happiness in your life that a maiden as bold and beautiful, yet modest, deserves.”

Rising, he tapped the parcel she now held. “Tell them this is for your father, a country solicitor or some such, with whom Lord Debenham does business. How’s that for cunning? It’ll satisfy their need to know what our meeting was all about while adding to your consequence.”

Lissa watched him bow his way out of the door and disappear from, she presumed, the rest of her life.

A great sense of tragedy weighed heavily on her—until it was replaced by pleasurable astonishment when she unwrapped the parcel in Maria’s room a short while later, intending to return the beautifully cleaned gown to its rightful place. For as the wrapping fell away, a beautiful silver comb encrusted with tiny, sparkling gems of colored glass tumbled to the floor.

Attached to it was a card on which was written:
Always remember the man who would have rescued you from more than just a hackney accident, had it been possible –Ralph Tunley.

Her delight was sudden and brief but the crushing disappointment that followed was more long-lasting. She tossed the card and comb on the bed in order to concentrate on ensuring the gown was perfect. Only when she’d reassured herself on that score did she return her attention to the lackluster message—and find that more words had been written on the inside of the fold.

If you ever need a knight in shining armor—albeit a poor one—you can find me through Mrs. Nipkins, mantua maker to the nobility, Coopers Alley, Soho.

***

C
osmo adopted a different approach the next time he saw Lissa. She was walking with the younger girls in the little park in front of the Lamonts’ townhouse. The evening shadows were long and Lissa was glad of the girls’ company as she became aware of him creeping up behind her. When she felt his hot breath on her cheek and his soft words in her ear, she knew he was trying to unnerve her. He would not succeed.

“What do you really know of Lord Debenham?” There was both envy and concern in his tone. “He wishes for a charcoal sketch, you know. A likeness.” Master Cosmo matched his steps with hers.

Lissa gripped his younger sister Nellie’s hand as she answered blithely, the lies tripping off her tongue, “Lord Debenham is a friend of my father’s. I have never met him, personally, until we danced at Lady Stanley’s, however, I barely looked at him, I was so overcome with fear he might recognize my name, though of course he did not. But I’m sorry, Master Cosmo, I am quite unable to render his likeness, if that’s what you want.”

She had determined already that she would not submit to any amount of bullying just to bolster Cosmo’s reputation as a painter. The young master had no concern for Lissa’s welfare. If Ralph hadn’t helped her gain admittance to the house last night, she might well be on her way back to her dear mama’s without a job right now.

Cosmo was silent for some moments, apparently not expecting such intransigence, so Lissa was surprised when he said pleasantly, “I’ve been invited to attend Mrs. Gargery’s garden party tomorrow and I would like you to accompany me.”

Nellie and Harriet had run on ahead so he added, “Not that anyone will be made aware of your lowly position. I can’t afford to have it known you are what you are, however, I thought you may enjoy the diversion.”

“And because Lord Debenham will be there?” But he’d found her weak spot. A garden party. It would be a chance to mix with her social superiors.

Immediately she corrected herself. Her social superiors? Her father was one of these people. So were her half-sisters, Araminta and Hetty.

She’d always held out the smallest hope that somehow she’d find her niche. That she wouldn’t be a lowly governess forever.

Then she thought of lovely Mr. Tunley and her stomach turned over. If only he wasn’t as poor as a church mouse, though his fulsome compliments had been quite safe to declare as he’d so clearly put himself out of contention for being a suitor. Even though she’d tried not to think of him all morning, the image of his handsome, smiling face with its unruly thatch of brown hair kept intruding.