Page 5 of When She Was a Governess
“How so?” The question was out of her mouth before she could stop it.
“My mother was cruel. Domineering. Highly critical. If she loved me, she certainly never showed me.”
“You feel unable to love Amelia because you were not shown love yourself?”
His jaw tightened. “In short, yes.”
“May I ask? Why was Amelia not given to your mother?”
His expression darkened. “Rebecca laid it out very clearly in her will. I was to take her, not my parents. For reasons I previously mentioned.” His eyes glistened. “Amelia looks so like my sister. It’s like seeing her ghost every time I enter that nursery.”
“Oh, yes. I see.”
For a long moment, neither spoke. The fire crackled softly behind them.
Finally, he inclined his head. “What shall I do first? With Amelia. She seems frightened of me.”
“That is only because you are not familiar to her. If you spend time with her, she will grow to love you. Whether you want her or not, your sister entrusted her beloved child to you. Without me, it is only you. Only you left to love her.”
His gaze found hers again, steady and unguarded. “I’ll try. While you’re still here to teach me.”
Sophia exhaled, unaware she’d been holding her breath. “I’ll do whatever you need. I have a week before I have to go.”
Thunder rolled across the cliffs, shaking the windowpanes.
“The weather is somewhat ominous this afternoon,” Lord Montrose said. “I hope it’s not a harbinger of bad things to come.”
“We must have faith, my lord.”
“It appears we must.” He stood. “Thank you, Miss Ashford. For your time. For loving Amelia as you do. I shall do better from here forward. You can rest assured I will keep my promise to you. To Amelia.”
She stood, bobbing into a curtsy. “As you wish, my lord.”
She turned toward the door, each step feeling like wading through deep water. A week. She had one week left with Amelia. Seven more mornings of those sleepy blue eyes blinking open. Seven more bedtimes of “‘one more story.’” Seven more days before she broke both their hearts.
The thought made her stumble slightly. She caught herself against the doorframe, drew a shaking breath, and forced herself to walk away.
Chapter Two
Several hours afterhis meeting with Miss Ashford, formerly known as Miss Ford, Henry stood in front of the nursery’s door. He could hear Amelia’s high-pitched voice, met with Sophia’s lower tone, then giggles. His hand hovered inches from the door. He could do this. He must face the child before it was too late.
He knocked.
The door opened. Miss Ashford appeared, with Amelia hiding behind her skirts, her small hands clutching her governess’s skirt.
“Lord Montrose, come in, please.”
“Am I interrupting?” Henry asked.
“Not at all. We were about to have a tea party.” Miss Ashford knelt next to the child. “Shall we invite your Uncle Henry to tea?”
Amelia’s blue eyes peeked up through thick lashes. His chest ached at the sight of her. Those eyes. That mouth. The same cascade of golden curls that used to tangle in his sister’s hair ribbons. It stole his breath, that resemblance. For two years, he’d kept his distance, telling himself the demands of the estate kept him too busy. However, the truth was far simpler.It hurt to look at her.
“Uncle Henny, Mr. Buttons wants you to have tea.”
“How enchanting of Mr. Buttons. Where shall I sit?”
Amelia toddled over to the small table near the window, where a toy china tea set had been laid out.
