Page 4 of The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins

“William wants us to read this book before he gets home.” The little girl, Annabelle, looked up with big, doleful eyes.

It was jarring to hear her using the earl’s given name. But then, he was her brother.

“Have you ever been a governess before?” Samuel asked, one corner of his mouth quirked up.

“That is an impertinent question.” Mrs. Merryweather’s frown was back.

Samuel gave her a blank stare.

I’d have to earn the respect of this one. Annabelle, on the other hand, had a slightly timid look of interest.

“Miss Robbins,” Mrs. Merryweather said, “I can take you back to your room if you go right now. I have other duties to attend to.”

“If I stay a little while, can the children show me the way to my room?”

“Certainly not.” Her expression soured. “But when their nursemaid Hannah returns, she can escort you.” Mrs. Merryweather darted away before I could say anything.

“How do you like the housekeeper?” Samuel gave a sly grin.

I tried to think how to answer. I settled for just raising my eyebrows at him. “Do you find your reading interesting? Would you prefer if I read to you?”

“Oh, yes, please!” Annabelle said.

I could see Annabelle was on page fifteen, while Samuel was on page three. I sat next to Samuel in one of the little chairs and slid his book between us.

“I shall start at the beginning, if that’s all right.”

Annabelle nodded and turned her book to the first page.

I began to read aloud. When I noticed Samuel fidgeting, I stopped. “How long have you been in the schoolroom?”

“Since this morning,” Samuel said.

It was nearly five in the afternoon.

“It’s a sunny day. If I read quickly, we should have time for a short walk before the evening meal. Will that suit?”

Samuel’s eyes lit up. Annabelle smiled and nodded.

I read the rest of the book quickly. It was quite dry and dull for a child to have to listen to. If they made children’s schoolbooks more appropriate to a child’s mind and interests, children might behave better and learn more. It wasn’t the first time I’d thought such a thing, nor was it the first time I vowed to write a book myself.

I’d finished the little book just as Hannah entered the room.

The children jumped up and went to fetch their outer clothing.

“I’m Charlotte Robbins, the new governess.” I smiled at Hannah.

The nursemaid must have been around my age. She looked me in the eyes and dropped a quick curtsy. “Hannah,” she said.

“Pleased to meet you, Hannah. I promised the children I’d take them for a short walk. Is there a garden for walking?”

“Yes, miss, but the master doesn’t allow the young ones near the road.” Her mouth looked pinched.

“Very well. We won’t be long, and we won’t go near the road.”

I helped the children with their sturdier shoes, then they led me to the back door and out into the fresh air and sunshine. They ran as fast as they could through the garden, playing hide-and-seek and blindman’s buff and generally chasing each other around.

Although I was enjoying the formal garden, I longed to explore the park nearby, with its less formal, more wild appearance, the trees and bushes growing randomly instead of in strict rows according to some human plan.