Page 44 of The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins

“I do, but I don’t want to abandon Samuel and Annabelle. They’ve been abandoned by nearly everyone else in their lives. I don’t want them to feel as if I’m abandoning them as well.”

Lady Derringer’s expression was impossible to read, as if she was deliberately trying to hide what she was thinking. She simply stared back at me and said nothing.

“I’m not sure what to do,” I said. “Will you advise me?”

“I know you don’t wish to leave Samuel and Annabelle behind, so what do you think of taking them with us? Lord Brookhaven and I will accompany you to London, we’ll bring the children, and we can all be in London together. You won’t need to do their lessons. We can hire someone—of your choosing, if you like—and you can instruct their new governess. What do you think?”

“Lord Brookhaven wishes to do this?”

“I will need to ask him, but I am sure he would be agreeable.”

I bit my lip. I’d still be abandoning the children, as I’d no longer be their governess. But perhaps if I visited them every day...

“And Lord Brookhaven and I can show you around London, introduce you, take you to see all the sights—the Tower of London, the beautiful churches. Would you like that?”

Her eyes were bright, and I believed that she truly did wish to do all those things with and for me.

“You are so kind.” My voice choked up, and I had to stop and take a few breaths. “I would like that very much.”

“Your care and concern for Samuel and Annabelle do you great credit, Miss Robbins. May I call you Charlotte?”

“Oh, yes, of course.”

“Yes, I think this is all going to work out quite well.” Lady Derringer gave me such a sincere smile that I couldn’t help smiling back.

Her confidence seemed to give me a bit more courage, and it helped me begin to believe that I truly was an heiress, as strange and mysterious and incredibly fortunate as that was.

“You will have Lord Brookhaven and me, but you will also need an older woman who will be able to protect your reputation, a companion who will live with you and accompany you to all social events.”

“You are certainly acquainted with more people than I am; I know no one in London. Is there someone you could recommend?”

“I believe I may know one or two older women who would be appropriate for such a role. You will need someone who is wise in the ways of society, who will help look out for your best interests,but mainly you simply need someone to help ensure that no one accuses you of impropriety.”

I pressed my hands against my cheeks and tried to take in a deep breath as my thoughts kept going to Lord Brookhaven.

How I wanted to believe that he would be able to marry me now, but I was still a former governess—the former governess for his own siblings. Was my new fortune enough to keep the gossipmongers from looking down on him?

Lady Derringer leaned closer. “Are you well, my dear?”

“I ... yes, I’m well. Just a bit ... overwhelmed.” I managed a smile. I was getting ahead of myself. He might not have any wish to marry me. As an earl, he could marry anyone. He was also young, handsome, and wealthy.

But I could see him socially—or, at least, it wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility. We could meet and talk again, be friends, even attend the same balls, possibly.

“I’ll help you with finding the best dress shops,” Lady Derringer was saying. “You’ll want to get a full wardrobe. And perhaps Mr. Sullivan, Lord Brookhaven, and I can help you find a suitable townhouse near his and advise you on financial matters, as well. If you wish it.”

“Oh yes, thank you. But will I be able to afford to lease a house in London?”

“With fifty thousand pounds? I should think so.”

My thoughts were spinning like a whirlwind, but in the center of the spinning thoughts was Lord Brookhaven.

I now had something that might make it possible to socialize with him—a large fortune.

Part Two

Fifteen

London was big, busy, noisy, and dirty—everything I’d ever been told and more.