A Duke, a Governess, and a Little Lady
Rating: most likely YTEEN to TEEN at the most.
Disclaimer: If I owned Roswell, we'd still have a show to watch.
Summary: Elizabeth Parker is a governess for Emily Burming in the early 1800s but when tragedy strikes they move 3000 miles away, to live with a cousin Emily's never met and a Duke Elizabeth might wished she hadn't.
**PART ONE**
Elizabeth Parker strode through the hallway of the Burming estate towards the nursery. She took as big of steps as she could before appearing unladylike.
She heard another scream for the bedrooms upstairs and hurried not caring how ladylike she looked. Just as she opened the nursery, a small girl leapt into her arms.
"Miss Beth, where's my mama and papa?" The small girl asked.
"Your Mama's upstairs, and your papa" She paused taking a deep breath. It had taken forever to find out what had happened. "Is not going to come home."
"What?" The girl shrieked.
"Miss Emily, you must really be quiet. Your mama will hear you and worry."
"But I want my papa." She cried. Elizabeth held the small girl in her arms while she cried.
It was early spring and some of the roads were still a bit icy from the winter's snow. Mr. Burming had gone out to fetch the doctor since Mrs. Burming went into childbirth. The carriage overturned and he was crushed, killed instantly.
"I know." Elizabeth held the small girl tighter to her. Elizabeth remembered back to the time when she was five years old and told her mother had passed away. She had screamed and cried. Claudia, her grandmother, had been there. And then she remembered back to the time when her father died when she was sixteen. Emily had lost her papa and now her mama within hours of each other.
They heard a shriek, a high scream and then silence. Emily buried her head in Elizabeth's chest.
Elizabeth listened in earnest for the sound of a baby cry. Nothing. Total and absolute silence filled the house.
An exhausted Martha peeked her head into the door. A painfully slow nod told Elizabeth everything she needed to know. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She bent down and whispered to Emily the news she had just heard. Emily slumped in Elizabeth's arms. She had fainted.
PART TWO
A small knock on the door and Lewis stuck his head in the door.
"Miss Parker, Mrs. Burming wishes to see you."
Elizabeth looked up from where she was rocking Emily.
"Ok." She bent down and took her time explaining to Emily where she was going; she was in no hurry to see the cynical old woman.
Emily nodded and then curled back up in the chair to await her governess's return.
"Where is she at?" Elizabeth asked straightening her hair. She had been up all night and did have a chance to freshen up.
"In the study, Miss." Lewis left her standing in front of the double French doors.
"Good Morning, Mrs. Burming." Elizabeth dropped a curtsy.
"Don't good morning me, Elizabeth, I don't like you and I know full well that you don't like me." She said in a strong English accent.
Elizabeth stared at her hard.
"Alright now that that is established I have a questions to ask you. Sit"
Elizabeth did as she was told.
"Where is my granddaughter?" She asked.
"In the nursery."
"Why?"
"That's where I left her." Elizabeth said.
"Alright, go retrieve her."
"She won't speak with you."
"Who are you to say?" She crossed her arms.
"She hasn't spoken with anyone but me."
"She'll speak with me."
Elizabeth went upstairs to get the small girl and returned with Emily clutching to her skirts.
"Come out girl, a Burming never cowers." Mrs. Burming stood up.
Emily came out from behind her skirts holding her head up as high as she could.
"Good Morning, Grandmother Burming." She whispered.
"Good Morning, child. How old are you?" She asked her voice softening a bit but still very harsh.
"F-four, soon to be five." She stuttered.
"I'm much too old to take care of her. She'll stay with her second cousin, in England."
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.
"She is to go to England to stay with her second cousin." She restated. "You of course will make sure she gets there, I will pay for your ticket. Once you get there it will be up to you to do whatever. If he decides you can stay, then you may, but if not, your on your own."
"So, basically you want me to accompany your granddaughter, three thousand miles away from my home? To be left to who knows what? Of course I'll go, but don't think I'm liking it." She said as she started to walk out of the room.
"Yes you may take your leave, Elizabeth."
"Thank you." She took Emily's hand and gracefully as possible stormed out of the room. "And one more thing, ma'am."
"Go ahead." The woman waved her hand.
"Who exactly is this second cousin?"
"Maxwell Evans, Marquess of Roswell, Future Duke of Antar."
PART THREE
"My lord, there is a letter here for you, from Aunt Mabel Burming, in America." Martin the young butler asked stepping into his master's study.
"What does it say, Martin?" Max didn't even look up from his papers.
Martin cleared his throat preparing to read the letter, still becoming accustomed to reading the mail.
Maxwell, I am sorry to inform you that your cousin Edward Burming was killed in an accident early on the morning of August 3, 1816. His wife Georgiana Burming died in childbirth later that same morning. As you know they have a young child of five, making her your second cousin. I'm sending her to live with you. I'm too old to raise a child of such a tender age. I will be sending her with her young governess, the girl is three and twenty. Once she and the young girl arrive you are to do whatever you wish with both of them. I don't care. But I don't want anything to do with them. Although, I really think Emily, you cousin, would make a nice lady, valuable tool for bargaining. Just some advice to a loved one. Yours truly, Mabel Burming
Martin stood nervously he didn't like being involved in family matters.
"Darn that woman! I should know by now that a letter from Aunt Burming is never good." He stood up and began pacing. What were he to do with a child of five, and a governess of three and twenty? Then he got an idea.
And, who did she think he was, using little girl as a tool to secure positions. His parents hadn't believed in it, why should he?
"Martin, how old are you?"
Startled out of his thoughts, "four and twenty, my lord, I'll be five and twenty next month."
"Have you considered marriage?"
****
"Miss Beth, I can't see." She held her hands up.
Elizabeth obliged her and held her up over the railing. "Can you see it?" She asked pointing out the coastline.
"There's England." Emily shivered slightly.
"Are you cold?"
Emily rested her head on Elizabeth's shoulder. "No."
"Can we ever go back to Virginia?" She asked looking at her with round blue eyes.
"I don't know, love. We'll see." She took in a breath knowing Emily wouldn't just accept that. "Um, Emily?"
"Yeah?"
"Probably not."
****
Max went to the tower for the third time in an hour.
"Is it in yet?" He asked the guard.
"Nay, my lord." The guard answered trying not to get annoyed.
Max paced back to his carriage. He didn't like the docks, it was rusty and the smell of dirty sea water and dead fish. There was just something about it he didn't like. If they weren't here in a half hour he'd go to the inn and rent out two rooms. They had a three hour journey ahead of them.
A half an hour later he walked back to the tower. A young woman and a frightened little girl with blonde curls were talking to the guard. Something about that little girl's eyes looked familiar.
"Pardon me, but has the Princess come in yet?" He asked.
The young woman glared at him for interrupting, while the little girl clutched the doll she was holding tighter and backed up.
"Emily, stay still." She commanded sharply. "I just came in on the Princess is there someone you were looking for?"
"Yes, a Miss Parker and a Miss Burming?" He inquired.
"That, would be us." She declared.
He studied her and the little girl once more. "Follow me."
Max started walking and Elizabeth followed as closely as possible, dragging Emily behind.
"My lord, could you slow down, please, our legs aren't as long as yours." She called.
He stopped abruptly causing Elizabeth to slam into his back with a loud "hmpf."
Elizabeth shook her head to clear it. Looking up she saw the most beautiful carriage she had ever seen.
"I, my lady, am Lord Maxwell Evans. But you may call me Max, everyone else does." He smiled.
"I'm Elizabeth Parker." He took her hand and brushed a kiss over it. "And this is Emily Burming, my young charge." She introduced. "I'm commonly called Beth."
"Liz." He stated.
"Liz?" She was confused.
"I'll call you Liz."
"Why?"
"Because I want to." He stooped down to Emily level, as Liz liked to call it. "How do you do Miss Emily?"
"Liz it is." She muttered.
Emily shrunk back and looked up at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth gave her a look. "Good, m-my lord." She whispered. "A-and you?"
"Just fine thank you." He stood up to full height.
When he stood full height he stood more than a foot taller than Elizabeth. She was looking squarely at his chest.
"Well, we better be off." He said opening the door.
He went to grab Emily. She hid behind Elizabeth.
"I'll go first." Elizabeth said, knowing Emily would follow no questions asked.
"Fine Liz." He helped her up.
Emily immediately let out a shriek of disapproval at being removed from her security.
She glared up at him tiny fists on her hips. "P-please help me u-up?" She asked, half angry, half terrified.
"Alright." He swiftly lifted her up where she crawled into Elizabeth's lap.
Max climbed in after. "Ready?" He asked.
Elizabeth sighed. "I guess."
And the carriage jerked forward.
PART FOUR
So, Miss Emily, although I guess it would be Lady Emily, now that you're back in England, I've heard your five years old?" Max asked gently.
"I will be, next Tuesday." She said sinking into Liz.
"September 27? Good day to be born." He smiled.
Emily turned a crimson shade and felt as if her face was on fire. She studied the man across from her.
He was really tall. When she stood up on the ground next to him it looked like forever till she reached his head. He had dark hair, like her papa. She missed her papa terribly and her mama. Feeling the need to cry, she snuggled closer into Liz and studied him some more.
His eyes were dark, but kind. She knew somewhere deep inside that he would never hurt her. He was just so, so big.
"I hear you're a smart girl." Max commented.
Emily looked up at Liz to see if she had heard, but her attention was on something out the window. She had that worried look on her face. The face she gets when she thinks she was sleeping late at night. When she'd sit by Emily's bed, and just, well, sit.
"You could say that, my lord." Emily whispered.
"You speak four languages?"
"Miss Beth speaks six." She stated matter of factly, wanting desperately to take his attentions from her.
Max looked up at the young woman sitting across from him. Her hair was long, brown and straight. It was unusual, in England, for a woman her age to wear her hair down and free. She looked like she could be intelligent. She must be if she was this girl's governess at such a young age. Six languages? He spoke as many, he has never in his life known another female, disregarding his sister, who spoke more than two.
"Six, Liz?" He had to ask.
Liz continued looking out the window. "Liz?"
"Miss Beth?" Emily gently squeezed her hand knowing that was the only way to help her out of the haze.
"Pardon?" Liz shook her head to clear it.
" Lady Emily here said you speak six languages, is that true?"
Liz smiled a shy smile and nodded her head. "Yes, my lord."
Max studied her when she turned to look back out the window. He felt something towards this girl. He wasn't sure what. He already knew that they would be staying with him, but Liz would be married. Something felt off at that thought. Unsettling.
Pretty soon Emily drifted off to sleep. There was complete silence in the carriage except for Emily's soft breathing.
Liz stroked Emily's hair while she thought about the man sitting across from her. When he had kissed her hands earlier, she felt alive like she hadn't felt alive before. She had wanted to blush but had long ago learned to hide it. One of the reasons she wanted to get into the carriage first was so that she could sit down. Her knees felt like they would give out.
"Liz?" She heard her name being called. She looked over to the handsome figure across from her.
"Yes, my lord?" She asked.
"I told you to call me Max." He said sternly.
"Sorry."
"How old are you?" He asked bluntly.
Liz looked at him shocked but answered. "Ni-three and twenty." She corrected herself.
"What?" He asked.
"Three and twenty."
He looked at her closely and then turned back out the window only to be greeted with the most spectacular sight. "What's that?" She asked with awe filling her voice.
"Lake Antar." He told her with a smile.
"That's yours?" She said.
"Well, my family's."
"Wow. Can you swim?" She had always wanted to learn but no one would teach her.
"Like a fish. You?"
"No one ever taught me." Liz looked down at her hands in her lap.
"You'll learn quickly." He said.
"Liz?"
"Yes?"
"You'll be ok here." He tried to reassure her.
"I'm not so sure about that." She answered honestly, looking him in the eye.
The carriage pulled up to the driveway and a young butler came down the front steps.
"Hello, Martin." He smiled, but felt that unsettling feeling inside him again.
"I trust your trip went well, my lord?" He asked helping his master down from the carriage.
"Excellent." He smiled. "Here Liz, hand the girl to me so you won't have to wake her.
"I've got her. I have to wake her up anyway to get her ready for bed." Liz explained. She set the sleeping girl on her feet and gently tried to coax her awake.
"Mama?" The girl rubbed her eyes.
"No, love. Come on." Liz stepped down from the carriage with the help of both Martin and Max.
"Elizabeth Parker, I'd like you to meet my butler, Martin Kendall. His father is, my driver, who goes by Kendall, and Mrs. Gloria Kendall, Martin's mother and Kendall's wife, is my head housekeeper.
Liz studied each of them. She liked the older couple but the way the young man was looking at her, was making her uncomfortable.
"Mrs. Kendall will show you to your room." He nodded at Mrs. Kendall to let her know it was to be done immediately. "Liz, after Emily's in bed, I'd like to talk to you about Emily's further education."
"Can't it wait till tomorrow, my lord?" She asked extremely tired.
"No, Liz it can't." He crossed his arms. He was not one to be reckoned with.
Well, neither was she.
PART FIVE
Liz followed closely behind the waddling woman. It couldn't be called walking. The old woman really was a dear but she talked all too much.
She paused at the doorway of one of the rooms to catch her breath. "This will be the young miss's room." She opened it. Everything inside was a pale pink.
Emily hated pink.
"Miss Beth, it's pink." She pointed out quietly.
Liz just about died. There was no way Emily would be able to sleep in here.
"Shh." She shushed Emily.
"This used to be the princess's room."
"Princess?" Liz asked, picking up Emily at her silent request.
"Oh, the Princess Isabel, she's the marquess' sister you know."
Liz was astonished. THE Crown Princess Isabel, was Max's sister?
"Really?" She asked.
"Yes, raised her myself, if I say so. I wasn't always housekeeper, I was nanny at a time." She smiled proudly. "I always knew our Izzy would marry well, just not the Crown Prince well."
"So she's going to be queen?"
"Yep, and if I'm not mistaken our king is ill, God help him, she will be in a few years coming. And they already had a son."
Liz knew all about them. It had made news when Prince Alexander had chosen a wife. It reached the Americas. As for the boy, "What's the young prince's name?" She was curious to find out.
"Christopher." She said simply.
"Cute little one if I say so myself." She smiled and went back to setting things straight.
"Lady Emily, sit here." She directed her to the chair.
Emily obediently went and sat down. She looked at Liz eyes pleading not to leave her.
She was scared. Elizabeth had known she was afraid but tonight she was downright terrified.
Mrs. Kendall dressed her in her nightclothes and began brushing her hair, all the while talking about Princess Isabel.
"I can do it." She was going to take the brush from the old woman's hands.
"No, no, it's been such a long time since I did a young girl's hair, let me do it please?" She asked.
"Alright with you Emily?"
"Yes." She said quietly.
Liz sat down in the chair next to her and began brushing her own hair out.
"Miss Parker, why do you wear your hair down?"
Liz stopped in the middle of a braid.
"Am I not supposed to?" She asked worriedly.
"It's fine, it's just, well, usually woman your age wear their hair up." She said.
"But I don't like it up." She said finishing the braid and throwing it behind her shoulder before starting on the other one.
"Indoors I suppose it will be fine, but outdoors, you'll have to."
"OK." She was heavily annoyed now. She hated her hair up, it made her feel older than she was.
Mrs. Kendall finished with her hair and Emily crawled into her lap.
There was a knock on the door. "Miss Parker, my lord would like to see you now."
"Tell him I'll be there in 10 minutes, Martin, please?" She asked picking up Emily. She laid Emily down on the bed. "Will you both please excuse us?" Liz asked.
"I'll put the girl to bed, you go and meet with Max." Mrs. Kendall urged.
"No, I will put her to bed. Now please?" She looked towards the door. She would let her do hair and anything else but she was not about to let her put her to bed. That was her job and it would always be her job.
"Alright, Miss Parker." They both agreed and Mrs. Kendall waddled out the door.
"How do you like it here?" Elizabeth asked.
"Mrs. Kendall talks a lot, and it's pink." She said talking in her normal voice now that they were alone.
"I know, but you'll be ok." Liz assured her.
"Where will you sleep?"
"Just in the next room." Liz pointed to the doorways that lead to her quarters.
"I want to be with you." Emily said nervously.
Liz handed he Katarine, Emily's favorite doll. "No." She said firmly.
"Please, just for tonight?" She asked.
"Alright, tonight only."
"Good, I don't want to sleep in the pink." Emily said disgusted.
"Alright, lay down, which poem do you want to read, Em?" She asked sitting on the edge of the tiny bed. She pulled out her small poem book by William Blake.
"Divine Image." She said automatically.
"Alright." She sat back and began to read. Ten minutes and three poems later, Emily was out.
"Goodnight, love." She kissed her forehead and sat the book on the sidetable.
Elizabeth made her way down to the study and knocked on the door.
"Come in, Liz." Came from within the huge double doors.
"You wanted to speak with me, my lord."
"You are to call me Max, I will not ask you again." He said firmly.
"Alright." She nodded her head.
"You are three and twenty you say?"
"Yes, my-Max." She said correcting herself.
"Good. And you speak six languages?" He asked.
"Yes. I speak five but I read latin." She explained. "I'm starting to speak it better but Papa wouldn't allow me to speak it and Mrs. Burming is no longer able to teach me."
"What other languages do you speak?" He asked her precisely in Latin.
"German, because the church we went to, that was the only language they spoke, French, Spanish, English, Swedish, and I'm learning Latin." She said.
"You seem to understand pretty well." He switched to French.
"I take my studies seriously." She answered back without thinking.
"What church did you go to?" He asked in German.
What is going on? She asked herself, she was confused, is he testing me? "Our Redeemer, Lutheran. It was a small roadside church in my hometown outside of Philadelphia."
"How'd you learn so many languages?" He asked amazed.
"Papa was Swedish Nobility, Mama was French nobility. It was expected of me to know both languages. I lived in America, I had to know English. German Speaking church, I had to be able to understand the sermon. And finally my grandmother was of Spanish descent and she taught me what I know."
"Wow." He said astonished. "That's quite an accomplishment."
"Thank you, Max." She ducked her head. "Most men would be intimidated you are not." Where had that come from?
"Yes, I speak as many myself, but my latin's fluent." He told her in Spanish.
She nodded.
"What languages does Lady Emily know?" He asked standing up and moving across the room.
"Spanish, French, German, and English." She said.
"And you've been her governess how long?"
"Since she was two."
"Two years?"
"Yes."
"She learned that in two?"
"She's a fast learner."
"Now, about you, Liz." He said looking at her.
"What about me?" She asked.
"Why aren't you married?"
She froze in her seat.
TBC
A Duke, a Governess, and a Little Lady A/N 12-7-03 COMPLETE
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A Duke, a Governess, and a Little Lady A/N 12-7-03 COMPLETE
Last edited by mattie788 on Sun Dec 07, 2003 10:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Part 6
"Why does that concern you, my lord?"
"Because you're three and twenty, or so you say." He stood up from his chair and began to pace.
"What's that supposed to mean, Max?" She asked staring at him wide-eyed.
"It means that I don't believe you when you say you're three and twenty. My sister is one and twenty and there is no way that you can be older than she." He said shaking his head.
"Well I am, Max." She drew out his name to emphasize it.
"Why didn't you marry in America?" He asked.
"Aren't these questions a little personal?" Liz asked appalled that a "gentleman" such as the person pacing in front of her would ask such questions.
He stopped and put his hands behind his back. "You are to be married."
"Excuse me?" She said.
Max studied her, here she was threatened with the prospect of marriage and she was perfectly composed. Isabel would've been out the blocks by now. Her back was perfectly straight, ankles crossed and hands folded neatly in her lap.
"You will marry." He stated once again.
"Pardon me, but this may sound a little rude, but a situation like this calls for it." She said in a deadly calm voice. Max swore he saw ice in her eyes. "I accept and will assist you in anything you want to do with Emily. I know you are her guardian and I am just her governess. But, in matters concerning my life, I and only I, will make those decisions. I do not like people meddling in my life."
He looked at her taken aback.
"Why, then did you come to England?"
"I came because of Emily." She didn't want to state the other reason as well.
"You came across the Atlantic Ocean because of a little girl. There are tons of people needing governesses in America, why didn't you stay there?"
"I didn't want to abandon her when she was orphaned to go to a distant country, to live with people she doesn't know."
"Alright." He nodded. "Liz, you will get married, you have to."
She silently stood and walked towards the door. "I cannot, and will not get married, my lord." She opened the door.
"You can and you will."
"No, my lord, good night."
They held each other's glares for a minute or two before she turned and walked up the stairs.
Liz changed into her night clothes before going to retrieve Emily from the dreaded "pink room".
She left the door open a crack because she couldn't stand to leave her door closed. She sat in the window seat and pulled out her journal, it wasn't until then that she let herself cry.
Wednesday, September 21, 1816, Dear Journal, Today we arrived in England. At first I thought it would be quite nice here. The marquess is really quite sweet and the weather splendid. When we were shown Emily's room I almost fainted. It was pure pink, everything. Emily won't even sleep with a pink blanket let alone a pink room. She's asleep in my bed. She'll fit in just fine here. I don't know as if the same will be for me. I thought the Marquess was nice but he told me I must marry. From the first time Papa told me I must be married, I swore I would only be married on my time, no one else's. I don't care what he says, I'll marry if and when I'm ready.
****
"Bonjour, Mademoiselle." Emily said waking up Liz. It was Thursday, they spoke French on Thursdays.
"Bonjour." Liz said, opening her eyes. She hadn't been able to sleep as usual but liked to pretend for Emily's sake. "You ready for you day?" She asked cheerfully.
"Oui!" Emily replied snuggling closer.
"We'll get up in a minute. What time is it?" Lessons started right away.
It took Emily a while to look at the time and be able to figure it out. "6 o'clock." She answered.
Liz leaned up on her elbows to check. "Good job, sweet." She said.
Liz had just started to get up and out of bed when Mrs. Kendall waddled in.
"Morning." She said cheerfully. Emily looked at Liz and rolled her eyes.
"It's Thursday, why is she speaking English?" Emily asked questioning.
"Because only we speak French on Thursdays." Liz explained washing down in the freezing cold water.
"Why?"
"So you'll learn it."
"Does monsieur know?" She asked wandering over to her.
"Yes. Now come here." Liz finished pulling on her dress and tying it back. They walked through the doors.
Emily washed down quickly in the slightly warmer water. "I'm hungry." She said.
"Hungry?" Usually Emily had to be forced to eat.
"Yes." She said.
"Mrs. Kendall." Liz called into the adjoining door.
"Yes, Miss Parker." She waddled into the room with fresh linens in her hands.
"Where do we take breakfast?"
"My lord wants you two to join him downstairs, this morning." She said as if she remembered something. "Oh, and he wants you down there at 7:00, every morning."
Liz straightened and looked at the clock. 6:50. "Emily come here and let me finish your hair."
She quickly swept her blonde curls into a half ponytail as directed by Mrs. Kendall.
"Let's go. Do you want to take Katarine?" Liz asked picking up the doll.
"Yes." She held out her hands. She tucked Katarine safely under arm. "Up?" She asked holding her hands up.
"Come on." Liz picked her up and Emily wrapped one arm around her neck.
"Let's go."
Emily chatted happily, yet quietly, on the way down the stairs.
Liz had to remind herself to keep walking when she saw Martin holding open the door to the dining room.
"Good Morning, Miss Parker, Lady Emily." He smiled. Liz was still very uncomfortable under Martin's scrutinizing gaze.
"Bonjour." Emily whispered blushing furiously. She tucked her head in Liz's neck.
"Morning, Martin." Liz nodded her head in acknowledgement but kept walking.
"Nice of you to join us." Max said standing up from his seat at the table.
Liz glanced at the clock. 7:02. "Sorry we're late, my lord." She answered back in French
"Bonjour." Emily said sliding down in the booster seat that was there.
They had a quiet breakfast. Emily chatted quietly with Liz in French. Liz talked only to Max when he addressed her. It seemed to pretty much annoy him. She kept it up.
"May we go for a walk?" Emily asked as she hopped down from the seat and waited for Liz to join her.
"My lord?" She asked, knowing that Emily's education was up to him.
"Why don't you take morning lessons outside?"
"Outside?" Emily asked clinging to Liz.
"Yes. It's nice weather. It won't be here much longer, enjoy it while you can." He smiled and held the door open for them.
"Liz, I'd like to speak with you." He whispered in Latin.
Emily looked curiously up at them.
"Can it wait?" She asked not looking at him.
"No." He crossed his arms. "Send her with Mrs. Kendall for the morning. It's important."
"She naps in the afternoon."
"No, now." He said.
When was he going to learn that she did things her own way at her own time?
She'd show him now.
"Alright. Let me take her to Mrs. Kendall, I'll be back as soon as possible." Liz took Emily's hand and led her upstairs.
Liz eyed Martin warily at the way his eyes were studying her. She'd have to talk to Max about that.
Part 7
Max paced downstairs in his study. He was in his riding clothes. He had sent Martin up after Liz to tell her to wear the riding habit that was in the new wardrobe he had made, he hoped it fit.
"You do like to ride, don't you?" He asked as soon as he saw her enter the room. The habit fit perfectly.
"I spent a lot of my childhood on horseback." She said, smoothing out her skirts.
"What took you so long?" He asked.
"I had to start Emily on her lessons." She looked up at him.
"It took you an hour?" He crossed his arm and raised his eyebrows.
"Yes." She answered back defiantly. "Are you ready, my lord?"
"Quite." He walked towards the door but then paused. "Are you going to be cold, it's chilly but nice?"
"I don't get cold." She answered. All she had was her light cloak, she'd be fine.
"Alright, don't complain."
"How long do you expect to be out, my lord?" She asked on the way to the stables.
"About three hours." He stated simply.
"Three hours?" She turned back towards the house. "I didn't tell Emily I'd be out that long, please let me go tell her."
He grabbed her firmly but gently by the arm, "No."
"P-please?" She stuttered. "She's going to get upset, she's not a huge fan of horses since her father's accident." She whispered.
"She'll need to learn, Liz. We'll be back before noon." He kept walking.
"W-will you let go of my arm please?" She whispered.
Max looked down at the young girl. She looked like she was going to cry. "Yes." He dropped his hand. "Hurry up, the sooner we leave the sooner we get back."
She followed quickly after him. "As I said yesterday, my lord, I cannot keep up with you when you walk at such a speed."
"I'm sorry, he slowed his pace a bit."
"Thank you." She eyed the puddle there was no choice but to go through. " Where exactly are we going?" She lifted her skirts above her ankles to lightly step into the puddle, but was hoisted into the air.
"Let me help you." He said. She grabbed onto him to gain balance.
They were well over the puddle but he was still carrying her. "Max, you can put me down now." She told him.
"You walk to slow, it's faster when I carry you."
"Suit yourself." She said annoyed, she didn't see a point in arguing with him.
Pretty soon they reached the stables. They were the most magnificent horses she had ever seen. "These are beautiful she said in awe."
"I have the perfect horse for you and Emily." He said proudly. He set her down and led her into the stables. "Allen!" He called for the stable boy.
"Yes, my lord?" He asked sleepily.
"Please prepare Alador, and the young mare." He said, voice ringing with authority.
"Come, I'll show you Emily's." He pulled her along to the other side.
He stopped in front of a young chestnut mare. "She's beautiful." Liz whispered. She had grown up with horses and she knew a good horse. "How old is she five, six?"
"She's six years. Newly broken and gentle as a lamb." He explained.
They walked back outside the stables. A magnificent stallion was standing proudly next to a smaller, calmer mare. "The stallion is my horse, Alador." He told her as they walked towards the horses. "The mare is yours."
"Mine?" She asked. "Yours, she's not even named yet." He said smiling.
"I'll have to ride her to see what she's like." She said shyly. Although she'd spent her life around horses, didn't mean she'd ever had one. "Thank you."
"Your welcome." He helped her up onto the horse.
They began at a slow trot. "Where are we going, Max?" She asked again.
"I'm going to show you how far you're allowed to take Emily on rides without an escort and certain ground rules that will need to be laid down."
"Alright." She says.
An hour later they circle Antar Lake. "Are we allowed to wade in the water?" She asked.
"Yes."
"There's going to be a party for her on Tuesday." He said completely out of the blue.
"Why?" Liz asked looking at him. "Can we stop here?"
"Sure." He hopped down from his horse to help her down as well.
She walked towards the water. He eyed her warily. "Liz, can you swim?"
"Nope." She slipped off her slippers and walked a little ways into the water.
"Careful." He warned. "It gets slippery."
"It feels cool." She said. "It reminds me of a creek that I used to play in when I lived in Pennsylvania." She smiled remembering.
"Was it fun?"
"I don't really remember much, only the coldness of the water. Mama used to take me down to the creek when she was with child. She said the water cooled her feet. It was the only time she let me take off my shoes outside the house." She smiled and stepped further into the cold water. She lifted her skirts a little higher.
Max stared at her. Her legs were shining in the water.
"How deep does it go?" She asked innocently turning around to stare at him.
It took him a minute to find his voice. "I'm not sure, my Mrs. Kendall never let us go that far."
"Ok." She stopped where she was and began to walk sideways. "So why are we having a party?"
"For her birthday." He stated. "The duchess feels it's necessary to make her feel as welcome as possible."
"Will the duchess be coming?" She asked.
"Yes, my father, mother, sister, and nephew, my brother-in-law might come if his schedule allows." He nodded.
"All those people are coming and they don't even know her?"
"She's part of the family." He shrugged as if it was normal. He kicked off his boots and rolled up his pants to join her. He stepped in the cool water next to her.
"It is cold isn't it?" He asked.
"Very." She chuckled. "I don't think I can feel my feet." She walked back towards the dry land and sat down on the grass.
"It's very nice here." She looked around.
"I like it." He took a seat next to her. He noticed how tired she looked. "Did you sleep last night?"
She looked at him. "Yes." She quickly changed the subject. "Am I allowed to bring Emily here?" She asked.
"Yes, with either Martin or myself."
"Why?"
"Because you can neither see the house nor hear anything from here. Now don't doubt that this property is well protected, we can't guarantee anything." He looked at her making sure she understood. "Is that clear?"
"Yes." The only thing that stood in her mind was they could not see or hear anything from here. She was never, ever coming here with Martin.
"Liz, answer me truthfully. Did you sleep last night?" Max asked her. He scooted closer and lifted her chin to meet his eyes.
"No." She said quietly, she tried to divert her eyes from his dark, questioning ones. "I don't usually sleep at night. I nap with Emily during the day. I-I don't like sleeping at night. Things happen when you're asleep." She looked at the ground blushing.
"Like what?"
She looked back up at him, tears forming in her eyes, she wanted so badly to tell him but she couldn't. One, she knew him for one day, and two he'd send her back. "Nothing."
His face was close to hers. Why was his face so close to hers? It should not be allowed to have eyes that gorgeous.
His face was getting closer by the second. His lips were so close that she could feel his breath.
Someone came crashing through the trees. Liz pulled away and pulled her feet under her skirts.
"I'm sorry, my lord. But you have a caller, and Lady Emily doesn't want anything to do with us. She wants Miss Parker." Martin said in a hurry.
Liz was up in a second she pulled her slippers on and made her way back to her horse. There was no ways she'd be able to get back onto that horse without help.
Martin was behind her and lifted her up onto the horse. She stiffened, his hands just felt wrong, and they lingered longer than they needed to. "Thank you, Martin. Max, shall we go?"
He pulled a glare away from Martin and looked at Liz. "Yes. Martin meet us back at the house." He instructed. "Liz, can you gallop?"
"Of course." She answered.
"Let's go."
They took off towards the house.
The stable boy met them on their way to the stables. Max helped Liz down and she walked back across the lawn to the house.
She was so determined to get to Emily she almost missed the blonde girl standing in the entryway, almost.
"Tess?" She looked at her.
"What are you doing here?" She folded her arms.
"Do you two know each other?" Max asked coming up behind Liz. Max glanced at the girl and almost shrunk back in disgust.
"Um, no." Liz said quickly, turning away. "I'm going to find Emily, my lord." She curtsied and exited the room.
TBC
"Why does that concern you, my lord?"
"Because you're three and twenty, or so you say." He stood up from his chair and began to pace.
"What's that supposed to mean, Max?" She asked staring at him wide-eyed.
"It means that I don't believe you when you say you're three and twenty. My sister is one and twenty and there is no way that you can be older than she." He said shaking his head.
"Well I am, Max." She drew out his name to emphasize it.
"Why didn't you marry in America?" He asked.
"Aren't these questions a little personal?" Liz asked appalled that a "gentleman" such as the person pacing in front of her would ask such questions.
He stopped and put his hands behind his back. "You are to be married."
"Excuse me?" She said.
Max studied her, here she was threatened with the prospect of marriage and she was perfectly composed. Isabel would've been out the blocks by now. Her back was perfectly straight, ankles crossed and hands folded neatly in her lap.
"You will marry." He stated once again.
"Pardon me, but this may sound a little rude, but a situation like this calls for it." She said in a deadly calm voice. Max swore he saw ice in her eyes. "I accept and will assist you in anything you want to do with Emily. I know you are her guardian and I am just her governess. But, in matters concerning my life, I and only I, will make those decisions. I do not like people meddling in my life."
He looked at her taken aback.
"Why, then did you come to England?"
"I came because of Emily." She didn't want to state the other reason as well.
"You came across the Atlantic Ocean because of a little girl. There are tons of people needing governesses in America, why didn't you stay there?"
"I didn't want to abandon her when she was orphaned to go to a distant country, to live with people she doesn't know."
"Alright." He nodded. "Liz, you will get married, you have to."
She silently stood and walked towards the door. "I cannot, and will not get married, my lord." She opened the door.
"You can and you will."
"No, my lord, good night."
They held each other's glares for a minute or two before she turned and walked up the stairs.
Liz changed into her night clothes before going to retrieve Emily from the dreaded "pink room".
She left the door open a crack because she couldn't stand to leave her door closed. She sat in the window seat and pulled out her journal, it wasn't until then that she let herself cry.
Wednesday, September 21, 1816, Dear Journal, Today we arrived in England. At first I thought it would be quite nice here. The marquess is really quite sweet and the weather splendid. When we were shown Emily's room I almost fainted. It was pure pink, everything. Emily won't even sleep with a pink blanket let alone a pink room. She's asleep in my bed. She'll fit in just fine here. I don't know as if the same will be for me. I thought the Marquess was nice but he told me I must marry. From the first time Papa told me I must be married, I swore I would only be married on my time, no one else's. I don't care what he says, I'll marry if and when I'm ready.
****
"Bonjour, Mademoiselle." Emily said waking up Liz. It was Thursday, they spoke French on Thursdays.
"Bonjour." Liz said, opening her eyes. She hadn't been able to sleep as usual but liked to pretend for Emily's sake. "You ready for you day?" She asked cheerfully.
"Oui!" Emily replied snuggling closer.
"We'll get up in a minute. What time is it?" Lessons started right away.
It took Emily a while to look at the time and be able to figure it out. "6 o'clock." She answered.
Liz leaned up on her elbows to check. "Good job, sweet." She said.
Liz had just started to get up and out of bed when Mrs. Kendall waddled in.
"Morning." She said cheerfully. Emily looked at Liz and rolled her eyes.
"It's Thursday, why is she speaking English?" Emily asked questioning.
"Because only we speak French on Thursdays." Liz explained washing down in the freezing cold water.
"Why?"
"So you'll learn it."
"Does monsieur know?" She asked wandering over to her.
"Yes. Now come here." Liz finished pulling on her dress and tying it back. They walked through the doors.
Emily washed down quickly in the slightly warmer water. "I'm hungry." She said.
"Hungry?" Usually Emily had to be forced to eat.
"Yes." She said.
"Mrs. Kendall." Liz called into the adjoining door.
"Yes, Miss Parker." She waddled into the room with fresh linens in her hands.
"Where do we take breakfast?"
"My lord wants you two to join him downstairs, this morning." She said as if she remembered something. "Oh, and he wants you down there at 7:00, every morning."
Liz straightened and looked at the clock. 6:50. "Emily come here and let me finish your hair."
She quickly swept her blonde curls into a half ponytail as directed by Mrs. Kendall.
"Let's go. Do you want to take Katarine?" Liz asked picking up the doll.
"Yes." She held out her hands. She tucked Katarine safely under arm. "Up?" She asked holding her hands up.
"Come on." Liz picked her up and Emily wrapped one arm around her neck.
"Let's go."
Emily chatted happily, yet quietly, on the way down the stairs.
Liz had to remind herself to keep walking when she saw Martin holding open the door to the dining room.
"Good Morning, Miss Parker, Lady Emily." He smiled. Liz was still very uncomfortable under Martin's scrutinizing gaze.
"Bonjour." Emily whispered blushing furiously. She tucked her head in Liz's neck.
"Morning, Martin." Liz nodded her head in acknowledgement but kept walking.
"Nice of you to join us." Max said standing up from his seat at the table.
Liz glanced at the clock. 7:02. "Sorry we're late, my lord." She answered back in French
"Bonjour." Emily said sliding down in the booster seat that was there.
They had a quiet breakfast. Emily chatted quietly with Liz in French. Liz talked only to Max when he addressed her. It seemed to pretty much annoy him. She kept it up.
"May we go for a walk?" Emily asked as she hopped down from the seat and waited for Liz to join her.
"My lord?" She asked, knowing that Emily's education was up to him.
"Why don't you take morning lessons outside?"
"Outside?" Emily asked clinging to Liz.
"Yes. It's nice weather. It won't be here much longer, enjoy it while you can." He smiled and held the door open for them.
"Liz, I'd like to speak with you." He whispered in Latin.
Emily looked curiously up at them.
"Can it wait?" She asked not looking at him.
"No." He crossed his arms. "Send her with Mrs. Kendall for the morning. It's important."
"She naps in the afternoon."
"No, now." He said.
When was he going to learn that she did things her own way at her own time?
She'd show him now.
"Alright. Let me take her to Mrs. Kendall, I'll be back as soon as possible." Liz took Emily's hand and led her upstairs.
Liz eyed Martin warily at the way his eyes were studying her. She'd have to talk to Max about that.
Part 7
Max paced downstairs in his study. He was in his riding clothes. He had sent Martin up after Liz to tell her to wear the riding habit that was in the new wardrobe he had made, he hoped it fit.
"You do like to ride, don't you?" He asked as soon as he saw her enter the room. The habit fit perfectly.
"I spent a lot of my childhood on horseback." She said, smoothing out her skirts.
"What took you so long?" He asked.
"I had to start Emily on her lessons." She looked up at him.
"It took you an hour?" He crossed his arm and raised his eyebrows.
"Yes." She answered back defiantly. "Are you ready, my lord?"
"Quite." He walked towards the door but then paused. "Are you going to be cold, it's chilly but nice?"
"I don't get cold." She answered. All she had was her light cloak, she'd be fine.
"Alright, don't complain."
"How long do you expect to be out, my lord?" She asked on the way to the stables.
"About three hours." He stated simply.
"Three hours?" She turned back towards the house. "I didn't tell Emily I'd be out that long, please let me go tell her."
He grabbed her firmly but gently by the arm, "No."
"P-please?" She stuttered. "She's going to get upset, she's not a huge fan of horses since her father's accident." She whispered.
"She'll need to learn, Liz. We'll be back before noon." He kept walking.
"W-will you let go of my arm please?" She whispered.
Max looked down at the young girl. She looked like she was going to cry. "Yes." He dropped his hand. "Hurry up, the sooner we leave the sooner we get back."
She followed quickly after him. "As I said yesterday, my lord, I cannot keep up with you when you walk at such a speed."
"I'm sorry, he slowed his pace a bit."
"Thank you." She eyed the puddle there was no choice but to go through. " Where exactly are we going?" She lifted her skirts above her ankles to lightly step into the puddle, but was hoisted into the air.
"Let me help you." He said. She grabbed onto him to gain balance.
They were well over the puddle but he was still carrying her. "Max, you can put me down now." She told him.
"You walk to slow, it's faster when I carry you."
"Suit yourself." She said annoyed, she didn't see a point in arguing with him.
Pretty soon they reached the stables. They were the most magnificent horses she had ever seen. "These are beautiful she said in awe."
"I have the perfect horse for you and Emily." He said proudly. He set her down and led her into the stables. "Allen!" He called for the stable boy.
"Yes, my lord?" He asked sleepily.
"Please prepare Alador, and the young mare." He said, voice ringing with authority.
"Come, I'll show you Emily's." He pulled her along to the other side.
He stopped in front of a young chestnut mare. "She's beautiful." Liz whispered. She had grown up with horses and she knew a good horse. "How old is she five, six?"
"She's six years. Newly broken and gentle as a lamb." He explained.
They walked back outside the stables. A magnificent stallion was standing proudly next to a smaller, calmer mare. "The stallion is my horse, Alador." He told her as they walked towards the horses. "The mare is yours."
"Mine?" She asked. "Yours, she's not even named yet." He said smiling.
"I'll have to ride her to see what she's like." She said shyly. Although she'd spent her life around horses, didn't mean she'd ever had one. "Thank you."
"Your welcome." He helped her up onto the horse.
They began at a slow trot. "Where are we going, Max?" She asked again.
"I'm going to show you how far you're allowed to take Emily on rides without an escort and certain ground rules that will need to be laid down."
"Alright." She says.
An hour later they circle Antar Lake. "Are we allowed to wade in the water?" She asked.
"Yes."
"There's going to be a party for her on Tuesday." He said completely out of the blue.
"Why?" Liz asked looking at him. "Can we stop here?"
"Sure." He hopped down from his horse to help her down as well.
She walked towards the water. He eyed her warily. "Liz, can you swim?"
"Nope." She slipped off her slippers and walked a little ways into the water.
"Careful." He warned. "It gets slippery."
"It feels cool." She said. "It reminds me of a creek that I used to play in when I lived in Pennsylvania." She smiled remembering.
"Was it fun?"
"I don't really remember much, only the coldness of the water. Mama used to take me down to the creek when she was with child. She said the water cooled her feet. It was the only time she let me take off my shoes outside the house." She smiled and stepped further into the cold water. She lifted her skirts a little higher.
Max stared at her. Her legs were shining in the water.
"How deep does it go?" She asked innocently turning around to stare at him.
It took him a minute to find his voice. "I'm not sure, my Mrs. Kendall never let us go that far."
"Ok." She stopped where she was and began to walk sideways. "So why are we having a party?"
"For her birthday." He stated. "The duchess feels it's necessary to make her feel as welcome as possible."
"Will the duchess be coming?" She asked.
"Yes, my father, mother, sister, and nephew, my brother-in-law might come if his schedule allows." He nodded.
"All those people are coming and they don't even know her?"
"She's part of the family." He shrugged as if it was normal. He kicked off his boots and rolled up his pants to join her. He stepped in the cool water next to her.
"It is cold isn't it?" He asked.
"Very." She chuckled. "I don't think I can feel my feet." She walked back towards the dry land and sat down on the grass.
"It's very nice here." She looked around.
"I like it." He took a seat next to her. He noticed how tired she looked. "Did you sleep last night?"
She looked at him. "Yes." She quickly changed the subject. "Am I allowed to bring Emily here?" She asked.
"Yes, with either Martin or myself."
"Why?"
"Because you can neither see the house nor hear anything from here. Now don't doubt that this property is well protected, we can't guarantee anything." He looked at her making sure she understood. "Is that clear?"
"Yes." The only thing that stood in her mind was they could not see or hear anything from here. She was never, ever coming here with Martin.
"Liz, answer me truthfully. Did you sleep last night?" Max asked her. He scooted closer and lifted her chin to meet his eyes.
"No." She said quietly, she tried to divert her eyes from his dark, questioning ones. "I don't usually sleep at night. I nap with Emily during the day. I-I don't like sleeping at night. Things happen when you're asleep." She looked at the ground blushing.
"Like what?"
She looked back up at him, tears forming in her eyes, she wanted so badly to tell him but she couldn't. One, she knew him for one day, and two he'd send her back. "Nothing."
His face was close to hers. Why was his face so close to hers? It should not be allowed to have eyes that gorgeous.
His face was getting closer by the second. His lips were so close that she could feel his breath.
Someone came crashing through the trees. Liz pulled away and pulled her feet under her skirts.
"I'm sorry, my lord. But you have a caller, and Lady Emily doesn't want anything to do with us. She wants Miss Parker." Martin said in a hurry.
Liz was up in a second she pulled her slippers on and made her way back to her horse. There was no ways she'd be able to get back onto that horse without help.
Martin was behind her and lifted her up onto the horse. She stiffened, his hands just felt wrong, and they lingered longer than they needed to. "Thank you, Martin. Max, shall we go?"
He pulled a glare away from Martin and looked at Liz. "Yes. Martin meet us back at the house." He instructed. "Liz, can you gallop?"
"Of course." She answered.
"Let's go."
They took off towards the house.
The stable boy met them on their way to the stables. Max helped Liz down and she walked back across the lawn to the house.
She was so determined to get to Emily she almost missed the blonde girl standing in the entryway, almost.
"Tess?" She looked at her.
"What are you doing here?" She folded her arms.
"Do you two know each other?" Max asked coming up behind Liz. Max glanced at the girl and almost shrunk back in disgust.
"Um, no." Liz said quickly, turning away. "I'm going to find Emily, my lord." She curtsied and exited the room.
TBC
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport
Hello,
I was planning on reposting it, but I decided it's already over in it's entirety at the archives. Here's a link below. Also despite the note at the end I'm writing a sequel!
A Duke, a Governess, and a Little Lady
I was planning on reposting it, but I decided it's already over in it's entirety at the archives. Here's a link below. Also despite the note at the end I'm writing a sequel!
A Duke, a Governess, and a Little Lady
"Love does make the world go round... that's why it's so screwed up." Nora Roberts, Homeport