A Most Unusual Governess (19 page)

He rang for the butler.

'Send a message to the stables. Tell them I want the carriage ready in half an hour. Oh, and

Hodgess, inform Mrs Smith that I will not be in for dinner tonight. I am going to Bath.'

* * * *

Sarah's days settled into a regular pattern in Bath. In the morning she saw to the household, and in the afternoons she accompanied her aunt to the Pump Room. Although the family was in mourning Aunt Claire had refused to give up her visits to the Pump Room, and had persuaded her tame physician, Dr Henner, to order her to take the waters. She insisted that Sarah must go with her to lend her an arm if she should feel fatigued. Tor my nerves have had a terrible shock,' she said, 'and if I don't take care, I will follow my poor dear Hugh to an early grave.'

Sarah did not object to this arrangement. She felt that she must do what she could to put the past behind her and embark on a new life. She owed it to her brothers, especially Nicholas, who often expressed his concern about her listless spirits.

The Pump Room was the source of much of the social life of Bath. Here people went to drink the waters which they hoped would bring them good health. Here, too, people went to gossip, and Sarah's aunt liked nothing better than to while away the time by talking to her friends, whilst pretending that she was only there to satisfy Dr Henner.

'For myself,' she said hypocritically to Mrs Fenella Lovatt, 1 would much rather stay at home. But Dr Henner insists, and I am much too weak to argue with him.'

'My dear Claire, you must do exactly as your physician says,' commanded Mrs Lovatt. She had few friends in Bath, particularly at this time of year when it was almost empty of visitors, and she

was not prepared to lose Claire s company over such a thing as the death of a drunken husband. We can't have you fading away, my dear. You must keep your strength up. You owe it to the memory of your poor, dear Hugh.'

Leaving her aunt to gossip, Sarah took a turn about the room. It was large and airy, with a high ceiling and a viewing gallery at one end. Fine columns ornamented the walls and large windows flooded the room with light. For the most part the Pump Room was empty, but here and there small groups of people gathered together to pass the time of day.

'Looking a bit peaky this morning, Miss Davenport,' came a bluff, hearty voice at her side.

Sarah turned to see Major Weatherspoon, one of the residents of Bath. With his large, bulbous nose and his florid complexion, to say nothing of his rotund figure, he always reminded Sarah - in the nicest possible way - of an overgrown gnome.

'Better try a glass of the waters,' he went on, with a twinkle in his kindly old eyes. Young girls like you shouldn't be looking peaky - not unless they've been crossed in love!'

This remark was a little too close for comfort, and Sarah made an effort to appear animated. She did not want her low spirits to occasion gossip.

'Can't come to the Pump Room and not take the waters,' he said jovially. Without more ado he fetched her a glass. 'Smells bad and tastes worse!' He gave her a wink. That's why it does you good!'

Sarah smiled and took the glass. She liked Major Weatherspoon, and who knew? The waters might indeed help her to recover her spirits.

She lifted the glass to her lips. She was just about to drink when some instinct told her to turn towards the door. For some strange reason she had the feeling that James was there. It was ridiculous, and yet . .She turned, and what she saw made the colour rise to her cheeks. There, talking to a cluster of people by the door was James.

He looked magnificent; stronger and more virile than ever. His tanned skin was accentuated by the snowiness of his linen, and his black eyes danced with warmth and light. His broad shoulders filled his superbly-cut tailcoat, and his long, firm legs gave his breeches a smooth finish, before they disappeared into top boots that, highly polished, shone in the light.

Her heart leapt. But then her common sense reasserted itself. What a misfortune, to meet him here, in Bath.

But of course. She had known he intended to leave the Grange after the house party and once he had attended to his business, why should he

not visit the fashionable spa?

Major Weatherspoon, seeing her flush, looked at her curiously, then followed her gaze. 'Handsome fella, Randall,' he said. 'Just arrived this morning. Staying at The White Hart, by all accounts. Good place, The White Hart. Good food and the sheets always properly aired. D'you know him, m'dear?'

Sarah made a supreme effort to bring her emotions back under control.

Seeing James in Bath, when she had imagined him to be in London, had nearly undone her, but she took herself in hand, telling herself that, although it might be difficult for her to meet James, it was something she must school herself to do.

Now that she had been restored to her rightful position in society she would no doubt come across him in places such as London and Bath, and, no matter what her feelings might be, she must be able to meet him without appearing to be unsettled.

He might be high-handed and arrogant, he might have pulled away from her in horror when he had realised he had given way to his feelings for a governess, and it might have caused her terrible pain, but she must not allow any of this to show. She must treat him in the same way she would have treated him if there had never been anything between them. She, too, had her pride.

We've met,' she replied coolly. She was pleased to hear that her voice was level, without any hint of a tremble.

'Good for you, m'dear,' said Major Weatherspoon jovially. Well, mustn't monopolise you. But if you don't want to drink the stuff,' he added conspiratorially, looking at her glass, 'put it in the corner.' He glanced towards one side of the room where two or three glasses had already been left. Then, with a last wink, he strolled away.

James, who had been watching Sarah from the moment he entered the room, saw the old man leaving her. Making his excuses to the people he was talking to he crossed the room, his eyes fixed on hers.

Seeing him striding towards her made Sarah s treacherous body react as it had always done when he was near, sending shivers up her arms and down her spine. Surely she could not still have feelings for him, after their last disastrous encounter?

His face broke into a smile as he said, 'Sarah! At last!' He looked at her with a profound sense of satisfaction. I've found you.'

His greeting was so warm that her instinct was to return his greeting with an equally warm one of her own. But no. She would not betray herself in that way. 'Lord Randall,' she replied in a voice that was firm and cool.

He looked puzzled at the coolness of her manner. Whatever Sarah had been in the past, she had never been cool. But knowing that her uncle had just died he put it down to her recent bereavement.

Sarah, finding that he did not simply make some polite comment about the weather and then move on, felt compelled to fill the awkward silence. Presumably he felt it would not be polite of him to ignore her, and wanted to accord her the same courtesy he would accord any other young lady of his acquaintance. 'How long have you been in Bath, my lord?' she asked.

It was a polite and formal sentence, correct in every way, but it was totally unlike Sarah. He had expected her to be upset or angry, perhaps, but she seemed so different that for one disconcerting

moment James felt that he was talking to a stranger.

* * * *

At that moment Sarah's Aunt Claire, having seen that Sarah was speaking to a personable - and obviously wealthy - man, had decided to join her.

Why, Sarah, my dear,' she said with deceptive sweetness, 1 am sorry to have kept you so long. It really is trying to have to visit the Pump Room every day, but Dr Henner will insist I take the waters. I hope you have not been too bored?'

That's quite all right, Aunt Claire,' said Sarah. She was pleased, for once, to be interrupted by her aunt. She was finding it difficult to treat James with the cool but polite manner she had decided would best suit the situation, and was glad of an opportunity to bring the chance meeting - as she thought of it - to an end. 'It has been a pleasure to meet you again, Lord Randall.' She turned to go.

James s brow darkened. Although he did not understand her manner he was not about to be dismissed. As Sarah was not inclined to talk to him, he turned to her aunt instead.

The waters here are said to be very good. Have you found them effective?' he asked.

Sarah frowned. She had expected him to be as pleased as she was that the awkward situation they had found themselves in had been so easily resolved. But instead he seemed determined to prolong the encounter. Why, she did not know.

Her treacherous heart hoped for one minute that she had been mistaken about his reaction in the woodland; that he was genuinely pleased to see her; but common sense told her that there was a more likely reason for his attention. Finding himself in Bath, and unexpectedly seeing her there, he had most probably decided to make the most of the opportunity to talk to her about the children and ask her advice, perhaps, on appointing a new governess.

Yes, that would explain it. And of course she would give him every help she could in that direction.

Even so, she was not at ease. Conflicting emotions were at war within her: joy at seeing James again; anger and hurt for his rejection of her in the woodland; and bewilderment at his evident desire to be with her again.

Her aunt, however, was in her element.

'Most effective,' Aunt Claire said, in answer to James's question; whilst thinking I hope Fenella is watching this. She will be green with envy. 'How I could have got through these last few weeks without them I do not know... '

As her aunt's voice flowed on, Sarah became increasingly uncomfortable. If he wanted to ask her advice on something concerning the children, why did he not do so? Instead of listening to Aunt Claire's every word, and saying, when her aunt at last revealed that they were about to return to Laura Place, 'Perhaps you will allow me to escort you there?'

That is most kind,' replied her aunt, taking his proffered arm.

He offered his other arm to Sarah. She swallowed. There was nothing for it. She would have to take it. She rested her hand on his arm so lightly that she was barely touching him, but it was enough to reawaken all her physical feelings for him. What a stroke of bad luck it had been, meeting him in the Pump Room, she thought, without realising that he had come there on purpose to find her.

'How I wish I could take a turn in the Spring Gardens,' Aunt Claire sighed as they returned to the elegant town house in Laura Place. It is such a beautiful day. But alas! I don't have the strength.'

Then we will take a turn there together,' said James.

What a splendid notion!' Aunt Claire replied, as though the idea had never occurred to her.

Sarah's tension increased. Surely it wasn't necessary for James to prolong their chance encounter like this?

Once in the Spring Gardens, Sarah's tension increased still further because, saying to Aunt Claire that she must not tire herself, James settled that lady down on a seat and then continued to walk on with Sarah alone, never far from Aunt Claire, who was still obviously Sarah's chaperon, but far enough for their conversation not to be overheard.

As soon as it was possible Sarah detached her hand from his arm. The feelings it produced were clouding her mind, and she was already confused enough.

'It was very kind of you to see my aunt and myself safely home, Lord Randall,' she said. 'But now I believe we must detain you no longer.'

Why didn't you write to me, Sarah?' Now that they were alone he went to the heart of the matter straight away. 1 waited for a letter but it never came. All I had was a letter from your brother telling me that you were never returning to the Grange.'

She was surprised at his concern. She had expected him to be relieved that such a difficult situation had, by chance, been resolved so easily.

He looked down at her with tender concern. She was looking tired, he thought. Seeing a bench close beside them he held out his hands and invited her to sit down.

She hesitated for a moment and then reluctantly agreed. She had had a chance now to let his words sink in, and if he thought she had not written to him as she had promised to do, then it was not altogether surprising that he should want an explanation.

'If you are in difficulties of some kind... ' he began. He knew that her uncle had died, as Nicholas had told him so in his letter, but he also knew she had never been close to her uncle, and he was growing increasingly sure that it was not her bereavement that had caused her distant manner.

You didn't get my letter?' she asked.

'No.'

'But you have heard from Nicholas?'

Yes. As soon as I'd read his letter I set out for Bath.'

'My letter was closely following it. You must have left before it arrived. But you read Nicholas's letter, you say, and set out at once for Bath?'

'Of course. I had to find you.'

She felt a new warmth stealing over her. Then you came here on purpose to find me?' There was a note of hope in her voice. Could it be possible that he had wanted to see her again? That she had been mistaken about the look of horror that had crossed his face in the woodlands? She hardly dared hope. 'If you've read my brother's letter then you know why I can't come back to the Grange. I don't want to leave the children,' she said, this being safe ground to tread on - far safer than revealing that she did not want to leave James - 'but I can no longer be a governess and -'