The Governess of Highland Hall (44 page)

She glanced around and released a soft sigh. This guest room was much larger than her former quarters. The soft green-and-gold color scheme gave it a pleasing, feminine touch. But it had not been used for quite some time, and it was in need of a good cleaning. The maids were all busy, so she had offered to see to it herself. She didn’t mind. She was used to caring for her home and family.

She laid the dresses on the chair near the fireplace and crossed to the window. Opening the shutters, she looked out across the snow-covered parkland. The golden sun dipped low, ready to slip behind the rolling hills in the distance. Several massive cedars, dusted with snow, stood like dark giants stationed around the park. A few other trees lifted their bare, black branches in sharp contrast to the pale lavender sky.

Highland was beautiful in the winter. What would it look like in the
spring? Would she be here to see nature come back to life, to stroll across the hills and fields with Andrew, Millie, and William?

Her heart ached as she thought of the letter she had received two days earlier from her mother. Her father was regaining his strength, and he spoke every day about returning to India. It was good news, really. She ought to be glad. But she sighed and turned away, uncertain how she would ever leave William.

“May I come in?” Mrs. Emmitt stood in the open doorway, carrying a stack of folded sheets and pillow covers. “I brought these up for you.”

“Thank you. That’s kind, especially when you have so much to do today.”

“I hope the room is adequate.”

“It’s lovely. I’m quite content.” She forced a smile, though her heart was heavy. She was probably just tired from the emotional strain of the fire and having been awake most of the previous night.

Mrs. Emmitt placed the sheets on the end of the bed. “I don’t want to trouble you, but there is something we should discuss.”

A slight feeling of apprehension rose in her heart, but she nodded.

“It’s a delicate matter. I’m not quite certain how to begin.”

“Whatever it is, I’ll try to help you if I can.”

“Yes, I know you will.” She glanced at the chair. “Shall we sit down?”

“Yes, of course.” Julia sat on the bench at the dressing table, and Mrs. Emmitt took the chair next to it.

Mrs. Emmitt clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m very concerned about Sir William.”

Julia’s heart lurched. “What do you mean?”

“I’m afraid he’s in danger of losing Highland.”

Julia glanced away. The financial matters William had shared with her were confidential. She couldn’t very well reveal what she knew to Mrs. Emmitt. “Why do you say that?”

“I’m not sure if you’re aware of it, but when someone inherits an estate like this, the government requires them to pay a very large percentage of its value in death duties.”

“Yes, I understand death duties.”

Mrs. Emmitt’s eyes widened, but only for a second. “With an estate as large as Highland, the duties will be extremely high, and from what I understand, Sir William is having a difficult time raising the funds he needs.”

Julia looked down, not wanting to confirm or deny what she knew.

“If Sir William can’t pay the death duties by the first of March,” Mrs. Emmitt continued, “the estate will have to be sold. If that happens, Sir William will not only lose his house and land, he’ll also lose his position in society and his reputation. A baronet without land is … well, it would announce to the world that he is a failure.” The housekeeper lowered her chin and looked at Julia over the top of her glasses. “Do you understand?”

Julia nodded. “Perhaps that’s why he wanted to simplify the menus and have Miss Ramsey oversee the purchasing.”

Mrs. Emmitt pursed her lips, looking as though those changes were still painful. “Simplifying the meals and trimming expenses may have helped a bit, but now with the damages from the fire, he must pay for those repairs as well as the death duties, and that has backed him into a corner.”

Julia swallowed. Where was Mrs. Emmitt going with this conversation?

“I believe Sir William invited his brother to Highland with the hope that he would help him out of these financial difficulties.” Mrs. Emmitt shook her head, looking grim. “But I doubt that will happen. I don’t know why, but when Mr. Ramsey left this morning, it was clear he and Sir William were not parting on good terms.”

Dizzy waves of regret flooded Julia. This was her fault. Her foolish choice to walk David to his room had driven a wedge between the brothers and destroyed William’s chance to receive the funds he so desperately needed. “I’m so sorry.”

“There is still a chance to save Highland, and you must be the one to make it happen.”

Julia looked up. “What can I do?”

“There is an opportunity for Sir William to come into a great deal of money if he were to marry Miss Drexel.”

Julia’s heart clenched. She rose to her feet and turned away. Lifting a trembling hand, she rubbed her throbbing forehead.

“Please, listen to me, Miss Foster.”

Julia slowly turned and faced the housekeeper.

“Sir William is hesitant to propose to Miss Drexel, and I believe we both know the reason why.”

Julia stared at Mrs. Emmitt, her hands suddenly ice cold.

“I’m afraid you have captured his attention, and as long as you remain at Highland, he will not be interested in anyone else.”

Her mouth fell open. “But I didn’t intend to attract his attention.”

“Of course you didn’t. But you are young, and he is a man—a lonely man at that.” She adjusted her glasses and looked Julia over. “I suppose he couldn’t help himself.”

A guilty wave poured over her, and her face flamed.

“He cannot marry you. You are merely a distraction, and that is the problem.”

Mrs. Emmitt’s words sliced through her heart.

“I can see that you care for him, and that makes the situation all the more difficult.”

Hot tears stung Julia’s eyes, but she blinked them away, determined to control her emotions.

“It would be best for everyone if you give your notice and leave as soon as possible.”

Julia shook her head. “But I can’t do that. Who will watch over the children and see to the young ladies’ education?”

“It will only take a few days to find another governess.”

Julia’s legs trembled, and she sank down on the bench. Of course, she could easily be replaced. Someone else could fill the position and care for them all.

“I’m sorry, Miss Foster. I don’t like to be the one to put this unhappy choice before you. But if you care about Sir William and his family, then you will go quietly and give him no hope of convincing you otherwise.”

Julia closed her eyes and pulled in a ragged breath. She loved William with all her heart, but Mrs. Emmitt was right. There was no future for them, and if she stayed at Highland, it would only lead to loss and heartbreak for them both.

The choice was clear.

And somehow she must find the courage to make it.

William stared at the telegram in his hand and read it once more, his heart sinking like heavy stone.

S
POKE TO SOLICITOR
. N
O FUNDS AVAILABLE
.
H
E ADVISES AGAINST SELLING
L
ONDON HOUSE
.
A
POLOGIES
. D
AVID
.

“Sir, would you like me to gather the staff for Scripture reading and prayer?”

William looked up and blinked at Lawrence. “What?”

“Do you want to proceed as usual this morning with Scripture reading and prayer?”

“Yes. I’ll be there in a moment.”

“Very good, sir.” Lawrence nodded and left the library.

William tossed the telegram onto his desk and stared toward the window. He should have known his brother would not help him. When William questioned David yesterday morning about the incident with Miss Foster, he’d laughed it off and said William was overreacting. But William had not backed down, and David left in a huff, without apologizing for the despicable way he had treated Miss Foster.

He shook his head. What a fool he’d been to think his brother would stand with him through these trials.

The sound of everyone gathering in the hall roused him from his discouraging thoughts. He picked up his Bible from the desk and walked out to meet them, his mood sinking lower.

The staff lined up across the hall. Sarah, Katherine, and Penelope waited for him by the fireplace, but Miss Foster and the children were missing. The grandfather clock at the end of the hall struck nine, and he glanced up the stairs.

Miss Foster came into view as she crossed the gallery with the nursery maid and children. Andrew bounded down the stairs, but Miss Foster did not call him back as she usually did.

William frowned at his son, and Andrew slowed his pace as he crossed the hall.

“Sorry, Papa. We didn’t mean to be late, but we had some trouble with our clothes.” Andrew looked down at his mismatched outfit. Apparently someone had given the children clothing to replace what had been burned in the fire, but Andrew’s pants looked too short and his shirt was several sizes too large.

William frowned and tried to catch Miss Foster’s eye, but she stared straight ahead as she slipped into her place beside the children. Her face looked dreadfully pale, and her eyes appeared to be red, as though she had been crying. The drab gray dress she wore hung on her like an old sack.

His frown deepened. “Miss Foster, are you ill?”

She glanced at him and pressed her lips together, then quickly looked away. “No sir.”

He stepped in front of her and lowered his voice. “I mean no offense, but your dress and appearance are quite … unusual.”

“Most of my clothes were destroyed in the fire. Lady Gatewood sent over this dress for me.”

“Where did she find it—in the rag bin?”

Miss Foster’s pale face flushed pink. “I don’t know, sir.”

He huffed. “I’m sorry. I’m out of sorts.” He turned to Sarah. “Can you please find Miss Foster something else to wear? And Andrew as well?”

Sarah nodded, but her unhappy expression warned him that his tone and actions could be considered hurtful.

He faced the staff and found all eyes focused on him. Lawrence sent a stern glance down the row, and they quickly lowered their gazes.

William opened the Bible, painfully aware that he had spent no time reading it for several days, and he had not prepared a passage for this morning.

He turned to Psalms, which so often soothed him. The page fell open to Psalm 112, and he began reading. “ ‘Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.’ ”

Andrew looked up at him with a question in his eyes.

William wished he could acknowledge Andrew’s interest and explain the verse, but this was not the time. “Wealth and riches shall be in his house.” The phrase caught him by surprise, and his voice faltered.

Sarah sent him a concerned look.

He cleared his throat and continued. “His righteousness endureth for ever. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth …”

His brother’s refusal to lend the needed funds rose in his mind, churning his thoughts. He clenched his jaw and focused on the page again. “Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the L
ORD.
”

The psalm continued, but his throat felt so tight he could not go on. He closed the Bible, bowed his head, and tried to steady his emotions. But conviction pressed hard upon his heart. How could he expect the Lord to bless his home and family when he had given little thought to trusting Him or asking Him to guide and direct?

Things had to change, and he would start with an honest prayer.

“Father, we come to You today, asking forgiveness for our lack of trust and for the times we have pushed ahead without consulting You. Forgive us for losing sight of what is most important.

“We thank You that no lives were lost in the fire and no one was seriously injured. Thank You for the way everyone worked together, risking their lives to save Highland and rescue those we love.

“We ask for Your mercy and grace. Please help us be worthy to carry Your name and spread Your light through our household and our world. We lift this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.”

He looked up, and his gaze connected with Julia’s.

Her pain-filled eyes glistened with tears.

His chest tightened. He’d never seen her so distraught. Had she received some terrible news from home? Or was she still upset about the fire? He had no idea, but he intended to find out as soon as he had a quiet moment with her.

He waited while Lawrence dismissed the staff. Ann took the children upstairs. Sarah, Katherine, and Penelope walked into the drawing room.

Miss Foster turned to him. “May I speak to you in private, sir?”

A wave of relief passed through him. “Yes, of course.”