Chapter 2

Chapter 2

We are delighted to hear from you regarding the position of the governess we are seeking for our two young girls, and we are certain you will be an excellent match for this position. You are well educated and have impeccable manners, and your father, Viscount Lockwood, was a very dear friend of my husband, Baron Kent.

Despite that, we believe that as a member of the peerage, it would be wrong of us to hire you in a working position that is definitely not meant for someone of your status and position. We prefer to hire someone from the working class who can tackle the position more professionally due to experience.

We value you immensely. Thank you so much for showing interest.

Regards,

Lady Mingrove

“What does it say?” Amelia asked as soon as Ophelia was done reading the letter.

“Another rejection.”

Ophelia sat on the sofa beside her sisters who had been helping her find a working position in the peerage to secure some level of financial stability for the family. Although where Ophelia had been sure that her position as the daughter of a viscount and connection to the ton would help her earn a place much quicker, it had been the exact opposite. Any position she had applied for, had resulted in a letter marking rejection without even interviewing her. Evidently, they had all been singling her out because of her former status as a lady of the ton.

“We have tried applying to every position in the nearby villages. I believe nothing is even left,” Sarah replied, and Ophelia knew her sister was right.

She had been so invested in finding a position as soon as possible that she had applied to every position within the closest distance. Despite that, no one had shown even the slightest interest in hiring her for any work. She had applied as both the governess and a nanny and even tried applying for the position of piano teacher. Her skills were rather decent at the piano despite her not having practiced for a while.

But she had only faced rejection after rejection.

However, Ophelia was not disheartened. She had already decided to find a job to make sure her siblings had a better life, and her mother felt no need to marry an odious man, and she was going to do just that. No matter how much harder and longer she had to try, she would continue the pursuit.

“What shall we do now, Ophelia?” Sarah asked as Ophelia picked up the newspaper in front of her again. She was determined.

“You will not find anything new in there. I have already looked,” Amelia said, but Ophelia still kept looking.

“Ophelia, you do not have to shoulder this responsibility alone,” Sarah chimed in, “we will all work small jobs, and together, we just might be able to afford a better lifestyle. We cannot let you slave away alone while we enjoy.”

“I will not be slaving away, Sarah.” Ophelia looked up at her sister, “I want to do this for my family so I can provide you two with bigger and better opportunities. Let me try to help you.”

“Ophelia, we do not have much choice.”

“We do!” she exclaimed suddenly, her hand falling on another advertisement in the newspaper.

Sarah snatched away the papers from her lap and looked at where Ophelia was pointing before beginning to shake her head quickly. Ophelia had already expected this reaction, but she was not worried. She knew she had to do something for her mother and was determined enough to do it.

“Ophelia, this nanny position is for a little girl at the house of the Earl of Sommers. That is much too far from home!”

“How does it even matter? As the nanny, I will have to live in his mansion anyway, so I will not be returning home. And if I only have to return after such long periods, how does it matter if I stay far or closer?”

“You will at least be closer to us,” Amelia said, sounding concerned.

“I have not even applied yet. We must first do that and then worry about all else,” Ophelia reasoned, sitting down straight with her quill and parchment on the table. She knew that this time, she would need to word the letter smartly. She had already made the mistake of being rejected by everyone, but she could not afford to be rejected here.

“What is it you are thinking?” Sarah asked, sitting down beside Ophelia as she began to write.

“How to make sure they hire me.”

The Earl of Sommers,

I am writing to apply for the position of nanny in your household for the child in residence. I happened to come across the advertisement in a newspaper and deem myself fit for the position. I have never worked as a nanny before, but as the eldest sister of three siblings, I have cared for children of all ages and am adept at the task.

I am educated and compassionate and would appreciate this position to be of any possible help.

Regards,

Miss Jennings

“Miss Jennings?” Amelia asked as soon as Ophelia was done writing, who chuckled at the question.

“It is Mama’s maiden name,” Ophelia explained. “I have to appear like a commoner and cannot reveal my true identity. That information has already caused me so many jobs in the past and I absolutely cannot afford any such thing again. It is better if they are unaware of who I am.”

Ophelia sealed the envelope as her sisters looked at her worriedly, but she was filled with a newfound hope. It almost felt as if she was doing the right thing, and this time, she would definitely not be rejected. God would not be so unkind to her.

***

“Mr Brown!?” Ophelia ran inside the local solicitor’s office, the letter that had just been delivered to her still in her hand. She had been so excited after reading the letter that she knew she had come looking for the kind man in the village who was fond of their family and had been there for them throughout.

“Miss Ophelia? Is everything alright?” he asked, standing up from his chair, the worry in his expression evident. Ophelia breathed deeply and smiled at him, trying to assure him he had no reason to be concerned.

“Everything is perfect,” she nodded, and he resumed his seat with a nod. Ophelia pulled out a chair and sat in front of him, still smiling from ear to ear.

“Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected and rather … excited visit?” he asked, pausing to find the right word.

Ophelia extended the letter towards him wordlessly as he read on, the smile on his face growing before he looked at her again.

“I applied for a nanny position at the Earl of Sommers’ household and have been selected to interview. However, the manor is rather far from here, and Mother will never let me travel alone, and she cannot accompany me and leave everyone else here alone. Will you be kind enough to come with me, Mr Brown?”

“First of all, I must congratulate you, Miss Ophelia. I had no idea you were searching for a job!”

“Mother needs financial help to run the house, and I would prefer if the help came from me rather than our family being indebted to someone. Hence, I decided to look for a job and have finally received good news. Please tell me you will come with me?”

Ophelia looked at him pleadingly, hoping for him to say yes. He was an extremely kind old man, and Ophelia had always felt close to him since his nature reminded her of her father. Hence, she knew he would rescue her now when she needed him. Without a moment’s delay, Mr Brown nodded, and Ophelia could not help squealing with delight.

“Truly? You will come?”

“Of course I will,” he replied, chuckling, “when do we have to leave?”

“Well, it appears that the earl is in a hurry to hire a nanny and has invited me to attend as soon as possible. We must leave right now.”

“Right now?”

“I cannot risk losing this opportunity, Mr Brown,” she replied, standing up from the chair and carefully folding her letter. “I have already been rejected from other places, and this is the only option I have left now.”

“You got rejected? Why so?”

“I introduced myself as the daughter of the deceased viscount and my mere linkage to the ton made the positions of a governess or a nanny unfit for me,” Ophelia sighed, remembering the mistake she had made.

“It doesn’t matter,” Mr Brown replied, “I will hire a carriage, and we will leave right now. Go and inform your mother and return here as soon as you possibly can, and we shall leave at once.”

“You are the kindest, Mr Brown.”

Ophelia raced back home, the thought of her impending interview consuming her entirely. Her mother was already waiting for her to return, eager to know if Mr Brown had agreed to go or not, and Ophelia ran and hugged her in excitement. She had not even received the job yet, but the mere idea of the interview made her feel excellent.

“I assume he has agreed?” her mother asked, laughing, and Ophelia nodded. Her happiness and enthusiasm had always been contagious, and she could see her mother just as happy about it as her.

“He has agreed,” she replied, walking into the small room she shared with her sisters, packing her satchel alongside as her mother followed after her. “He is hiring a carriage for the journey right now, and we will leave right away so I can be there quickly.”

“Oh Ophelia, you must thank him from me. He has never been unkind to us,” her mother said, “and once you have returned with good news, I shall go thank him myself.”

Ophelia kept everything she might need and went to stand before her mother, finally showing the nervousness she was beginning to feel about the whole ordeal. She had indeed pursued small jobs in the town, but she had never worked as a nanny. She did not know if she was even going to be right for the job, but still had to try.

“Do you truly believe I will return with happy news, Mother?”

“You are both smart and talented, my daughter, and you have never failed at anything. You are kind and warm, and that is exactly what a child requires. You will take care of this baby just like you took care of your siblings and will be able to secure the position. Just have faith in yourself.”

“Thank you so much, Mama.” Ophelia smiled. “Please pray for me.”

“I always do.”

Ophelia walked out of her room and hugged her sisters, quickly kissing Andrew’s forehead as he eyed her curiously. She waved goodbye to everyone and raced back towards where Mr Brown was waiting for her outside his office. Her nervousness was still intact, but she was determined not to allow it to ruin her chances.

If there was someone who would be able to secure the job, it was her. She had no other choice. She saw Mr Brown standing beside a rented carriage as she drew closer, and he perked up upon seeing her, beginning to wave her closer.

“Are you ready?”

“As ready as I have ever been.”

She climbed inside the carriage, with nothing but hope in her heart and her mother’s confidence. She knew she was doing the right thing.