7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

E velyn stood before the looking glass, her fingers nervously smoothing down the front of her plain grey dress. The fabric felt coarse beneath her touch, a far cry from the silks and muslins she'd once worn.

She tilted her head, examining the neat braids at her temples that led into a simple chignon at the nape of her neck. It was a style that spoke of practicality rather than fashion, but she hoped it would strike the right balance between respectability and approachability.

Her reflection stared back at her, pale and wide-eyed. Evelyn took a deep breath, willing her racing heart to slow. The enormity of what lay ahead threatened to overwhelm her. These girls, strangers to her, would now be her charges. Their education, their comportment, their very futures would rest in her hands.

"You can do this," she whispered to her reflection. "You must."

The looking glass offered no reassurance. Evelyn's gaze drifted to the small hearth in her room, a reminder of her near-disaster the night before. Heat crept up her neck at the memory of fumbling with the fire irons, grateful that the maid had shown her the basics. It was but one of many skills she'd need to master if she were to maintain this charade.

Evelyn squared her shoulders, lifting her chin. She may not have been born to this life of service, but she'd be damned if she'd let that stop her from excelling at it. With one final glance at her reflection, she turned towards the door.

Her hand hesitated on the latch. Beyond lay a world utterly foreign to her—a world of early mornings and hard work, of children's laughter and lessons. A world where she was no longer Lady Evelyn, but simply Miss Bane, the governess.

"Forward," she murmured, echoing her father's favourite command. "Always forward."

Evelyn descended the grand staircase, her hand gliding along the polished banister. Each step felt like a descent into the unknown, her stomach fluttering with a mixture of anticipation and dread. The house was deathly silent, almost tomb-like.

As she approached the drawing room, Evelyn paused to smooth her dress one final time. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the encounter that would shape her future. With a trembling hand, she reached for the door handle.

The moment the door swung open, chaos erupted. Two enormous dogs bounded towards her in a chaotic tumble of shaggy grey fur, their paws scrabbling against the polished wooden floor. Before Evelyn could react, she found herself engulfed in a whirlwind of fur and slobber.

"Oh!" she squeaked, stumbling backward against the wall as the enthusiastic beasts vied for her attention. Their rough tongues lapped at her face and hands, leaving trails of warm saliva in their wake. Evelyn's carefully arranged hair came loose, wisps falling about her face as she tried to fend off the overzealous greeting.

Evelyn's heart raced as she heard muffled giggling from within the drawing room. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but a spark of indignation flared in her chest. This was no accident—it was a test, and one she refused to fail.

Gathering what remained of her dignity, Evelyn pushed herself away from the wall. She stood as tall as her petite frame would allow, fixing the enormous beasts with a stern glare.

"Down!" she commanded, her voice ringing out with surprising authority. "Leave off at once!"

To her astonishment, the dogs obeyed. Their tails drooped, and they circled each other, whining softly. Evelyn felt a pang of guilt at their crestfallen expressions, but she pushed the feeling aside. She was here to be a governess, not to coddle overgrown puppies.

With trembling hands, Evelyn attempted to smooth her hair back into place. She dabbed at her face with her handkerchief, grimacing at the traces of dog saliva. Her neat grey dress was now adorned with pawprints and tufts of grey fur.

She'd never encountered dogs of such immense size before, let alone been accosted by them. The largest dog she'd ever seen had been her cousin's pampered spaniel, a far cry from these shaggy behemoths.

Taking a deep breath, Evelyn straightened her spine and lifted her chin. She may look a fright, but she would face whatever lay beyond that door with all the poise she could muster. Her expression was hard and would have parted a sea by the time she regained the doorway to the drawing room.

Evelyn stepped into the drawing room, her eyes immediately falling upon two young girls who stood side by side, their faces a picture of feigned innocence. Despite their best efforts, the mischievous glint in their eyes betrayed them.

"Miss Augusta and Miss Julia, I presume?" Evelyn asked drily, arching an eyebrow at the pair.

The girls exchanged a quick glance, their lips twitching as they fought to suppress their smiles. Evelyn opened her mouth to address them further, but the sound of heavy booted footsteps echoing through the house made her pause.

The sisters' eyes widened in unison. "Uh oh," they muttered, their earlier bravado evaporating in an instant. They moved as one, attempting to sidle past Evelyn towards the door.

Evelyn, however, was quicker. She shifted her stance, effectively blocking their escape. Her expression hardened into a dour look that brooked no argument. The girls froze, caught between their new governess and the approaching storm. The footsteps grew louder, more insistent. Evelyn's heart quickened, but she kept her face impassive. She would not show weakness, not now.

The Baron marched into view, his face like thunder. He came to an abrupt halt, taking in the scene before him: Evelyn, dishevelled and covered in dog hair; his daughters, trapped and guilty; and the two enormous hounds, who had the good sense to slink behind a chaise longue.

Evelyn met the Baron's stormy gaze, refusing to flinch under his scrutiny. She may have looked a fright, but she would not cower. Whatever came next, she was determined to face it with all the dignity she could muster...if one could be said to have dignity with a tuft of dog fur in one's hair like a courtier's ostrich plume.

Evelyn watched as the Baron's face darkened, his grey eyes stormy with anger. His gaze swept over his daughters, who seemed to shrink under his scrutiny. The girls' earlier mischief had vanished, replaced by a palpable tension that filled the room.

Augusta and Julia stared resolutely at the floor, their shoulders hunched as if bracing for the impending reprimand. Evelyn felt a sudden, unexpected pang of sympathy for the pair. She remembered all too well the sting of disappointment from her own father, the weight of expectations that could crush a young spirit.

Before she could second-guess herself, Evelyn stepped forward, plastering a bright smile on her face. She turned to the Baron, her voice light and airy.

"My lord, I must thank your daughters for their thoughtfulness," she said, ignoring the startled looks from both the girls and their father. "They were kind enough to introduce me to your magnificent dogs. I've never had the pleasure of being around such fine animals before."

A puzzled frown formed on the Baron's face, his gaze shifting from his daughters to Evelyn. She could see the confusion in his eyes, warring with the anger that still simmered beneath the surface.

Evelyn pressed on, her smile unwavering. "I must admit, I was quite taken aback at first. But Miss Augusta and Miss Julia were most helpful in showing me how to properly greet such large dogs. It was quite the...educational experience." She turned back to face the girls and quirked an eyebrow at them.

Evelyn watched as understanding dawned on the girls' faces. They quickly caught on to her ruse, nodding enthusiastically.

"Oh yes, Father," Augusta chimed in, her voice a touch too bright. "We thought Miss Bane should meet Brutus and Caesar straight away."

Julia nodded vigorously. "We wanted to show her how friendly they are, didn't we, Augusta?"

The Baron's gaze flicked between his daughters and Evelyn, his expression still clouded with doubt. Evelyn could see the wheels turning in his mind, weighing the likelihood of this tale against his daughters' usual antics.

Seizing the moment, Evelyn turned to face him fully, summoning every ounce of charm she possessed. She tilted her head slightly, allowing a few stray wisps of hair to frame her face, and gave him her most dazzling smile. It was a look that had once captivated half the ton, and she prayed it would work its magic now.

The effect was immediate. The Baron's stern demeanour faltered, his eyes widening slightly as he took in her radiant expression. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words, his earlier anger dissipating like morning mist. Evelyn held his gaze, her heart hammering in her chest. She'd gambled everything on this moment, and now she waited, breath held, to see if it would pay off.