Chapter Three

"Oh, Sister, how I will miss you," Isabella sobbed, flying into Emma's arms as she loaded the last of her trunks into the waiting carriage.

Emma blinked back her tears as she embraced her sister. Leaving Isabella behind was the hardest part of her leaving. She had lain awake all night, thinking over everything she and her mother had discussed. But even if her new job did turn out to be a way she could make a difference and serve God, she knew that the pain of losing Isabella would make her perpetually homesick.

"I'll miss you too, darling," she whispered, choking back a sob of her own.

Isabella pulled away, her flushed cheeks streaked with tears.

"Promise to write to me every chance you get," she said.

Emma laughed, wiping away a tear that had just begun to fall down Isabella's face.

"I will write every single day, if I am able," she said.

Isabella nodded, but she didn't look convinced.

"I want to know all about the Duke of Buckinghamshire," she said. "And I want to know that he treats you well."

Emma couldn't help giggling again.

"He will be my employer," she said. "You make it sound like he is to be my husband."

Isabella shrugged, wiping her own face with her hands.

"I don't care what he will be," she said. "I just want to know if he treats you well."

Emma smiled weakly at her sister's quip, trying to keep her own apprehension at bay. She knew nothing about the duke, except that no one else in the ton knew much about him. There were rumors that swirled that he was a hermit, that he was cruel to his servants and that he had shut himself off from the world with various reasons as to why he would do such a thing. Emma wasn't one for gossip, as she knew that everyone was a child of God and should be treated as such. And yet, she couldn't help being afraid since she was about to go to work in the Duke's employ.

"All will be well, Sister," she finally said, kissing her sister on the cheek as the coachman called to her. "I will write to you about my arrival at Sinclair Manor as soon as I am able. I love you always."

Isabella returned her kiss, reluctantly pulling away from her older sister.

"You'd better," she said with a weak smile as she put her hands on her chest. "And I love you more, Sister."

Emma nodded, waving one final goodbye to her younger sister. Then, she turned and boarded the waiting carriage, watching as Isabella waved to her until she and the vicarage were no longer in sight. Filled with apprehension and immediate homesickness, Emma faced forward in her seat, watching the road that was taking her from everything she had ever known to everything of which she was terrified. She hoped her mother was right. But she feared that her employment at Sinclair Manor would be the biggest mistake of her life.

***

Almost two days later, Emma's carriage pulled up the winding driveway to the imposing expanse of Sinclair Manor. The high gray walls cast long shadows over the grounds, giving the mansion an air of brooding and sinister secrets. All the black curtains were drawn closed, making them look as though the manor had a dozen cold, black eyes. It was a well-maintained mansion, to be sure. But its rigid coldness sent shivers down Emma's spine. She was suddenly envisioning a hunch-backed master with wrinkles lining a constant snarling expression and small black eyes that were as unyielding as the black-draped windows.

Don't be silly, she silently scolded herself as she walked up to the large gray front doors of the mansion. Even if he has a physical deformity, he deserves compassion, just as everyone else does. And it certainly doesn't mean that he is a cruel man. Stop letting your imagination run away with you.

But as she pulled on the black door knocker, she couldn't shake the image her mind had produced of her new employer. What if her sister was right to worry? What if he ended up being a harsh employer who made every day of her tenure miserable? What if he refused to allow her to leave if she felt uncomfortable or unsafe?

As she waited for the butler to answer the door, she fidgeted nervously with the long sleeves of her blue muslin dress. She felt sure she would be given a uniform, but her mother had advised her to take all of her own dresses, as well, should she be sent into town or given time off.

She didn't have as many dresses as a rich lady would. But she had been sure that her favorite dress, a pink, lightweight wool gown, had been packed carefully on top of her others. Part of her wished she was wearing it then. Perhaps, she would feel a little more confident when she met her employer for the very first time.

***

"You are here to inquire about the governess position, I presume?" the butler said, suddenly standing before her.

Emma gasped, startled. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn't even heard the doors open. She blushed furiously as she tried to recover her senses, giving the butler a weak smile.

"Yes," she said, clearing the tremor from her voice. "My name is Emma Taylor. I'm the eldest daughter of Reverend John Taylor."

The butler bowed slightly before giving her a warm smile.

"I am Randall Travis, the Duke's butler," he said. He had kind brown eyes and laugh lines around the corners of his cleanly shaven mouth. Emma thought she would get on well with him. "I recall the Duke mentioning that he had petitioned to speak with you about the position. Please, come in. He's currently in his study, but Lady Victoria is in the parlour, drinking milk with the head housekeeper."

Emma fought the urge to chew on her lip. She recalled what her mother had said about how eager the duke likely would be to have the daughter of a vicar tutoring his child. It was a great deal of pressure for Emma, and she found she suddenly wanted to flee the manor and never look back.

"Thank you, Mr. Travis," she said instead, following the butler into the mansion's vast, albeit drab, entryway. The interior walls were as gray as those outside, and they were lined with portraits that Emma could only guess were ancestors and relatives of the reigning duke.

She could feel the eyes of each painted face watching her as she followed the butler through the halls, and she had to keep her own eyes to the ground. She knew she was only spooking herself because of her nerves. But it was taking all her concentration to remind herself of that. And the aristocratic world which was apparent all around her did little to calm her. It was all overwhelming, and she already could hardly wait to retire for the evening.

"Here we are," Mr. Travis said as he ushered Emma into a large, bright room. Right away, Emma noticed the stark contrast between the drab, strict walls of the mansion and the pale purple wallpaper and rich red furniture of the parlor. There were vases with pink roses on every table in the room, giving the room a sweet, welcoming smell. The fireplace was dark, given the warm weather. The window at the front of the room was open, allowing a gentle breeze. The silver chandelier above glowed brilliantly with more candles than Emma could count. And sitting on a small, purple cushioned bench, sat a young girl.

As soon as the child saw her enter, she sprang up from her seat and rushed over to Emma. She had the thickest, darkest brown hair Emma had ever seen, and it bounced up and down in shiny ringlets that were piled atop her head. Her green eyes sparkled with the innocence only a child could possess.

"Good day," she said, dipping into a perfect elegant curtsey. "My name is Victoria Sinclair, the only daughter of the duke of Buckinghamshire. Are you my governess?"

Emma smiled brightly at the child's directness and intelligence. She had never seen such a prim and proper young girl, and it contrasted with the childlike wonder that shone in her eyes. And yet, Emma thought it suited the girl, and she returned the curtsey.

"Yes, I am, Lady Victoria," she said, hoping she had addressed her charge correctly. "My name is Miss Emma Taylor."

The girl nodded matter-of-factly, as though she already knew all about Emma.

"I know," she said. "Mrs. Hodges told me that Papa had written to the vicar of Buckinghamshire and requested to speak with his daughter about being my governess. How old are you?"

Emma giggled, once more surprised at how direct the child was.

"I am twenty years old," she said with a warm smile.

Lady Victoria frowned, surveying Emma carefully.

"I thought governesses were supposed to be old," she said. "But you're very pretty. Do you have a husband?"

Emma laughed, shaking her head.

"No, sweetheart, I do not," she said. The child was, indeed, every bit as curious as she had thought she was. And Emma could see another question forming in her eyes. But before the little girl could ask, there was a clicking of a tongue from the doorway.

"Lady Victoria, that is a bit forward of you, don't you think?" a feminine voice called.

Emma turned to see a tall, thin woman with fiery red hair and deep brown eyes looking at the child with gentle admonishment. The woman was wearing a maid's outfit, and she sashayed into the room carrying a small teapot.

"That's all right," Emma said, quickly coming to her young charge's defense. "She meant no harm. And I don't mind answering her questions."

The woman looked at Emma as she sat down the teapot in front of Lady Victoria. She poured a small cup of steaming milk before returning to Emma and offering a curtsey of her own.

"She is a curious child," she said. "But where are my manners? My name is Lily Hodges. I'm the head housekeeper here at the manor, and I have been helping the nursemaid look after Lady Victoria until a governess was hired."

Emma returned the curtsey, just as she had with the little girl, offering a warm smile.

"I am Emma Taylor, the governess," she said. "That is, should the duke choose to formally hire me."

Mrs. Hodges laughed, a deep, hearty sound that didn't quite fit her slender frame.

"You show great initiative to show up to discuss the position in person," she said. "If he doesn't hire you immediately, I'll assume he's gone mad."

Emma smiled, though her nervousness returned. She couldn't deny that part of her hoped he would decide to hire an older woman for the job so that she could return home. But after having met young Victoria, she found herself fascinated by the girl. Perhaps, if she were hired, she would find a love for the job after all.

As the two women and the little girl continued talking, Lady Victoria's insatiable thirst for knowledge became increasingly more evident. She bombarded Emma with questions about growing up in the vicarage, being so devout in the church and whether she had any experience with teaching. Emma told the girl about the lectures she gave to the young children during church services, as well as how she would go from home to home and read passages from the bible to comfort the poorer families in the village.

As the clock struck three o'clock, Mrs. Hodges took Lady Victoria by the hand.

"Come, milady," she said. "We must be getting you dressed for dinner this evening." She turned to Emma with a warm smile. "I can't say for sure where the duke might be at this time. However, you will likely find him in his study. And if he is not, just fetch Mr. Travis and he will find the Duke for you, as I'm sure he will be eager to speak with you about the governess position."

Emma nodded, swallowing. She hadn't even secured the position yet, and she was being left to her own devices in the grand mansion. Lady Victoria curtseyed to her again, smiling sweetly up at her.

"Papa's study is just down the hallway on the left-hand side of this hallway outside this door and three doors up on the right," she said. "I do hope that Papa decides to hire you. I like you."

With that, she turned and skipped toward the door. Mrs. Hodges shook her head indulgently, then followed the girl out of the room.

Emma took a deep breath and, once the housekeeper and the child were out of sight, she stepped out into the hall, heading in the direction that Lady Victoria had given her. Sure enough, she found the hall of which the girl spoke, so she turned and counted three doors on the right-hand side.

When she reached it, she saw that the study door was open, and she felt nervous once more. She took a deep breath, preparing to introduce herself to the duke and her potential new boss. But as she peeked into the room, she saw that it was empty. She stepped away quickly, knowing it was rude to enter the private space of a noble man or woman without their consent or their presence. She decided that she would try to find the butler. If she could find her way around the vast, grandiose Sinclair Manor.

She continued down the hall to the next open door. She could see immediately that it was a large library. There wasn't a single wall that wasn't lined with bookshelves, and there wasn't a single shelf that wasn't packed end to end with books. Awe-stricken, Emma gingerly entered the room, taken in by the splendor of the library. She herself was well read and had a deep love for books. Now, she was standing in a room full of more books than she could ever read in several lifetimes.

"May I help you?" a deep bass voice called from across the room.

With a start, Emma gasped, whipping her head around until she spotted a gentleman wearing a rich crimson suit, whose deep blue eyes were studying her curiously. He had a tall, commanding stature, and even in a casual stance, he appeared regal and refined. Emma realized immediately that he must be the Duke and she blushed at having been caught wandering around his mansion.

"Forgive me, Your Grace," she said, fumbling as she struggled to curtsey without tripping over her feet. "My name is Emma Taylor, and my father told me that you were seeking a governess."

The duke's face instantly brightened. He replaced the book, she just noticed he had been holding, back to the shelf and quickly crossed the room.

"You are Reverend Taylor's daughter," he surmised, bowing elegantly to her. "I had expected to hear word of your arrival before meeting you."

Emma blushed, cursing her mother's ambition.

"Forgive me," she said again, trying not to be distracted by his regal features, which were more handsome the closer he came to her. "My parents thought it best that I present myself for the position in person, rather than wasting time on sending correspondence."

The duke shook his head, his smile widening.

"Not at all, Miss Taylor," he said. "You were the candidate I most hoped to hire. And you showing up to apply in person shows initiative. I commend such attributes, especially in people I seek to employ."

Emma blushed again, searching for words. She couldn't tell him that her parents had all but forced her to apply for the position. But nor could she truthfully tell him that she had been eager to speak with him about becoming governess for his young daughter. So, instead, she smiled and tried to look as confident and professional as she could.

"I'm afraid that I don't have an official resume," she said. "But I do have experience with tutelage of the scripture, specifically teaching children to read using the bible. I myself enjoy reading and learning, and my mother educated me very well, both inside and outside of religious texts."

The duke nodded, looking distracted. He was focused on her, but she couldn't tell if he was paying attention to what she was saying. His smile was still polite, but his eyes sparkled with curiosity. Emma decided she might be a bit too forward, and that she should allow him to ask any questions he had for her.

"I am well aware that clergy and their children are typically well educated," he said. His words were direct, but his tone was even, almost amiable. Yet his eyes seemed to be analyzing her in a way she couldn't quite read. "As I said, you were the candidate with whom I had most hoped to speak about the position. In fact, I have already decided that I would like to hire you. If, that is, you are still interested in working for me, after having spoken with me."

Emma blinked, surprised. She had, in fact, barely spoken to him. And in the short time she had been conversing with him, he had already stricken her as an enigma, as her sister had mentioned. It was difficult to read him, as his facial expressions seemed to convey more than one thought or feeling at once.

However, one impression she did not get from him was that he was the ogre that Isabella had feared he would be. That she had, regretfully, thought he would be. She couldn't be sure how strict an employer he would be. But that mattered little to her. She would do her best to ensure that she put forth nothing but her best efforts as governess.

She realized that the duke was waiting for a response from her. She blushed, cursing herself for remaining silent for so long.

"I would be honoured to accept the position, Your Grace," she said quickly.

The Duke smiled politely again, his eyes flickering through another array of emotions.

"Very good, Miss Taylor," he said. "If you'll just wait here, I shall fetch Mrs. Hodges and have her show you to your quarters. If you'll excuse me."

The duke bowed once again, stepping past her as she curtseyed to her new employer. He truly was a puzzle, she thought as she waited for the housekeeper. And his daughter was a curious little sponge. Emma smiled softly as she thought back to her conversation with the child. But her smile faltered as she thought back to the duke's faith in her status as a vicar's daughter. Would she be adequate in her new role as governess?

She recalled how excited Lady Victoria had been to start working with her. Clearly, the child liked her. And she had to admit that she had taken an immediate liking to the girl, as well. It might be a rough first few days. But with such an instant rapport with her ward, along with her aspirations of providing the finest instruction for the young lady, she was confident that she could refine her skills and present her utmost efforts to Lady Victoria in due course.