Chapter 9

Jude sat staring at the pile of documents in front of him, eyes blurring as he tried to read the words. Unable to concentrate, he took a piece of paper, scrunched it in his fist, and threw it across the room.

This felt like a mess, and he'd been warned by Daniel not to get involved with the child and governess. His choices had been limited and he'd made the best decisions he could in difficult circumstances.

Now he had been told that the woman he thought was Miss Letitia Banks was in fact a lady of quality, of the ton. She was having an adventure, escaping from home and family, to play at being a governess in the north. Words failed him.

Underneath this seething anger, he suppressed memories of Miss Banks writhing in her illness, he holding her hand, willing her to fight the fever, and return to them. He remembered the brightness of her eyes as she played with Sasha, setting up activities to distract the child from her grief. All the time this had been a charade. He had been hosting one Lady Audrey Rowe in his home. What his mother would say about this escapade he could only guess.

He banged the ink pen on the green baize blotter and black ink spattered across his shirt sleeve.

"Damnation!" He exclaimed. He felt he had a duty to continue caring for the child, and the sooner they were at Clairville the better. He could hand the child over to his mother, and Nurse Walters was more than competent to oversee Sasha's needs.

Miss Lettie Banks was another matter. She must be returned to her family immediately. The foolish young woman had already risked ruin by gallivanting across the countryside under an alias.

He had been out when Mrs. Weston had called that morning, but he had already received a letter from her, telling him that she knew Lady Audrey Rowe and the description of Miss Banks fitted. She would visit later that day and indeed she had.

Hearing a tentative knock on the library door, he bid the caller to enter. The door opened slowly, and he knew he did not want this conversation.

He felt a stab of temper as he saw Miss Banks standing before him, looking more composed than he had expected. The scene of a distraught young lady, pleading with him not to return her to ancestral home, with weeping and declarations of true love was not going to happen.

He couldn't leave her standing there like a naughty child, so he beckoned for her to take a seat near the fire.

Miss Banks nodded her thanks and walked across the room with grace and dignity. Jude could see she was avoiding eye contact with him as much as he was with her. He expected at the very least an apology and a sincere apology seemed quite appropriate to him.

Once she was seated, he moved to join her, but he struggled to know what to say. He looked across at the fragile figure sitting upright in the wing back chair. She raised her head and looked towards him, and their eyes met, and he felt again the pull of magnetic connection which happened whenever he spent time with her.

He nodded, took a breath, waiting before he spoke.

"Lady Audrey Rowe?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Miss Letitia Banks is an alias?"

"It is a name I took for my work as a governess," she spoke quietly, barely audible.

He sat back in his chair, brushing his hand through his cinnamon hair. "This is a sorry business, Lady Audrey. You are living in my house, under an assumed name, pretending to be a governess and risking ruin to your reputation and scandal in my household."

At first Audrey hung her head, but then he noticed a change as she looked at him, eyes wide open with a hint of defiance.

He drew a quick breath, waiting for her to speak.

"I could hardly seek employment as Lady Audrey Rowe. You know nothing of the reasons for my hiding my identity. Will you make assumptions, or will you allow me an opportunity to defend myself?"

Anger flowed with her words.

"Forgive me," he spoke sarcastically, "I find you are an imposter in my house, and you expect me to take tea with you? Afterwards, I may ask you why you felt it necessary to lie to me, and my household?"

Lady Audrey stood up, eyes blazing, nostrils flaring with indignation. "You judge me unfairly. I would like to tell you how—"

"Enough, madam, I have no interest in your stories. They are no doubt a product of your imagination." He continued, ignoring the look of wounded defeat in her eyes, "I have, today, made contact with your brother, Lord Cheshire. He has sent word by return that he is delighted to know you are safe. He arrives tomorrow, so you need to prepare to leave the house."

"But what about Sasha?" Lady Audrey asked.

Jude noted her care and concern for the little girl and not for herself, but he trusted nothing about Lady Audrey.

"I will consider how best to break the news that you are leaving. That is my concern. For now, you will keep to your routine. I've thought carefully about this, and you have shown nothing but care for Sasha, so there is no reason why you cannot spend time with her today. I cannot believe you lied to me this way" He stood and went to open the door, "Be ready to leave in the morning."

As the door closed after Lady Audrey, he slumped over the polished walnut table feeling a mixture of anger and intense sadness.

An hour later and Jude was still in the library when there was a rap on the door and Robert joined him. "There are rumors flying all around the house," Robert said. "I thought you might need company, but I see you have found the bottle of fine cognac."

"Join me, take a glass, Robert. I admit to feeling sad, frustrated, and perplexed all at the same time." Jude confessed. "She isn't who she said she was!"

"She may have had good reason," suggested Robert.

"Her brother is coming to collect her tomorrow morning."

"Ah, the valiant Lord Cheshire. What a delight that will be," Robert grinned.

"Robert, that has a touch of sarcasm."

"You remember I told you about Ethan Rowe. He seems to be one of life's more unpleasant characters."

Jude reached to pour another cognac and gestured for Robert to sit, where Lady Audrey had sat, just over an hour before. Jude pushed that picture out of his thoughts.

"The facts speak for themselves Robert. Lady Audrey Rowe is living here as an imposter. It seems she was absconding from home and traveling north to be a governess. Who knows why."

"Have you asked her?" The quiet question caused Jude to stop and think.

"No, I just assumed…"

"Look, Jude, all I can say is that if I had to choose between the word of Lord Cheshire or his sister then I know which I would choose."

"You really don't like Lord Cheshire, do you?" queried Jude.

"He may have changed, but do leopards change their spots? I think not. There was a streak of cruelty in the child, and I've heard nothing good of the man."

Jude stayed staring into the fire, long into the night. Robert was right. Why hadn't he asked Miss Banks her reasons? Why had he allowed his anger to overcome his ability to keep calm and ask the questions? She certainly had a powerful effect on him.

Should he have let her tell her story? She had tried to, and he had cut her off. He realized that in the months and years ahead he might often wonder and wish he had listened. The image of her protesting and trying to explain the reasons for the false identity was clear in his thoughts.

***

The weather the next day mirrored his mood. Dark storm clouds scurried across the sky, gusts of north wind blew doors closed and sent a chill through the whole house.

Mrs. Driscoll and Nurse Walters had both spoken with him, aware of the rumors circulating round the house.

Neither believed anything he said about Lady Audrey. They liked her and trusted their own judgment. Mrs. Driscoll had looked almost in tears when he told her Lady Audrey would be leaving the following morning. Nurse Walters had harrumphed and told him he would regret these actions, casting that poor child out of the house.

Everyone was against him, and yet he knew the done thing was to return Lady Audrey to the care of her brother.

He stared through the rivulets of rain as a carriage drew up outside the front portico. What a carriage! Four black horses, which was unusual in town, and a shiny barouche with gold paint highlighting the doors and windows. The coachman, in matching livery, shouted as Jake and another footman came out into the rain to help secure the horses and lead the carriage to the mews at the back.

Jude watched the carriage door open, and the steps being lowered. Once they were ready a man hurriedly exited the carriage, his head lowered against the rain, and a black cape over his shoulders. Jude noticed he offered no thanks to the servants who were drenched with rain.

As he climbed the steps to Jude's house, he looked sideways, and Jude noticed a look of what appeared to be smug satisfaction on the Earl of Cheshire's face. He had pale blonde hair which fell to his shoulders. As he turned away Jude got the impression of wealth and power emanating from this man.

Well, this couldn't be avoided. He must make the acquaintance of the Earl of Cheshire.

Mrs. Driscoll announced Lord Ethan Rowe, the Earl of Cheshire, and a man with long blonde hair and hooded gray eyes entered the drawing room.

"Your Grace," Lord Cheshire bowed to Jude.

"Lord Cheshire," Jude returned the bow. "Take a seat. What will you take to drink?"

"A small glass of Madeira will suffice," answered Lord Cheshire.

Jude gestured for him to sit and joined him.

"I'm grateful to Your Grace for taking in my sister, and I believe she has been ill while staying here."

"Gravely ill, with scarletina." confirmed Jude.

"Your household must have been inconvenienced so please accept my apologies. My sister is returned to health now?" the earl asked.

"She is still convalescing and advised not to exert herself for several days."

"I understand she has been calling herself by a false name and claiming to be a governess."

Something about his manner irritated Jude. "She has been living as Miss Letitia Banks; however, I cannot say she claimed to be a governess. She may be a lady of quality in the ton, but she has a talent for teaching and caring for others. My ward has benefitted from her skills as a governess."

Lord Cheshire almost spat out his wine.

"Poppycock!" he spluttered. "I've never heard anything like it. Lady Audrey Rowe, a governess."

Jude spoke through gritted teeth, "And an exceptionally good one, too."

"Well, if you would kindly call my sister then we will be on our way." The earl obviously did not want to stay any longer than necessary.

The absolute arrogance of the man, thought Jude as he rang the bell. As arranged, his manservant Robert joined them.

"Ah, Robert." Jude decided not to introduce Robert as his valet. "I'd like to introduce my cousin, Mr. Robert Girton. Robert, please meet Ethan Rowe, Earl of Cheshire."

Taking his cue from Jude, Robert took on the role of country gentleman. "We have met in fact," said Robert smiling. "You may not recall, your lordship, but you spent a summer at Clairville, and we played together as children."

Jude could see from his face that the Earl remembered the incident but had chosen to pretend he had no recollection. "I vaguely remember visiting Clairville. It has a beautiful park," Lord Cheshire smiled at Jude, ignoring Robert.

The door opened to show Lady Audrey, with Mrs. Driscoll supporting her arm, and a tiny face peeking from behind her skirts.

"I'm afraid Miss Sasha would not leave my lady's side. In the end, I agreed she could come and wave the carriage goodbye." Mrs. Driscoll explained.

Jude saw Lady Audrey turn pale, and she seemed to shrink several inches as she caught sight of her brother.

The Earl of Cheshire turned toward her with an expression of gloating glee. "My dear sister. We have been concerned for your welfare. I have just been telling His Grace how grateful we are for his taking you in. He told me some nonsense about your being a governess. Never heard anything like it. Is that your portmanteau? Let's get it into the carriage."

Lady Audrey was silent, complying with every instruction. Her eyes though were on little Sasha, and Jude could see her clear concern for the child's distress at seeing her leave.

She bent down to the little girl's level and gently reassured her. Sasha put her arms around Lady Audrey and refused to let her go.

"Audrey, as usual you take no notice of authority. We must leave and you are delaying this by letting that child make a scene. I knew it was nonsense about your being a gifted governess. You have no doubt spoiled that child and let her do exactly as she pleased. You are useless as always. I struggle to find anything you do which has any value." Lord Cheshire said with disdain.

Lady Audrey ignored him and continued talking with Sasha.

"Audrey, I expect you to listen when I speak to you. You will leave that child, get your cloak, and say goodbye. You need to be taught to respect authority. Your new husband will no doubt ensure you take notice of him. I shall warn him that he needs to curb you from the first day of your marriage." Lord Cheshire was becoming impatient, and his voice rose as he spoke.

Mrs. Driscoll gasped, Jude could sense Robert moving toward him, and he could feel the tension rising rapidly in the room.

The Earl of Cheshire continued with his demolition of Lady Audrey's character. She continued to ignore him, still speaking to Sasha.

Suddenly, Sasha looked at the Earl of Cheshire and said, "I don't like that man. He's like the men who came to take away my papa. Miss Lettie, you can't go with him. I won't let you."

The Earl of Cheshire stepped toward Sasha as if he was going to pull her away from Lady Audrey. Sasha screamed and started sobbing. "I won't let Miss Lettie go with the horrible man. No..." and her voice rose into hysterical sobbing.

"You are a naughty, spoiled child. You need to learn to respect adults and be seen and not heard." Lord Cheshire barked at Sasha.

The Earl was almost upon Lady Audrey and Sasha when Robert and Jude intervened and pulled him back.

"That's enough!" came Robert's firm voice. "Stand back and stay back."

The earl stepped backwards, brushing down his coat where they had touched him. He looked about to speak when Jude spoke with an authority that made everyone stop in their tracks.

"Lord Cheshire, please stay where you are. I cannot have a scene like this created in my house and I will not have you speak like that to my ward. This is not the behavior of a gentleman."

The little girl had found her way into Jude's heart. Since he had met her on that dark street where her mama had died before her eyes, she had become part of his life, and he could not imagine his household without Sasha. Everyone had taken her into their hearts.

Mrs. Driscoll held Sasha close while Lady Audrey stood to face her brother. Her feisty spirit revived, and she stood her ground as Lord Cheshire stared at her, his expression menacing.

Jude stepped between them, noticing that Robert was still in position close to Lord Cheshire.

"Enough" he said. "Lady Audrey… Miss Banks, do you want to leave with your brother, or stay here caring for Sasha as her governess?"

Lady Audrey looked at him and their eyes locked with a closeness that took his breath away. Unable to stop himself, he stepped toward her and put his hand on her arm. "Please be honest and tell me what you would like to do. You do not have to leave with this man. He does not treat you in the way a brother should treat a sister. I should know, I have six sisters," Jude said, smiling.

"Do you need to ask me that question, Your Grace?" came her reply. "I believe you know what is in my heart and how much I care for Sasha. She needs consistency in the months ahead, and I will gladly stay until she is settled at Clairville with your family."

Jude was asking her to stay and be a governess, suppressing the knowledge that his feelings of intense desire toward her remained. He could not lose her. The idea of her walking out of his house with that brute of a brother was something he would not countenance.

He turned to Lord Cheshire and nodded at Robert. "Your sister has made her choice. I must ask you to leave," said Jude, in such an icy tone that the Earl backed away.

"I must protest!" The earl whined.

"You can protest all you want. Lady Audrey will remain in my household under my protection. Robert, please show the earl to his carriage."

"You will regret this, Your Grace," declared Lord Cheshire, his gray eyes glinting with fury. "You will rue the day you interfered with my family affairs."

Jude went with Lord Cheshire and Robert as far as the door and returned to see a scene in the drawing room which gladdened his heart. Mrs. Driscoll and Lady Audrey had let Sasha sit at the pianoforte. The child had been insisting that she could play and none of them had believed her.

It was as if she had forgotten her distress a few minutes earlier, as she sat proudly on the piano stool, playing a simple melody, with two hands. When she finished, she looked around the room and smiled, clearly awaiting applause, which was quickly given.

"My Mama taught me to play that tune." she said as the applause continued around her. Jude reflected how one tiny child, with a very individual personality, could entirely transform their lives.

Was he doing the right thing?Jude thought to himself. Looking at the scene in his drawing room, he was sure he had. He was also sure he had not heard the last of Lord Cheshire.