11. Summons

Chapter eleven

Summons

Yorkshire, England ~ September 1810

" C urve your fingers, Milly," said Louisa, tapping time on her knee as the girl played on the pianoforte. "And you must stretch your thumb a little farther to reach the E. Since your hands are small, they must work harder to master Mozart."

With Penelope and Lord Kendall gone to the metropolis, lessons had become far simpler. Ginny placidly accepted every task given to her, and talented little Milly thrived in being pushed to excel. Louisa discovered that by taking a little time to herself to walk the grounds each morning, she then retained the patience to tutor the two girls all day in mathematics, music, drawing, French, and Italian. Indeed, she was almost enjoying the task, something she had never expected when she had answered the advertisement at Barrowby Park .

"Miss Lymington, how long did it take you to master Mozart?" asked Milly.

"One doesn't ever, truly. I'm still mastering him. But here, let me show you how this piece should sound."

Milly slid over on the bench, and Louisa, sitting down, set fingers to keys in a rapid crescendo leading to the final cadence. " Brava! " said Milly. It was strange to play the pianoforte for someone so appreciative. It was true that her talents had been lauded when she played at musicales during the season, but Milly's awed applause was far more intimate than the fawning approval of a room full of sycophantic suitors.

"You are marvellous, Miss Lymington."

"And so shall you be, someday soon." Uncomfortable with the adulation, Louisa stood up from the bench to let Milly practise and walked to the other side of the drawing room to examine Ginny's stitchery.

"This is very neat."

"Yes," said Ginny. Her features were broader than her sister's, and she looked up from her needlework with a cheerful gleam in her blue eyes. "I may be slow, but I can stitch a satisfactory chain of daisies."

"You think you are slow?"

"Haven't you noticed?" There was a tone of disbelief in Ginny's voice. "I'm slower than Penny and Milly at everything. I think it's because I have such trouble making up my mind what to do when a choice presents itself. Two stitches or three stitches? Green or blue ribbon? Chip bonnet or poke bonnet?" She looked at Louisa admiringly. " You seem to have no trouble deciding what to do in life, Miss Lymington."

Louisa lifted an eyebrow. "Indeed. I have never been accused of indecision." She imagined that Uncle Nigel had been deploring her decisive departure for the last couple months. Had Mr. Digby demanded the return of the money her uncle had borrowed from him? What would happen when he could not repay it? Mr. Digby did not seem like the sort of man to accept a swindle without repercussions.

Louisa shook off those unpleasant thoughts and forced her mind to consider her charges once again. Milly, persistent at the pianoforte, finally played the closing measures of the rondo perfectly. "Good," said Louisa curtly. "Lord Kendall will be proud of you when he returns to Yorkshire."

"Or when we go to London," piped up Milly.

"Go to London?" Louisa's creamy brow crinkled in confusion.

"Didn't we tell you?" said Ginny, setting down her embroidery. "A letter came this morning while you were out for your walk. Uncle Bertie says we're to join him in town."

"How preposterous," said Louisa. "I fear that will greatly interrupt your progress on the pianoforte, Milly." How were the girls to travel to London on their own? And what on earth was she to do at Barrowby Park with her charges gone to the metropolis?

"But Uncle Bertie has an instrument at the London townhouse, and you shall be coming with us, so my lessons can continue."

"Coming with you?" Louisa's voice turned sharp. "Nonsense."

"Yes, look at the letter." Ginny rose from her seat and asked the butler to fetch the letter which had arrived earlier. The longer missive addressed to his nieces contained a note from Lord Kendall to her, a note that was as curt as it was commanding.

Miss Lymington,

The coachman has orders to leave in the morning and bring you, Ginny, and Milly to London. The enclosed itinerary contains the best stopping places and inns along the way. The girls will be pleased to arrive in time for Penny's coming-out ball. You will be happy to learn that I have obtained adequate chaperonage at the London house in the person of Mrs. Miranda Gale, a distant relative of mine, so there can be no accusations of impropriety.

Kendall

Louisa bit her lip in frustration. There was no way for her to evade these direct instructions. Unless she terminated her position as governess, she would have to travel back to the dangers of London.

And even if you terminate your position as governess, where would you go? Lord Kendall has the upper hand now.

"No more lessons today," Louisa said. "Go upstairs, girls, and pack your things." She would need to repack her own monstrous trunk, half of which was still full of fancy evening wear and hidden jewels. The plain grey dresses she had worn when mourning her father were the only pieces that she had taken out of the box, and when she returned to London, there would be even more need for her to dress unobtrusively and wear a veil with her bonnet .

Mayfair was not large. It was a distinct possibility that she would pass either Uncle Nigel or Mr. Digby on the street. If she wanted to maintain her anonymity, it would not be wise to show the face that had been proclaimed the Incomparable of the last London season.