Page 59 of His One and Only Lady

The very thing a governess was warned to never, ever do. At least her employer wasn’t married.

Giggles carried to her as the Rutland boys chased each other back and forth around the pristinely tended garden. Bernadine, rather than search for bugs, sniffed blossoms here and there.

Scrunching her forehead, Purity tried to decipher exactly what had happened in the gamekeeper’s cottage—what it meant, if anything. Theran had said he’d dreamed of kissing her for some time.

Surely that meant he held her in some regard.

Didn’t it?

She and Theran had walked in silence back to the house hand in hand until they were close enough that someone might see them. He’d taken a different door inside to avoid speculation and tattle.

Given Mrs. Rutland and Jordan’s warm reception at breakfast, Purity laid aside her fears from yesterday of censure and termination. She bent to smell a luscious yellow rose. Soon autumn would descend upon the countryside, and the garden’s beauty would fade until spring.

Purity wasn’t sure how much longer they’d remain at Trenthurst House, but until they left, she’d continue helping with Jeffery and Landon.

Jeffery jumped off a bench then squatted to examine the small, colorful rocks covering the footpath.

“Jeffery, what do we know about insects?”

He grinned, revealing a missing front tooth. “They have six legs.”

“Excellent.” Purity lifted a ladybird from a rose leaf. It crawled up her finger. “What else do we know about insects, Landon?”

He held a stick out like a fencing sword. “Umm…”

“How do they fly?” she asked, coaching him.

“Wings. They have wings,” he announced proudly as he wielded his make-believe weapon.

“They do, indeed,” she agreed. “Bernadine? Do you know anything about insects?

Bernadine wrinkled her nose. “They are icky.”

The boys burst into giggles.

“Look, I have a ladybird beetle.” Purity held out her hand. “Let’s count her spots, shall we?”

The children rushed over.

“Miss Mayfield?”

Purity glanced over her shoulder to where Karen, one of the Rutlands’ friendly maids, stood in the doorway.

“A trunk and several correspondences have arrived for you,” Karen said with a cheery smile. “They have been put in your room. Mrs. Rutland thought perhaps you wished to read the letters. I shall take the children to the kitchen while you do. Cook just took gingerbread from the oven and said they might have a piece.”

That brought cheers from the three, and they rushed to Karen’s side then disappeared through the french window before Purity could thank her.

Purity gently brushed the ladybird beetle onto a leaf. After a final glance around the peaceful garden, she made her way to her chamber. A neat stack of letters, tied together with a blue ribbon, lay upon the rosewood night table.

Purity removed her bonnet, set it upon her bed’s light blue counterpane, and untied the scrap of ribbon.

On the top was a note from Trinity Ablethorne. Beneath it was a missive from Lady Mumford, another from Chasity Terramier, one from Mercy Brockman, and on the bottom of the short stack was a letter from Mrs. Hester Shepherd.

Sitting upon her bed, Purity skimmed over her friends’ letters. Trinity said she understood Purity’s hasty departure and that they’d catch up later. Chasity wanted to let Purity know that Balderbrook’s Institution for Genteel Ladies only had one position left.

Purity smiled and set the letter aside.

She wouldn’t be applying. For the time being, she was perfectly content to remain Bernadine’s governess.