The Governess of Highland Hall Read Online Free PDF Page B

remained closed.
    Mrs. Emmitt spun around and faced Ann. “I have a mind to dismiss you on the spot!”
    The maid’s eyes widened. “Oh no. Please, ma’am. I’m sure he’ll settle down and be out in just a minute.”
    “He’d better be!” Mrs. Emmitt snatched a watch from her skirt pocket and checked the time. “You have twenty-five minutes to finish dressing the children and bring them downstairs. If you fail in that duty, you will pack your bags and leave this house today. Do you understand?”
    The color drained from the maid’s face. “Yes ma’am.”
    Mrs. Emmitt sent Julia a stern glance. “Perhaps Miss Foster can help you get the children under control.” She strode out of the room and closed the door with a loud bang.
    Julia swallowed and turned to the maid. “I’m so sorry. What a difficult way to begin the day. I’m Julia Foster, the new governess.”
    Tears gathered in the young woman’s eyes. “My name’s Ann Norton, and I’m ever so glad you’ve come. I’ve only been in service here a week, and I’ve had a dickens of a time trying to manage these two wild ones on my own.” She nodded toward Millie. “Spawn of the devil, if you ask me.”
    Julia stifled a gasp. “We mustn’t speak about the children that way.” She glanced at the little girl, who watched them with wide blue-green eyes. Her tears had slowed, but she still breathed in jerky sobs.
    “You’re right, of course. But I’ve never seen such disobedient and unruly—”
    “Please, I must insist on it.”
    The maid sighed. “All right.” She placed her hands on her hips and glared toward the closet. “We’ve got to get that boy out here and dressed.” She walked over and tried the doorknob again. “Andrew, Mrs. Emmitt is gone. You’ll not be punished if you come out now and finish dressing.” Ann bit her lip and waited, but the door did not open. “Miss Foster, your new governess has arrived, and she’s brought you a treat.”
    Julia shook her head. “We mustn’t lie to the children to convince them to obey.”
    “What kind of treat?” Andrew’s muffled voice came from behind the closet door.
    Julia opened her mouth, intending to explain she hadn’t brought him anything, but the maid cut her off. “It’s something delicious, and if you come out now you can have some before we go downstairs.”
    The door creaked open about a foot, and the boy peered out. “I don’t see any treats.”
    Julia stepped forward. “You’re right, Master Andrew. Ann was mistaken.”
    He started to pull the door shut, but Julia grabbed hold and kept it open. “I didn’t bring treats today, but if you settle down and get dressed, I’ll tell you about the time a real tiger came calling at our house.”
    He snorted and tossed Millie’s stuffed tiger on the floor. “There are no tigers in England, except perhaps in the zoo.”
    Millie ran forward and snatched the stuffed animal. She gathered it into her arms and sent her brother a hateful glare.
    “You’re right,” Julia continued in a calm voice. “But I’m talking about my house in India.”
    His green eyes lit up. “India? Like The Jungle Book ?”
    “Yes. You’ve read it?”
    He shook his head. “Mrs. Lambert, our governess in London, started reading it to us, but then we had to come here.” He scowled, his expression looking very much like his father’s when she met him in the lane yesterday morning.
    “It’s a wonderful book,” Julia continued. “Perhaps we can find a copy and finish reading it.”
    Ann placed her hand on Andrew’s shoulder and guided him away from the closet. “Yes, maybe Miss Foster can read it to you after breakfast, but first we must get dressed.”
    “I want to hear the tiger story.” Millicent walked toward Julia. She was a lovely child, with long, wavy red hair flowing over her shoulders and a few pale freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks.
    Julia smiled. “Let’s obey Ann and finish dressing, and I’ll tell you the