The Governess Was Wanton Read Online Free PDF Page A

At her throat was a strand of pearls as large as marbles, and on her fingers glittered a row of rings as varied as the rainbow. She topped everything off with a false smile as wide as London Bridge.
    â€œYou must be Miss Woodward,” said the lady with an incline of her chin.
    Mary noted that none of the women rose when she entered the room, no doubt ascribing to the school of thought that said a governess didn’t merit such courtesy.
    â€œLady Laughlin,” she said without warmth. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
    The woman’s laugh trilled through the air. “No doubt all of it intriguing.”
    Mary’s smile was tight. “Naturally.”
    â€œMy daughters, Una and Cordelia,” said the lady, sweeping her hands out in an elegant arc.
    The two young ladies looked at her with deliberate ennui.
    â€œI do believe there’s been a little misunderstanding regarding dear Lady Eleanora,” said Lady Laughlin, clasping her hands together and leaning forward as though speaking to a child. “She always takes tea with us whenever we’re on our way to Bond Street. Sometimes she even comes with, but of course she hardly ever buys anything. She has no natural flair for fashion.”
    Mary doubted the veracity of Lady Laughlin’s dig at the girl’s dresses. Just today, Lady Eleanora was wearing a rather fetching dusky pink day dress edged in black piping. Mary had spotted that very cut on a few of London’s more fashionable ladies as they promenaded in Hyde Park.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Mary said, not feeling at all contrite. “If I’d been aware of your previous arrangements I would have asked Lady Eleanora to send you a missive letting you know that she will have lessons at this time every day.”
    â€œThat has never been an impediment before,” Lady Laughlin said with a laugh.
    â€œAll that learning won’t help anyway,” said Miss Laughlin with false sympathy.
    â€œI’m afraid I don’t follow,” said Mary.
    â€œNo one cares whether or not she knows her German,” said Miss Laughlin.
    Miss Cordelia shrugged. “She never speaks to anyone, so how could it matter?”
    Mary carefully pulled her handkerchief out of her sleeve and delicately touched it to her nose, buying herself a bit of time to compose herself. Otherwise she feared she’d box the ears of everyone in the room.
    â€œI’m afraid I must insist that lessons be undisturbed in the future, Lady Laughlin,” she said. “Lady Eleanora would be happy to welcome you during calling hours.”
    Since I doubt I’ll be able to put a stop to this invasion of Laughlins no matter how hard I try.
    â€œCalling hours?” scoffed the baroness.
    Mary’s eyes narrowed. “Lady Eleanora is out, and she has friends. Surely she both receives and makes calls.”
    â€œOnly to Miss Bigelow and Miss Masters,” said Miss Cordelia. “Hardly suitable companions for an earl’s daughter.”
    Miss Laughlin tossed her perfectly coiffed blond head with disdain. “No one’s even heard of them.”
    Lady Laughlin gestured to a chair across from her. “Miss Woodward, sit and join us. Warthing arranged for tea. The tray should be here any moment.”
    Tea? The woman had actually ordered tea in the earl’s home? It was shockingly forward. Lady Laughlin was acting as though she’d already been installed in the countess’s suite.
    â€œThank you,” she said through gritted teeth. “But I must take my leave. Lady Eleanora is waiting for me to finish our lesson.”
    Lady Laughlin’s smile turned brittle. “It must be difficult to go through life with the uncertainty of holding a position. Why, you could be dismissed at any moment.”
    Mary stared the woman down with the cold gaze she used with only the most ill-behaved children. “My only ambition, ma’am, is to teach Lady