Read Online The Masked Heart (Sweet Deception Regency #2) by Karla Darcy - Free Book Online
Authors: Karla Darcy
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at abandoning the children in such a time of grief. Thankfully the household was united in their affection for the family and they would do all they could to help them through such a difficult time.
She arranged her thoughts and called Tate and Frau Puffentraub into the library to discuss her plans for the funeral and her immediate return to London. There was silence when she finished and then Frau Puffentraub spoke up, her accented voice seeming sharp in Blaine's overwrought state.
"Vell, liebchen, of course I vill remain as governess and all the others vill do their part." Puff's voice was crisply efficient. "However I do not try to make the problems but I spoke many times to Lady Yates and I do not think this plan will be of sufficiency."
Puff explained that the household itself had been largely maintained with the annual allowance willed to Lady Yates by Blaine's father. According to the will, on the announcement of her death, the allowance would be forfeit. Their finances were in worse shape than Blaine had suspected and with the small amount she was able to send home, the household could not continue to function. She slumped in her chair and fought back tears as she faced the ruination of all her plans.
The plump governess' voice broke the silence of the room. "Are you a good actress, liebchen ?" The little woman was unfazed by Blaine's startled expression and cocked her head to the side, waiting for an answer.
"Y-yes," Blaine stammered, confused by the woman's seemingly inconsequential question.
"Could you play the part of Lady Yates?" she asked.
"Of course she could," the ever-loyal Tate chimed in.
"What?" Blaine stared into the twinkling eyes of her governess and suddenly realized what the little woman had in mind. "But, Puff, it's not possible. The solicitor knows Aunt Haydie. Porter Upton comes once a year to give her the allowance."
"It is with terrible great sadness that I report the death of your father's solicitor." Although her voice were mournful there was a wide grin on her plain face. "Your aunt received a letter many months ago detailing Herr Upton's demise. This year his son, Wesley Upton will be coming to make the acquaintance with your aunt."
A pulsing silence filled the room as Blaine and Tate took in the significance of the governess' words. A low chuckle issued from Tate which was echoed by the unruffled Puff. Blaine was not as easily convinced.
"We'd never get away with it," she whispered.
Tate stood up and stared at Blaine, her eyes narrowed speculatively. When she spoke, she addressed Puff. "It wouldn't take much. We can use some of Lady Yates' lacy caps and pad her out a bit. She'll look a treat. With the proper makeup, even Fleur wouldn't be able to recognize her."
"I shan't listen to a word of this," Blaine cried. "Tate. Puff. Just think of what you're saying."
Ignoring her totally, Puff spoke over her head. "It vill be her skin that vill give her away. Could she be wearing a veil or something?"
"I assure you, my friend, makeup will do the trick." Tate preened as she pursed her lips in decision. "I do all Miss Blaine's makeup. It will be a simple matter to create a sort of mask that would hide the youthfulness of her skin. Even up close it would pass the test. It's her hands what worry me."
"Mittens!" the governess announced in triumph. "Lady Yates had many pairs of greatest beauty."
"Just the ticket," Tate agreed.
Afraid to listen to the seductive voices of her companions, Blaine jumped to her feet and faced the two women. "We cannot do it. It would not be honest."
"Piffle!" Tate snorted.
" Gott in Himmel !" came Puff's more exasperated retort. "The kinder must come first."
"Look, Miss Blaine. We've little choice in the matter. Without the money from your father's will, we will have to sell up Weathers and then Val will lose his estate. If your father had known the straits you'd be in, would he have left things as they were?"
"Of course not, Tate," Blaine answered without
She arranged her thoughts and called Tate and Frau Puffentraub into the library to discuss her plans for the funeral and her immediate return to London. There was silence when she finished and then Frau Puffentraub spoke up, her accented voice seeming sharp in Blaine's overwrought state.
"Vell, liebchen, of course I vill remain as governess and all the others vill do their part." Puff's voice was crisply efficient. "However I do not try to make the problems but I spoke many times to Lady Yates and I do not think this plan will be of sufficiency."
Puff explained that the household itself had been largely maintained with the annual allowance willed to Lady Yates by Blaine's father. According to the will, on the announcement of her death, the allowance would be forfeit. Their finances were in worse shape than Blaine had suspected and with the small amount she was able to send home, the household could not continue to function. She slumped in her chair and fought back tears as she faced the ruination of all her plans.
The plump governess' voice broke the silence of the room. "Are you a good actress, liebchen ?" The little woman was unfazed by Blaine's startled expression and cocked her head to the side, waiting for an answer.
"Y-yes," Blaine stammered, confused by the woman's seemingly inconsequential question.
"Could you play the part of Lady Yates?" she asked.
"Of course she could," the ever-loyal Tate chimed in.
"What?" Blaine stared into the twinkling eyes of her governess and suddenly realized what the little woman had in mind. "But, Puff, it's not possible. The solicitor knows Aunt Haydie. Porter Upton comes once a year to give her the allowance."
"It is with terrible great sadness that I report the death of your father's solicitor." Although her voice were mournful there was a wide grin on her plain face. "Your aunt received a letter many months ago detailing Herr Upton's demise. This year his son, Wesley Upton will be coming to make the acquaintance with your aunt."
A pulsing silence filled the room as Blaine and Tate took in the significance of the governess' words. A low chuckle issued from Tate which was echoed by the unruffled Puff. Blaine was not as easily convinced.
"We'd never get away with it," she whispered.
Tate stood up and stared at Blaine, her eyes narrowed speculatively. When she spoke, she addressed Puff. "It wouldn't take much. We can use some of Lady Yates' lacy caps and pad her out a bit. She'll look a treat. With the proper makeup, even Fleur wouldn't be able to recognize her."
"I shan't listen to a word of this," Blaine cried. "Tate. Puff. Just think of what you're saying."
Ignoring her totally, Puff spoke over her head. "It vill be her skin that vill give her away. Could she be wearing a veil or something?"
"I assure you, my friend, makeup will do the trick." Tate preened as she pursed her lips in decision. "I do all Miss Blaine's makeup. It will be a simple matter to create a sort of mask that would hide the youthfulness of her skin. Even up close it would pass the test. It's her hands what worry me."
"Mittens!" the governess announced in triumph. "Lady Yates had many pairs of greatest beauty."
"Just the ticket," Tate agreed.
Afraid to listen to the seductive voices of her companions, Blaine jumped to her feet and faced the two women. "We cannot do it. It would not be honest."
"Piffle!" Tate snorted.
" Gott in Himmel !" came Puff's more exasperated retort. "The kinder must come first."
"Look, Miss Blaine. We've little choice in the matter. Without the money from your father's will, we will have to sell up Weathers and then Val will lose his estate. If your father had known the straits you'd be in, would he have left things as they were?"
"Of course not, Tate," Blaine answered without
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