Read Online The Mysterious Governess (Daughters of Sin Book 3) by Beverley Oakley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Beverley Oakley
Tags: Artist, political intrigue, governess, portraitist, Regency romantic intrigue, government plot, spoiled debutante, Regency political intrigue
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pinning her hopes on the fact he’d be rewarded for serving well an important member of the House of Lords. It was a job Ralph had come to despise with greater feeling every day.
But he was in no position to give it up. And if there were any chance that he would somehow be granted a handsome sinecure that would put him in a position to make Miss Hazlett an honest offer, he would stay.
The fact she’d succeeded in infiltrating the garden party so successfully proved her determination and ability to rise beyond the usual obstacles. She would make a fine wife.
Some day. The sad fact was it might be years before he could take a wife without the risk of driving them both into poverty, should they have a large family. Or any family at all.
At this present moment he was occupied with writing the eviction notices that would send a number of his employer’s cottagers into worse despair than Ralph could ever imagine, and there was not a thing he could do about it. Lord Debenham had taken a firm hand in the matter of those who didn’t—or couldn’t—pay their rent on time, and had determined that henceforth there would be no second chances.
Ralph was to see that the letters were dispatched, and was then to follow up himself to ensure that no families hung on to what was no longer theirs. He felt sick as he dipped his nib once more into the ink and signed the final eviction notice on behalf of Lord Debenham.
After such a painful afternoon’s work, Ralph decided a brisk walk was needed to clear his heavy mood once a chance presented itself. Hyde Park was only a short walk away and looking at the lovely ladies promenading there was always a pleasant diversion. His mother liked to be informed on what fashions were being worn by whom, and Ralph, apart from being a dutiful son and enjoying the sport in any case, had a good eye for an ensemble in the first stare.
The sun was dropping lower in the sky, the birds were singing in the trees and he was dreaming, impossibly, of a future with Miss Hazlett, when he was shocked to see a familiar profile come around a bend, chattering with great animation to Sir Aubrey.
It was only when she was within a few yards of him that he realized it wasn’t Miss Hazlett. Certainly not the Miss Larissa Hazlett with whom he was acquainted, though surely the two must be related.
The pang that squeezed his heart also made him realize how much it would have pained him to have seen his Miss Hazlett so clearly entranced by a gentleman other than himself and again he was fired with the determination to find a way to enable them to be together.
Immediately this was followed by the painful reality that his hands were tied. Short of an unexpected inheritance—and none of his infirm relatives were remotely well-heeled, though all were respectable enough—or committing highway robbery, Ralph was completely dependent upon Lord Debenham for a paltry salary.
Leaning against a tree trunk, he gazed at the young lady talking to Sir Aubrey and his misery increased. She was clearly making a determined play for him and Ralph wondered how Sir Aubrey could still be so successful at winning female interest when he was dogged by Lord Debenham’s allegations.
His employer had an almost pathological hatred for this gentleman, and it was intriguing that Miss Larissa Hazlett’s relative—for they surely must be related—should show such singular interest in someone whom rumor painted as a murderer and plotter of treason. Thanks to Lord Debenham, it was widely whispered Sir Aubrey had been involved in the plot on Lord Castlereagh’s life. Unsubstantiated rumors, certainly.
When the young lady turned so that her face was no longer concealed by her bonnet, he realized with a start that he’d seen her before at several high-society entertainments. He struggled to recall her name. Surely it was Miss Partington? Yes, the debutante who’d ended her last season under something of a cloud but who appeared to have bounced
But he was in no position to give it up. And if there were any chance that he would somehow be granted a handsome sinecure that would put him in a position to make Miss Hazlett an honest offer, he would stay.
The fact she’d succeeded in infiltrating the garden party so successfully proved her determination and ability to rise beyond the usual obstacles. She would make a fine wife.
Some day. The sad fact was it might be years before he could take a wife without the risk of driving them both into poverty, should they have a large family. Or any family at all.
At this present moment he was occupied with writing the eviction notices that would send a number of his employer’s cottagers into worse despair than Ralph could ever imagine, and there was not a thing he could do about it. Lord Debenham had taken a firm hand in the matter of those who didn’t—or couldn’t—pay their rent on time, and had determined that henceforth there would be no second chances.
Ralph was to see that the letters were dispatched, and was then to follow up himself to ensure that no families hung on to what was no longer theirs. He felt sick as he dipped his nib once more into the ink and signed the final eviction notice on behalf of Lord Debenham.
After such a painful afternoon’s work, Ralph decided a brisk walk was needed to clear his heavy mood once a chance presented itself. Hyde Park was only a short walk away and looking at the lovely ladies promenading there was always a pleasant diversion. His mother liked to be informed on what fashions were being worn by whom, and Ralph, apart from being a dutiful son and enjoying the sport in any case, had a good eye for an ensemble in the first stare.
The sun was dropping lower in the sky, the birds were singing in the trees and he was dreaming, impossibly, of a future with Miss Hazlett, when he was shocked to see a familiar profile come around a bend, chattering with great animation to Sir Aubrey.
It was only when she was within a few yards of him that he realized it wasn’t Miss Hazlett. Certainly not the Miss Larissa Hazlett with whom he was acquainted, though surely the two must be related.
The pang that squeezed his heart also made him realize how much it would have pained him to have seen his Miss Hazlett so clearly entranced by a gentleman other than himself and again he was fired with the determination to find a way to enable them to be together.
Immediately this was followed by the painful reality that his hands were tied. Short of an unexpected inheritance—and none of his infirm relatives were remotely well-heeled, though all were respectable enough—or committing highway robbery, Ralph was completely dependent upon Lord Debenham for a paltry salary.
Leaning against a tree trunk, he gazed at the young lady talking to Sir Aubrey and his misery increased. She was clearly making a determined play for him and Ralph wondered how Sir Aubrey could still be so successful at winning female interest when he was dogged by Lord Debenham’s allegations.
His employer had an almost pathological hatred for this gentleman, and it was intriguing that Miss Larissa Hazlett’s relative—for they surely must be related—should show such singular interest in someone whom rumor painted as a murderer and plotter of treason. Thanks to Lord Debenham, it was widely whispered Sir Aubrey had been involved in the plot on Lord Castlereagh’s life. Unsubstantiated rumors, certainly.
When the young lady turned so that her face was no longer concealed by her bonnet, he realized with a start that he’d seen her before at several high-society entertainments. He struggled to recall her name. Surely it was Miss Partington? Yes, the debutante who’d ended her last season under something of a cloud but who appeared to have bounced
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